Namaskar to all! My name is Wolf Gordon Clifton. I am currently a first year Ph.D. student in Theology and Ethics at the Graduate Theological Union. My intended dissertation will focus on Dharmic perspectives on animals and the environment, and how Hindu and Buddhist theology can contribute to ecological activism.

I learned about the Vimarsha Foundation from a colleague. Following her recommendation, I have started watching Dr. Timalsina's "Introduction to Sarvāmnāya Tantra." I have been a devotee of Lord Śiva for three and a half years, including study of Trika sacred texts and the life and teachings of Swami Lakshmanjoo. It grieves me that Lakshmanjoo's line of transmission ended with his death, but it brings me joy to learn that the traditional Trika lineage is still alive and thriving in the Sarvāmnāya tradition of Nepal!

Spirituality has been a major focus of my life since childhood, supported by my mother, a self-described "Christian Buddhist" who from an early age exposed me to many religious traditions and encouraged me to seek my own way among them. I adopted Hinduism at age 14 (I am now 33) following a long conversation with a Balinese Hindu priest, mentored by a family friend who is a professor of Indian history, who introduced me to my first guru at 19. From them I learned the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads from an Advaita perspective, while earning my B.A. in Religious Studies with a focus on Hinduism and Buddhism. I have subsequently explored a range of other religious traditions - including Confucianism, Christianity, Islam, and Paganism - but found myself understanding each one through an inextricably Vedantic lens. Realizing this led me ultimately to recommit to Hinduism and embrace Śiva and Gāyatrī as my personal deities (although I continue to maintain some Buddhist practices as well).

Geographically, I have lived in six different states across the U.S., of which my favorite was southern Ohio with its low rugged mountains, hidden lakes and waterfalls, and forests full of wonderful wild animals. Currently I live in Oakland, California. I have a passion for paleontology, which led me to earn a M.S. in Geological Sciences, and also enjoy cooking (all vegan), hiking, photography, and drawing. I work part time for GTU's Center for Dharma Studies, and am also the director of an animal protection organization, for which I regularly attend United Nations events to advocate for animal welfare and biodiversity.

I am eager to get to know fellow students of the Sarvāmnāya tradition. Please feel welcome to reach out, follow me, and especially let me know if you happen to be in the Bay Area and would like to meet in person!

Om Namah Shivaya!