Jake Lorfing has been around awhile and, though never too speedy, has managed to slow down a bit. A mostly-retired psychiatric nurse, his career has included, in addition to nursing,  publishing an underground newspaper, working in hospices, writing short stories, playing Renaissance and Baroque music, and photography.  He began meditating in 1985, and now teaches meditation around Texas and at two Texas prisons.  Of meditation practice he says, "It's helped me to drop my own agenda and be a better      listener and witness. The world is fresher, more alive."

The homebirth of his son on a Burnet, Texas, ranch in 1976 led to the purchase of his first "nice" camera, and a growing interest in photography. Today he has "gone digital" and now teaches contemplative photography under the auspices of Miksang.

   His photos have been shown at Austin City Hall and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Since 2003, Jake has traveled to Poland three times to participate in Zen Peacemaker Bearing Witness retreats at Auschwitz/Birkenau, and produced a short film, “Marian,”  about the life and works of Marian Kołodziej, a Polish artist imprisoned in Auschwitz for five years.

Two of Jake's short stories can by found in anthologies of Buddhist fiction from Wisdom Publications, Nixon Under the Bodhi Tree and You Are Not Here.

He is married to Miriam Klotz, an Austin psychotherapist, and is the father of Ehren Lorfing, an Austin musician and veterinary technician.  Jake's friend Shawn Wheeler created this website.