He would spend the next 33 years and a life vow to be the change he wants to see in the world.  A pivotal foundation in his journey was when he created an 8-year specialized training program for his inner and relational development in the 2000s.  During this time, he spent winters and a few summers in a zen monastery practicing complete silence and 18+ daily hours of meditation for 90 days at a time.  Other summers, he trained in a Taoist community learning the ancient wisdom of qigong and yoga.  At other times, he would continue this diligent training at home for 10 hours M-F or would rent a cabin in the woods and follow a solitary retreat. Putting all the 90 day and other silent retreats together in this time span, Rob experienced a cumulative time of almost 3 years in silence and deep meditation.  He discovered in these 8 years the foundation for nonduality, compassion, empathy, and deep listening.  To know another, you need to know yourself.  

Since then, he has trained with various other teachers and lineages such as Classical Tantra and Tibetan Buddhism (Dzogchen).  In 2022, when his Dzogchen teacher died, and Rob was yearning to be with a great teacher, Mahavatar Babaji, the Immortal yogi appeared to him in a vision and guided him to receive blessings and teachings from the Retinue model and practice - a congregation of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Ascended Masters with Mahavatar Babaji at the center.  He currently is learning this new way of receiving teachings.