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. It is also for those who want to engage in an ongoing program of study to deepen their own journey of awakening. 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. This program is a foundational program for those who want to enter the Insight Meditation Dharma teacher path.
Delivery mode Attendance can be either face to face or live on Zoom. Ideally, depending on circumstance, we would like all participants to attend the first workshop of each year in person and the others can be in person or on line. Depending on health restrictions some modules may be delivered fully online.
Knowledge, Skills and Awakening These form the basis of 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 and neuropsychology. 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. Awakening Component To awaken to our own essential nature is an ongoing and integral part of becoming a mindfulness and compassion teacher. Authentic teaching comes 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.
Program structure This is a two year program. Each year will comprise:
4 weekend workshops face to face or via Zoom (non-residential). Face to face is the preferred way to attend the course. In order to minimise long distance travel we will also be offering the weekend modules via Zoom. Ideally we would like everyone to attend in person modules 1 & 5, but this is very dependent on what is possible given the pandemic restrictions.
3 Webinar on-line group sessions each year of approximately 2 hour duration.
Online Small GroupMentoring sessions, 4 in year one and 3 in year two
In addition participants are required to attend at least one 5 to 7 day Insight Meditation retreat each year (price not included here).
Please note If you are a heath professional 52 PD hours will be awarded each year.
Cost for Each Year will be $2,500 au per year, payed each year or quarterly.
Location - For those attending face to face we will be at the Crows Nest Centre, 2 Ernest Place, Crows Nest, Sydney Times - 9 to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday
Dates for 2024 Weekend Modules 17-18 February 18-19 May 17-18 August 23-24 November
Webinars will be held on Saturdays between 2 to 4pm on the following dates in 2024 20 April, 13 July, 26 Oct
Small group Mentoring Sessions will occur 4 to 5 weeks after each module. You will be meeting with the same group throughout the year in a regular time slot.
CURRICULUM
MINDFULNESS The mindfulness stream includes:
* Understanding the theoretical, philosophical and practical aspects of mindfulness based on the Satipatthana Suta; mindfulness of body, feelings, mindstates, dharma teachings
* The use of movement practices to engage the somatic experience * 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
BOUNDLESS HEART 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:
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
Other experiences that would support your application include:
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
If you are interested to enroll please complete the application form and or contact one of the teachers.
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:
Attendance is required for at least 75% of all Workshop modules, webinars and mentoring sessions.
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 students participation level, understanding, ethical standards and competency in applying the teachings.
Regarding Course Fees
The course fee includes the weekend workshops, online webinars, online group mentoring , the M&CTT manual, and access to the on-line student portal resources.
The course fee can be paid annually or by 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.