About Us
Compassion belongs everywhere. You belong here.
Our Mission and Vision
Our Mettaverse's mission is to provide in-depth compassion education and support for educational, commercial and personal benefit.
We help create schools and workplaces to provide such compassion that people come to them to be a part; where all members work towards improvement together because all members are valued.
We remind people how important and good they are, helping them to contribute altruistically to the world in a multitude of wise and effective ways, bringing deeper happiness to themselves and others.
We are part of a large movement toward satisfaction with life, connection with others, and long-lasting happiness. We are so very glad you're here. Welcome!
Facilitators
Here are some of Our Mettaverse's contributors and a little about us. If you are interested in being a contributor or member, please email us today.
Deniece Smith
Founder of Our Mettaverse, Deniece is a certified Mindful Meditation Teacher, certified Buddhist Meditation Teacher levels one and two. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science with a Concentration in Business and Minor in Spanish. She is also a licensed residential real estate agent.
Her interests include helping everyone see and realize the potential within in order to make the world a more loving and peaceful place where all belong.
Joining us from Silicon Valley, California, USA, Deniece is our Executive Director, Corporate Instructor and Small Business Consultant. She is fluent in English and Spanish.
"Everything I am, I am through others."
Inspired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Gary Hsin, MD, FAAHPM
Dr. Gary Hsin, is a Stanford Clinical Professor (Affiliated). He is a graduate of Northwestern University School of Medicine. After completion of his family medicine residency and chief residency at West Suburban Medical Center (Oak Park, IL), he completed his subspecialty training at Harvard's Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program.
Gary is a certified teacher in Stanford's Compassion Cultivation Training program with the Compassion Institute. He has been involved in international health care efforts in Africa and Asia through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Doctors Without Borders (MSF), and the Stanford/Yale Global Health Scholars Program; He is a Faculty Fellow at Stanford’s Center for Innovation in Global Health.
His interests include palliative care education, global health, and compassion cultivation.
Dr. Hsin joins Our Mettaverse as an Advisory Board Member and CCT Certified Compassion Instructor.
Karuna Cayton, MFT
Growing up in Pacific Palisades, California, Karuna eventually attended Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. Being a child of the ‘60’s in the U.S. he experimented with drugs until he discovered a spiritual alternative in the study of Hinduism and yoga.
After encountering the profound teachings of Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche at Kopan Monastery in Nepal during a “year abroad” program, he decided to move to Kopan to deepen his connection with his spiritual guides. He studied Buddhist psychology and philosophy under his Lamas until 1988.
1988 Karuna relocated to the Santa Cruz area of California, where they established their family. At the request of his Lamas, Karuna founded The Karuna Group, a project aimed at interpreting Buddhist psychological theory and interventions for modern individuals. He earned a Masters in Clinical Psychology in 1992, training at the Children’s Health Council in Palo Alto, California, and practiced as a licensed therapist until 2023.
Karuna is the author of The Misleading Mind: How We Create Our Own Problems and How Buddhist Psychology Can Help Us Solve Them (2012).
Currently, he is writing a second book set for release in 2025 and diligently serves on the Board of Directors for the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition. You can also find him as a guest instructor at various Buddhist centers and organizations, or follow his work on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
"Be curious, not judgmental." Ted Lasso
Diane Rubright, PsyD, LP
After completing a clinical, Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Minnesota, Diane also earned her graduate degree in Second Languages and Cultures. She is certified with the Boards of Behavioral Health and Psychology to provide individual or group supervision to therapists in training. She is also an embodiment practitioner, certified as a Befriending Your Body Group Leader and a certified Mindful Meditation Teacher.
Diane has worked with adolescents and adults for the more than 14 years in the areas of eating disorders and weight management.
Over the last nine years, Diane has taught and trained therapists entering the field at the Emily Program and at the University of St. Thomas.
Diane draws from T'ai Chi, Qigong and other mindfulness-based practices for those interested in growing approaches to relaxation and anxiety reduction as part of their therapy.
Joining us from Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, Diane joins Our Mettaverse as our Director of Personal Compassion.
"A good traveler has no fixed plan and is not intent on arriving." Lao Tzu
Kelly McConnell
With a Masters Degree in Education and Teaching, Owner of Fit & Mindful, Certified Mindful Meditation Teacher, Certified Massage Therapist and Somatic Healer,
Kelly has participated in five Boston marathons, the New York City marathon, two full Ironmans, several ultraruns, and enjoys running through the Rockies.
Kelly joins OM from Boulder, Colorado, USA as our Director of Body Mindfulness.
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few." Shunryu Suzuki