N. T.
Hettigei
Founder & Mentor
Nandasena T. (NT) Hettigei is an author, spiritual counselor, and meditation teacher who has dedicated the past three decades to guiding others toward genuine, lasting happiness. He serves as the visiting meditation instructor at the Arizona International Buddhist Meditation Center (AIBMC) in Mesa, Arizona, and is the visionary founder of ancientpath.org.
Deeply committed to fostering global harmony, NT champions the creation of societies free from anger and hatred through the cultivation of inner peace. To further this mission on a global scale, he established the Sages' nth Foundation Inc, striving to build a more compassionate and peaceful world for everyone.
Alex
Hood
Mentor
Alex was born and grew up in Southern California. He lived in California for twenty years before moving to Arizona to attend Arizona State University, where he has lived for the past 10 years. Alex is relatively new to the Arizona International Buddhist Meditation Center (AIBMC). Since his first attendance, he has noticed profound insight from the meditation groups. Through further exploration, Alex has been able to gain more in his short time attending AIBMC than in all of his previous personal practices. Alex is committed to sharing his experiences with a wide audience and would like to bring this true happiness and joy to all.
Gavin Upton
Mentor
Gavin grew up on the outskirts of London, UK. He moved to the USA eighteen years ago for work within the semiconductor industry, during which time he traveled extensively through China, Japan & Taiwan.
Gavin now works as a peer recovery support specialist here in Phoenix.
Gavin started studying Buddhism and meditation two years ago, and his journey has deepened. He has recently experienced a significant and undeniable breakthrough. Having recently joined AIBMC has opened a new journey into "MYSPACE," as he calls it. He also noticed that his anger and emotional reaction had largely subsided, and he is willing to share his experience for others' benefit.
Tiffany
Armstrong
Mentor
​Tiffany is originally from Atlanta, GA, but has been living in Arizona with her family for the past 6 years. Tiffany has been attending meditation sessions and retreats at AIBMC for the past year and a half. From her first session, she experienced an expansiveness and peacefulness that she had not experienced before. In the months that followed, she continued to have meaningful experiences and noticeable changes in her daily life, including a sense of ease during situations that would have typically been high stress. More recently, she has found a new feeling of calmness, openness, and empathy when tackling difficult conversations in complex relationships. Tiffany hopes to help and inspire others to tap into the best parts within themselves and live the fullest life. She believes meditation could be enormously impactful for today’s youth, if they spend time to reach into the power harnessed in the silence within.
Erandhi Dimuthu
Mentor
In 2011, Erandi Dimuthu experienced a profound life shift when she discovered the transformative power of pure Buddhism. This turning point led her away from the noise of the modern world and toward the "Buddha’s Way"—a path dedicated to uncovering the truth of existence through meditation and the study of Dhamma.
Based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Erandi now balances her professional life with her spiritual calling. Having found a sense of inner clarity and purpose, she is passionate about sharing her personal experiences and the peace she has cultivated with others. She serves as a guide for those seeking to navigate their own lives with mindfulness, truth, and lasting inner
​peace.
Erandi Dimuthu is an accomplished educator, leader, and mindfulness practitioner. As the Director of Shiny Petals Institute, she has dedicated her career to English-language skills development, bringing creative and effective new learning methods to both children and adult professionals in vocational tertiary training
STefanie
Johnson
Mentor
Originally from Germany, Stefanie moved to the United States in 2007 and has proudly called Arizona home ever since. Professionally, she serves clients across the Phoenix metro area as a dedicated real estate agent.
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Her personal mindfulness journey began with a daily meditation practice in 2015. A decade later, in the fall of 2025, she began attending the Arizona International Buddhist Meditation Center (AIBMC). After participating in her first all-day retreat, she felt an instant connection to NT's teaching style, which deeply resonated with her own insights and approach to practice.
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By immersing herself in regular meditation sessions, Dharma discussions, and retreats, Stefanie has unlocked a deeper sense of inner peace, self-awareness, and daily ease.
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Guided by her own transformation, she is passionate about supporting others through their own meditation hurdles and inspiring them to stay committed to the path.
The Team
The beacons of Inner peace!