Dr Valerie Mason-John, or using her Buddhist name Vimalasara is an award-winning author and editor of ten books, including Eight Step Recovery: Using The Buddha’s Teachings to Overcome Addiction, and Detox Your Heart: Meditations for Emotional Trauma.

Ordained in India 2005, her name Vimalasara means “she who’s essence is stainless and pure”.

Vimalasara is a public speaker and master trainer in the field of conflict transformation, leadership and mindfulness.

Also co-founder of the secular 8-week course Mindfulness-Based Addiction Recovery MBAR, and also is the current president of the international organization Buddhist Recovery Network, which promotes Mindfulness and Buddhism as a complementary approach working with addiction, craving, recovery, and abstinence.