Brian Ton is the founder and executive director of Illumination Institute, a nonprofit organization promoting mindfulness in educational institutions and businesses. Having spent the first portion of his life in Vietnam, Brian was introduced to Buddhist teachings at a young age and has since practiced various forms of mindfulness. Over the past 20 years, Brian studied chi kung meditation, an ancient Chinese wellness practice, under the guidance of the Taoist Master Mantak Chia. More recently, Brian has practiced self-enquiry, a type of meditation emphasizing spiritual awareness, espoused by Ramana Maharshi, a Hindu sage from India. For the past 3 years, Brian has been concentrating on the secular mindfulness practice known as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), introduced in the U.S. medical field by Jon Kabat Zinn. MBSR is now widely used in a range of industries and environments, including professional sports, prison populations and education. Brian also has been trained in the use of mindfulness in education with the Mindful Schools organization in northern California, as well as with Peace in Schools in Portland, Oregon.

When not practicing mindfulness, Brian practices estate planning as an attorney with Satori Law Group based in Fountain Valley, California. After working as a CPA with KPMG in New York City, Brian completed his Juris Doctor at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law. He also earned an M.B.A. at the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania. Brian is a member of the California and New York State Bars. Prior to practicing law, Brian had a stint as a GO (gentil organisateur) at Club Med in Paradise Island, Bahamas.