Mindfulness and Compassion
Teacher Training Program 2025 -2026
Knowledge Skills Awakening
This program is for those who want to teach mindfulness and compassion aligned with the deep wisdom of the teachings of the Buddha in their current or future areas of work. The course is also suitable for people who are wanting to deepen their practice and understanding of the teachings, want to continue their own journey of awakening and be part of a community of dharma practitioners.
The course will develop an understanding of the principles and application of the practices underlying meditation, mindfulness and the Boundless Heart qualities of loving kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity.
The teachers of the program will be Alan Bassal and Subhana Barzaghi see our Faculty
This program is a foundational program for those who want to enter the Insight Meditation Dharma teacher pathway.
Knowledge, Awakening and Skills
These form the basis of deepening one's practice and for becoming a mindfulness and compassion teacher. The program is designed to support you to develop all three within a framework of ethics based on the principles of non-harming, wise speech and skillful communication.
Knowledge Component
This will draw upon the traditional teachings of the Buddha on mindfulness and compassion as well as a contemporary understanding provided by mindfulness-based psychotherapy.
Awakening Component
To awaken to our own essential nature is an ongoing and integral part of becoming a mindfulness and compassion teacher. Authentic teaching and interaction with others come from your own insight and embodiment of the teachings and your lived experience. It is by sharing from your direct experience that one radiates and inspires others to a life of mindfulness and loving-kindness.
Skills Component
This will provide insight into how to introduce various practices, how to language instructions and develop the skills needed for attunement, empathy and sensitivity in the teaching role. There will be practice opportunities and mentoring to develop the confidence to lead small groups.
Delivery mode
For the first workshop of each year physical attendance at the venue is required, for the other workshops attendance can be either face to face or live on Zoom. Ideally, we would like all participants to attend all weekend workshops face to face as we have found this creates a stronger sense of connection and community.
The course will develop an understanding of the principles and application of the practices underlying meditation, mindfulness and the Boundless Heart qualities of loving kindness, compassion, joy and equanimity.
The teachers of the program will be Alan Bassal and Subhana Barzaghi see our Faculty
This program is a foundational program for those who want to enter the Insight Meditation Dharma teacher pathway.
Knowledge, Awakening and Skills
These form the basis of deepening one's practice and for becoming a mindfulness and compassion teacher. The program is designed to support you to develop all three within a framework of ethics based on the principles of non-harming, wise speech and skillful communication.
Knowledge Component
This will draw upon the traditional teachings of the Buddha on mindfulness and compassion as well as a contemporary understanding provided by mindfulness-based psychotherapy.
Awakening Component
To awaken to our own essential nature is an ongoing and integral part of becoming a mindfulness and compassion teacher. Authentic teaching and interaction with others come from your own insight and embodiment of the teachings and your lived experience. It is by sharing from your direct experience that one radiates and inspires others to a life of mindfulness and loving-kindness.
Skills Component
This will provide insight into how to introduce various practices, how to language instructions and develop the skills needed for attunement, empathy and sensitivity in the teaching role. There will be practice opportunities and mentoring to develop the confidence to lead small groups.
Delivery mode
For the first workshop of each year physical attendance at the venue is required, for the other workshops attendance can be either face to face or live on Zoom. Ideally, we would like all participants to attend all weekend workshops face to face as we have found this creates a stronger sense of connection and community.
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Program structure
This is a two year program. Each year will comprise:
Cost: $2,760 per year or 8 quarterly payments of $690. Location - We will be at the Crows Nest Centre, 2 Ernest Place, Crows Nest, Sydney Times - 9 to 4.30 pm on Saturday and Sunday Dates for the 2025 Weekend Workshops
Module 1 - February 22-23 Module 2 - May 17-18 Module 3 - August 16-17 Module 4 - November 15-16
CURRICULUM
MINDFULNESS
The mindfulness stream includes:
* Deepening your personal mindfulness practice and realisation * Applying mindfulness in daily life to free oneself from habitual reactive tendencies * Establishing familiarity with current research findings on the effects of mindfulness meditation * Developing skills and confidence in leading individual and small group sessions and responding to questions |
Testimonials "With each module, my personal practice and my ability to share these profound teachings have grown immensely. At the same time, my friendships have deepened, with each session cultivating a level of intimacy, trust, and honest connection. "I would highly recommend this study and practice to anyone looking to further deepen their knowledge and gifts to others." "After two years of study I am leaving with a new level of personal embodiment of mindfulness and compassion and quality teaching practices for my work as an academic and health professional. The length of the course, the wisdom of the teachers and the support of fellow students slowly imbued me with trust and willingness to embrace everything that was offered in the curriculum. The course was thoroughly engaging, often challenging, always enjoyable and soundly based in evidence. I know that the accreditation that I now hold, and the principles and practices that I teach from this learning are valid and trustworthy." |
BOUNDLESS HEART
Training in the compassion stream includes:
Training in the compassion stream includes:
- Training in the Boundless Heart qualities of; Loving-kindness, Compassion, Joy and Equanimity
- Understand the theoretical, philosophical and meditative practices of the Boundless Heart
- The role of compassion in healing emotional and psychological suffering
- Deepening and inquiring into your personal experience of the open heart
- Establish a familiarity with current research findings on the effects of mindfulness self-compassion
- Models, meditations and mentoring to support teaching the Boundless Heart practices
Prerequisites
The following prerequisites are required:
To apply to join the program please complete and submit this applications form - click here
For more information or to have a conversation, email: [email protected]
The following prerequisites are required:
- Have an established regular meditation practice of a minimum of two years
- Have attended at least three 5 or 7 days meditation retreats in the style of Insight or Vipassana meditation
- Desirable but not essential - currently involved or will be involved in a teaching role in allied modalities such as health, yoga, fitness, group work, social work, conflict resolution, social activism and counselling
- Have attended the 8 week MBSR program or MBSR teacher training
- Participated in the 'Power of Awareness' on line program with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield
- Have taken 'Entering the Path' 12 week course at the Barre Center of Buddhist studies
- Have done the 'Compassion Training' with the Compassion Mind foundation
- Other personal growth workshops, or psychotherapy training
- A reference from a senior Insight meditation dharma teacher
To apply to join the program please complete and submit this applications form - click here
For more information or to have a conversation, email: [email protected]
The Mindfulness and Compassion Teaching Diploma
On successful completion of the program and subject to meeting the qualification criteria a Diploma in Mindfulness and Compassion Teaching will be issued by the Insight Meditation Institute. The criteria for qualification include:
On successful completion of the program and subject to meeting the qualification criteria a Diploma in Mindfulness and Compassion Teaching will be issued by the Insight Meditation Institute. The criteria for qualification include:
- Attendance is required for at least 75% of all Workshop modules, mentoring sessions and webinars.
- Any sessions missed are to be made up by use of notes, audio files and doing the experiential inquiry exercises.
- Attending at least one silent Insight Meditation retreat of 5 days or more per year, led by an Insight teacher recognised by the Institute (price of this is not included in the course fee).
- Deliver at least one guided meditation in your mentoring group each year for feedback and assessment.
- Issuing of a diploma is subject to the teachers being satisfied with the student's participation level, understanding, ethical standards and competency in applying the teachings.
Regarding Course Fees
- The course fee includes the weekend workshops, online group mentoring, online webinars, the M&CTT manual, and access to the on-line student portal resources.
- The course fee can be paid annually or by quarterly installments, missed modules need to be paid for in order to continue.
- If payment of the fee is proving difficult then please contact the lead teachers to discuss alternative arrangements.
To contact us by email click here