Dr. Gabriel Cousens is the founder and director of the Tree of Life Foundation and its Tree of Life Center US located in Patagonia, Arizona. A Doctor of Medicine in Psychiatry as well as a Doctor of Divinity, Gabriel Cousens also holds diplomas in holistic medicine and Ayurveda medicine.A native of Highland Park, Illinois, Dr. Cousens lived a traditional American life for much of his first 30 years during the mid-20th century. He was an award-winning football player at Amherst College in Massachusetts where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree; his medical degree was earned at New York's Columbia Medical School.Dr. Cousens' interests in vegetarianism and several Eastern meditation practices coincided at the end of his 20s. By the time he was 31, he had immersed himself in Eastern spiritual studies and disciplines under the guidance of two swamis. Twelve years later, he added to his studies the writings of the ancient Jewish sect known as the Essenes, the esoteric teachings of the Kabbala, and the Native American Lakota Sun Dance and Spirit Dance rituals. The influence of the ancient methods combined with his contemporary education created the foundation for the health and spiritual doctrines that led to Rabbi Gabriel Cousens' life work.As the author of eight books on spiritual and nutritional guidance, Dr. Cousens established his leadership based on presenting intertwining, symbiotic paths to happiness, fulfillment, and health. In addition, Dr. Cousens combines elements of Yoga, Judaism, and Native American principles and philosophies in the Essene Order of Light, the spiritual practice that he established and describes in his book, "Creating Peace by Being Peace."Additionally, the principles that Gabriel Cousens teaches advocate gaining the highest level of nutritional value through the bottom of the food chain by eating only uncooked, organically grown fruits, vegetables, and grains, never meat.