Matthew Zumwalt is a longtime practitioner in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and currently serves as the Co-Founder of Tergar Retreats in Portugal, a center dedicated to deep retreat and the transformative power of meditation. Rooted in the Tergar lineage of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, Matthew’s path integrates contemplative practice with a deep commitment to collective awakening in today’s world.

Since beginning his Buddhist studies in 1998, Matthew has studied extensively with teachers including Mingyur Rinpoche, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Lama Norlha Rinpoche, Chodak Tulku, and Lama Tashi Namgyal. He is a Tergar Meditation Facilitator and has supported many students in the Joy of Living curriculum through local groups and retreats.

Before his current role, Matthew spent years helping organizations steward knowledge and memory—especially in libraries, archives, and cultural institutions. He founded the consulting firm MediaShelf, co-created open-source libraries like active-fedora and om, and served as a technical lead for the Hydra Project (now Samvera), a global digital preservation initiative.

Matthew is also a queer artist and scholar with a background in cognitive science, performance, and critical theory. His life and work are animated by a search for liberating wisdom and boundless compassion, grounded in both ancient teachings and contemporary realities.