About Me

Hi, I’m Jñānadāsa (Marc Bühner)—a professor of cognitive psychology, leadership coach, and ordained Buddhist. My name, Jñānadāsa, means “Servant of Knowledge”—a name that reflects my journey and the calling I’ve discovered to help leaders and academics navigate complexity, make meaningful choices, and realign their lives with their values.

Why I Coach

I know what it’s like to feel stuck—to achieve outward success and yet still sense something is missing. From an early age, I struggled with self-worth, compensating through academic success and external validation. My career in academia saw me secure prestigious scholarships, present research globally, and thrive as a professor. Yet, behind the achievements, I felt disconnected—pushed along by old patterns of striving and grasping while still wondering: Isn’t there more to life than this?
This question took me down two parallel paths of transformation:

The Spiritual Path: A personal crisis brought me to meditation, where I discovered stillness and began to untangle the patterns of reactivity, dissatisfaction, and imbalance in my life. Over eight years, through retreat and training, I ultimately became ordained into the Triratna Buddhist Order, a life-defining experience that reshaped my purpose.

The Professional Path: At the same time, I reoriented my career toward empowering others. Combining my background as a cognitive psychologist, mentor, union leader, charity trustee, and now coach, I found my true calling: helping people like you uncover clarity, balance, and fulfillment in your leadership and life.

How My Journey Supports Your Growth

Many of my clients come to me successful on the outside but grappling with challenges that feel deeply personal:

They struggle to balance professional success with their personal values.
They feel stuck in reactivity, unable to make choices that genuinely reflect their long-term goals.
They’ve accomplished so much yet still sense that something is missing—a richer purpose, a better connection to themselves and their lives.

My coaching is built on two decades of research, teaching, and lived experience—blending academic insight and spiritual perspective to offer an approach that is both rigorous and deeply human. Together, we’ll create space to:

Rediscover and realign your values so your choices reflect who you are and what you stand for.
Build clarity, tools, and confidence to lead with purpose—even amidst complexity and competing demands.
Cultivate a sense of balance and groundedness that allows you to thrive in both your work and personal life.

What I Bring to the Table

My coaching blends analytical science and empathetic guidance in a way that’s unique to my journey:

Scientific Precision: With expertise around how people perceive cause and effect, I bring clarity, precision, and structure to help you tackle even the messiest, most complex decisions.
Buddhist Practice: Spiritual growth has helped me cultivate mindfulness, compassion, and presence—qualities that shape every coaching conversation.
Real Leadership Experience: From my work in academia to union leadership to non-profits, I understand first-hand the pressures leaders face, making our work grounded in real-world application.

Let’s Make Something Magical

Professor Dumbledore in Harry Potter says:
“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

While I can’t claim to be a wizard, what I can promise is this: I’ll help you make choices that reflect your greatest potential, align with your values, and bring fulfillment to your life—both personally and professionally.

If this resonates, let’s start a discovery call and explore how we can realign your decisions with the leader and person you’re meant to be.

Let’s talk!