Ricardo Sasaki Brazil True Communion - the exercise of affection as a healing device Ricardo Sasaki started his Buddhist practice in the early 80's with Zen (Soto Zen and Korean Chogye) and Jodoshin (Pure Land), beginning at the same time studies in Psychology, Comparative Religion and Religious Symbolism in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Later on, he moved to USA in order to deepen his practice in Zen/Jodo, but while there a revealing encounter with the writings of Thai master Ajahn Chah made a turn in his focus towards Theravada School, further enhanced by an encounter with Venerable Maha Ghosananda and Satya Narayan Goenka. Starting to practice vipassana, eventually he moved to Thailand, to study under Ven. Ajahn Buddhadasa at Wat SuanMokkh, whom became his main teacher. Traveling through India, Nepal, Burma and Malaysia, he trained under various teachers in many traditions, and later received Dharma teacher accreditation from Aggamahapandita Rewata Dhamma Sayadaw as "dhammacariyadhanapala", and later the title of "mahasadhammajotikadhaja" in Myanmar. Back to Brazil he started the Nalanda Buddhist Center in Belo Horizonte, now with other four affiliated groups in Brazil and one in Portugal. Besides working with Psychological Counseling and directing the Center, he is also dedicated to publish Buddhist books (translating and writing) and helping organizing retreats and meditation courses with foreign teachers. He has been teaching Buddhist philosophy and meditation in Brazil and Europe, as well as participating in a number of international congresses in the past years. In 1999 he began the establishment of Nalandarama Retreat Center, the first Theravada Center in South America exclusively dedicated to intense meditation retreats in the forest tradition. In 2005, he was part of the team of Buddhist teachers to found the Brazilian Buddhist Union (presently Foreign Affairs Director), congregating all the main Buddhist traditions acting in Brazil. He is also a Dharma teacher and a Lay Minister in the lineage of Rev. GyomayKubose in Mahayana tradition; and the Chief Editor of the Triratna Magazine - the official publication of the Brazilian Buddhist Union.