Don’t postpone being at peace. Happiness is not something at the end of the rainbow, it’s our natural state. If you’ve touched this joy of being in any way, get used to it, nurture it. And as you rest in that experience of yourself, try to make peace with the version of yourself that plays in your mind. It’s completely interesting. It’s not the enemy. It’s inevitable. But a view of yourself is not self—it’s changing all the time. It’s not yourself because it cannot capture the beauty of your nature.
Howard Cohn, MA
Residential Retreat Teacher
Howard Cohn has practiced meditation since 1972, and has led vipassana retreats since 1985. He leads a weekly ongoing class in San Francisco. Howard has studied with many Asian and western teachers of several traditions, including Theravada, Zen, Dzogchen and Advaita Vedanta, and has been strongly influenced by contact with the Indian master H.W.L. Poonja. He has done postgraduate work in East/West Psychology and has a private counseling practice.
Howard Cohn's Upcoming Programs
Short Program | On-Land
Saturday, April 25 | 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Calming the Restless Mind
4 CE Credits. During this daylong, we will train our hearts and minds to find calm in the present moment, awaken insight, and soften our hearts. Following the Buddhist teachings on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, we will begin with the sensations of breathing and then expand to include all other types of physical sensations. Together, we will also work with our emotions and learn to relate to our thoughts more kindly and skillfully rather than being so easily carried away by them.
Howard Cohn
Retreat | On-Land
September 2 - September 7, 2026 | Wednesday - Monday | 5 nights
Labor Day Insight Retreat
Spaces Still Available! This retreat emphasizes quieting the mind, opening the heart, and developing clarity and depth of practice. Traditional instructions will be combined with a spirit of lovingkindness, and our time together will include a schedule of silent sitting and walking periods, guided Yoga/movement sessions, as well as practice meetings with teachers and daily Dharma talks. This retreat is for experienced as well as new students.
Retreat | On-Land
November 27 - November 30, 2026 | Friday - Monday | 3 nights
The Gift of Loving Awareness: Embracing Life with Wisdom & Kindness
Spaces Still Available! Mindfulness and love are essential qualities of an awakened life. When awareness and compassion are integrated, they offer a wise and tender way of meeting whatever arises within ourselves, our relationships, and the world. This retreat invites you to cultivate loving awareness through mindfulness and heart-opening practices, supporting clarity, kindness, and resilience. Together, we will explore how to meet life’s challenges with greater ease, understanding, and an open, responsive heart.
Retreat | On-Land
December 1 - December 5, 2026 | Tuesday - Saturday | 4 nights
The Natural Clarity of Awareness: Courage, Connection, and Compassion
Spaces Still Available! This retreat explores refined qualities of attention that deepen mindfulness and support insight into the nature of experience. By inclining the mind toward restful, non-reactive awareness, we open to tranquility, clarity, and joy. Moment-to-moment presence reveals our entanglement with changing conditions and guides us toward freedom. These natural capacities are seeds of awakening and help integrate mindfulness, compassion, and wise action into daily life. The retreat includes Dharma teachings, meditation instructions, mindful movement, and guidance in the practice of lovingkindness.
Dharma Library
Can't join us live online or on the land? Study and practice at your convenience with Howard Cohn through our new library of recordings, articles, and self-paced online courses.