Day of Compassion and Acceptance

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. 

Stephen Mugen Snyder, Roshi is a senior meditation teacher in the Buddhist Theravada and Zen traditions.  He is the author of Demystifying Awakening, Buddha’s Heart, Liberating the Self, and co-author of Practicing the Jhanas. He works with students worldwide as well as leading online and in-person retreats in the U.S., the U.K., and Europe.