Buena Vista Sangha was founded by Barry Wadsworth and Dr. Laura Nasatir after moving to Amador County from Davis, California in 2023.

Raised as a Catholic and having converted to the Eastern Orthodox Church, Barry appreciates the Christian Wisdom Tradition and teachers such as Thomas Merton, Basil Pennington, Thomas Keating, Richard Rohr and Cynthia Bourgeault. He is also a member of the Native American Church and deeply appreciates Native Spirituality.

Barry has been practicing meditation since 1976, first practicing Transcendental Meditation and TM-Siddhis, as taught by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. He studied fine art while attending Maharishi International University from 1978 - 1983.

In 1985, while studying Mandarin in Taiwan, Barry began practicing Chan (Zen) meditation under the guidance of his Shifu, Ven. Chan Master Sheng-yen (聖嚴). In 2006, he received Dharma transmission from Ven. Guo-jun, a Dharma heir of Ven. Sheng-yen, and was asked to lead meditation groups, which Barry has been doing since 2006.

Barry has also practiced Vipassana meditation under the guidance of Ven. Chanmya (U Janakābhivaṃsa) Sayadaw of Burma, who verified his experience of the Tilakkhana, the Three Marks—Anicca (Impermanence), Dukkha (Dissatisfactoriness), and Anattā (No-Self), during a three week retreat in 2007.

Also in 2007, Barry attended the Bodhisattva Precepts retreat, the last retreat offered by his Shifu, Ven. Sheng-yen, and was given the Dharma name Chang Sheng (常聖 — Always Saintly — clearly an aspirational name).

Barry retired from Apple in 2022, after over 30 years in the IT sector, having worked for UCSF, Stanford, Nestle, Charles Schwab, Johnson & Johnson, Parkview Health, Tek Systems/Healthnet.

Dr. Laura Nasatir, a practicing psychiatrist for over 30 years, has been practicing meditation since 1979. She practiced under the guidance of Adyashanti from 2012 until his retirement. Laura is a certified mindfulness instructor, having completed a two year training program led by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach and has incorporated this into her patient care.

Barry and Laura have completed Nongdro and Dzogchen training under Orgyen Chowan Rinpoche of the Pristine Mind Foundation in Sonoma County, California, and Chod training offered by Anam Thubten of Dharmata Foundation.

They built their off-grid Passive Haus home in 2023 and enjoy Permaculture gardening in the California Gold Country foothills.