For me the ability to access this self-compassion signaled a significant shift that allowed me to move from paying attention to the words of the critic to feeling the pain they inflicted. Since that time, there is no longer a cell in my body that wants to let such thoughts in. There is a quiet strength in the ability to rest in that tender place. Vulnerable it is; weak it is not. It reminds me of a quote from the ancient texts that says, “Make your heart as vast as space, so big that nothing can harm it.” When our hearts are that wide, it is as if the judgments are ripples on water, flowing away and leaving no trace. This is what vulnerability makes possible. It allows the natural strength of the heart to emerge.
Mark Coleman
Residential Retreat Teacher
Mark has trained extensively in the Buddhist tradition, both in the Insight meditation and in the Dzogchen tradition. He is a senior teacher at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and has taught insight meditation retreats since 1997.
Mark is a life-long nature lover and is passionate about guiding people into the beauty of meditation and nature. He has led wilderness nature retreats worldwide for over twenty years. Through his organization Awake in the Wild Mark leads year long nature meditation teacher trainings in the US and Europe.
Co-founder of the Mindfulness Training Institute Mark also leads year long professional mindfulness teacher trainings in Europe and the US.
He is author of Awake in the Wild - Mindfulness in nature as a path to self-discovery, Make Peace With Your Mind, From Suffering to Peace and his recent book A Field Guide to Nature Meditation.
He lives in Sausalito, Marin and likes nothing more than hiking, biking and kayaking in the outdoors.
Mark Coleman's Upcoming Programs
Retreat | On-Land
Sunday, July 28 | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Mindfulness, Awareness, and Non-Duality
Awareness is a natural quality of the mind that allows you to be present with clarity, insight and freedom. In this silent meditation retreat we explore this quality of awareness: what it is, and how to recognize, cultivate, and abide in it. We inquire into what interferes with stabilizing in awareness both in meditation and in daily activity. As mindfulness grows, we find an effortless, clear, and radiant awareness in every moment, leading to insight, wellbeing, and peace.
Mark Coleman
Training | Online | Dharma Institute
September 2024 - April 2025 | Times variable - see details.
Living Dharma Program
Experience the profound wisdom of the Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path in this online program for devoted practitioners. Together we will explore the teachings of sīla, samādhi, and pañña (ethics, meditation, and wisdom) as we consider how to cultivate mindfulness, kindness, and balance in the midst of today’s pressing challenges—from social inequity to the climate crisis. Join us in cultivating a vibrant learning community where we will study, meditate, and share insights, applying these ancient teachings to our contemporary lives.
Retreat | On-Land
Sunday, October 6 | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Freeing Yourself from the Inner Critic with Mindfulness & Compassion
5 CE Credits. Are you impacted by the tormenting self-critical mind and feeling the negative effects of self-judgment? Join us for a day of exploring how to be more free from the challenge of the inner critic. Our time together will include a combination of talks and interactive exercises, along with explorations of mindfulness and lovingkindness techniques and practices. Emphasizing the importance of not taking ourselves too seriously, this will be a practical and experiential retreat taught with lightness, compassion, and humor.
Mark Coleman
Retreat | On-Land
November 15 - November 22, 2024 | Friday - Friday | 7 nights
Natural Radiance: Exploring the Freedom of Awareness
Awareness is a beautiful, hidden jewel that is innate in everyone. In this meditation retreat, we will explore this quality of awareness—what it is, and how to cultivate and abide in awakened presence. We will investigate how mindfulness supports a depth of awareness through various meditation practices, and we will consider what obscures the clarity of awareness both in meditation and in everyday life. As our mindfulness grows, we discover how this capacity for awareness is available in every moment.
Dharma Library
Can't join us live online or on the land? Study and practice at your convenience with Mark Coleman through our new library of recordings, articles, and self-paced online courses.
