Practicing the Brahmaviharas: the Heart Practices Taught by the Buddha 

Day-long In-Person Retreat in Portland, Oregon

The brahmaviharas are four “divine abodes” or beneficial qualities of heart: metta (loving-kindness), karuna (compassion), mudita (sympathetic joy), and upekkha (equanimity). These practices have been handed down for over 2500 years from teacher to student all the way back to the Buddha. 

Practicing them can significantly reduce difficult emotions like anxiety, anger, and jealousy while cultivating more positive mental states. They help you feel more connected to others and less isolated, addressing a fundamental source of human suffering. These aren’t just abstract ideals—they’re trainable skills that you can develop through daily practice, much like building physical strength through exercise.

This daylong will include Dharma talks, guided meditations, walking meditations, a one-hour lunch break and ample time for questions or comments among the group.

Suitable for beginning meditators, as well as those in the intermediate and advanced groups.

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. 

Dates

• Saturday, September 26th, 2026*
• Saturday, December 5th, 2026*

*Registration opens after each previous event

Investment

$30 per/person to cover the cost of the facility.