Bodian studied English literature as an undergrad at Columbia University, with a minor in Asian Studies, and English literature and Asian language in graduate school at Stanford University. He began practicing Zen in 1969 while still in college and subsequently studied with Shunryu Suzuki Roshi and Taizan Maezumi Roshi, among others. He was ordained a Zen monk in 1974 and went on to become the director of training at the Zen Center of Los Angeles.

In 1982 he gave up being a monk to pursue psychology. Bodian began writing during this time and in 1984 became the editor-in-chief of the magazine Yoga Journal, a post he held for 10 years. He is currently a contributing editor of The Buddhist Review. His writing has gained him a larger presence, Meditation for Dummies has sold 125,000 copies and has been printed in English, Dutch, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, and French. His latest book is Wake Up Now.

After leaving the monastic life, Bodian spent ten years studying Advaita Vedanta with Jean Klein. In 2001 he received Dharma transmission from Adyashanti.

In addition to writing, Bodian practices as a licensed psychotherapist and offers individual counseling sessions over the phone. He also heads meditation intensives and retreats, most notably his eight-month School for Awakening.