Buddha’s Heart Book Club

A Study and Practice Group

Let by Mark Shindo Johnson

Starting the 2nd week of January 2027 

Ending the 2nd week of March

Meet weekly for 13 weeks via zoom. Day/Time determined by the consensus of participants who sign up before the end of the year. 

Each 1 hour meeting will include discussion and practice 

3 daylong retreats via zoom from 9a to 12:30 on Saturday, February 6th, Saturday, February 20th and Saturday March 6th

“We will never be able to control, or deflect, painful life experiences. It is a core understanding in Buddhism that life contains unsatisfactoriness. If we are truly on a path of opening to our deeper nature and unfolding self-realization, we must directly meet the truth of life’s pains and pleasures. We cannot exclusively seek pleasant experiences if we are to walk a true path of liberation.

Mettā meditation provides a way to meet the challenges of painful life experiences with openhearted love. Mettā is usually translated as “loving-kindness.” Feeling into loving and kindness, we sense a particular support, an enduring lightness that is inherent. This is the loving lightness we need to meet life’s challenges and struggles with an open heart.”

― Stephen Mugen Snyder, Buddha’s Heart

Mark Shindo Johnson started a daily meditation practice in 2008. In 2014, he founded the Providence Mindfulness Community of Practice, together with colleague Laura Chun. He led daylong retreats and weekly sessions with Providence until he retired in 2025. 

Since 2021, he’s been a student of Stephen Mugen Snyder, Roshi.  In 2025, Mark completed the two-year Buddha’s Heart Teacher Training program with Awakening Dharma by which he became authorized to teach in the Theravada Buddhist Pa Auk Sayadaw lineage the Brahmavihāra, Breath Awareness meditation, Forgiveness & Gratitude practices.  

Mark lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife, Kylie, and youngest son, Bridger. He has three adult children that also live in Oregon. He founded Bright Cedar Coaching, a leadership coaching company using mindfulness to help leaders and teams grow. He leads a weekly meditation group on Fridays at noon PST that welcomes new members. 

Investment

Dana: $300. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.