About the author/teacher

I am Dawid Jacobus Cloete born 6 March 1952.

For four decades, my professional life has been devoted to the work of a private psychiatrist, specializing in mood disorders and trauma.

After much reflection, I have chosen to turn my focus toward teaching Mindfulness skills, a natural evolution of the healing work that has shaped my career.

I was raised in a conservative, Afrikaans‑speaking South African home, the eldest of three children, and those early experiences have profoundly influenced the person and practitioner I have become.

Although I have a strong Christian belief system, I learnt that being respectful to other people’s belief systems is as important as being truthful to my own religious beliefs. Therefore, when it comes to matters religious I respectfully not argue my case. Duality leads to a stale mate- a dead end, undermining connection through finding common ground.

The essence of this webpage is to offer guidance—helping people deepen their understanding of themselves and the inner processes that arise when navigating life’s challenges.

From a young age, my greatest aspiration was to become a physician. After completing my medical degree at the University of Pretoria in 1973 and my houseman ship at Klerksdorp Hospital, I was conscripted into the army, where I served for two years as a full‑time medical officer.

In 1975, life offered me an unexpected blessing: my future wife, then in her final year of nursing at Klerksdorp Hospital, we met at a year‑end ball. The connection was immediate and unmistakable. Forty‑seven years later, we remain deeply grateful for a life shared, enriched by two daughters, two sons‑in‑law, and now eight grandchildren.

Following this, I fulfilled my obligation to the former Transvaal (now Gauteng) provincial government, having completed my studies with the support of a state bursary. My work eventually led me to Germiston General Hospital, where I served as a senior medical officer in both the Emergency Room and the Intensive Care Unit. Over time, however, I felt a growing frustration—an awareness that my ability to help those suffering psychologically was limited within the confines of acute medical care.

The countless moments in which I had to deliver devastating news to families about the loss of a loved one profoundly shaped me, and ultimately steered me toward a new calling.

I began my postgraduate MMed in Psychiatry at Weskoppies State Mental Institution through the University of Pretoria in 1982. After completing the degree, I entered private psychiatric practice in 1987.

In 2015, my interest turned toward mindfulness, leading me to enroll in the two‑year postgraduate program in Mindfulness‑Based Interventions offered by the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Stellenbosch. This marked the beginning of an entirely new chapter in my personal and professional life.

A profoundly life changing experience.

The study of consciousness—with its infinite dimensions—continues to inspire and astonish me. It is this fascination that has given rise to this website and the unfolding possibilities I hope it will create, not only for my own growth but for all who choose to journey through this space. I strive to live with balance: exercising regularly, eating mindfully, and dedicating twenty to forty minutes each day to sitting practice, simply meeting “what is in the moment.” A consistent sleep routine forms part of this foundation.

As time goes on, my hope is to develop this website into a gathering place for mindful wisdom—a space where like‑minded individuals can connect, learn, and grow. If these pages and courses support even a few people in their personal or spiritual development, the vision will be fulfilled.

I am grateful to be here. You are welcome to reach out through the contact page with any questions or reflections. Thoughtful feedback is always appreciated, as this is a shared learning space for all who enter.