“Awakening Through Love is an uplifting and joyful reminder of our human potential. As a manual for practice, it wonderfully supports our shift from a contracted self-centeredness to the profound expansiveness of connection with others.”
— Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness
the book John Makransky

Meditation Workshops & Retreats

dzogchen center

John Makransky is a guiding meditation teacher for retreats and workshops sponsored by Dzogchen Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts and across the United States. For events in Cambridge, click here. For his meditation retreats both nationally and in Cambridge, click here.

workshops for helping professionals

John has designed workshops specific to helping professionals, including social workers, therapists, counselors, educators, and activists. He adapts meditation practices from the Tibetan Dzogchen tradition to help caregivers of all backgrounds and faiths ease into a state of simple presence and loving communion with others, for their own deep replenishment and to be more effective in their work. Click here for an overview.

Currently scheduled workshops

  • June 27 — "Taking Deep Care of Ourselves as Caregivers"
    meditation workshop for social workers and others in social service and caregiving professions, Boston College
    Info: Vincent Lynch, lynchv@bc.edu

  • July 18-20 — "Deep Replenishment and Connection" (click for info)
    meditation retreat for social activists and caregiving professionals, sponsored by Contemplative Mind in Society
    Info: Sophia Awad Rice, sophia@contemplativemind.org

  • Sept. 27 — Northampton, MA: Daylong meditation workshop sponsored by Dzogchen Center
    "Compassion Beyond Fatigue: Meditations of Deep Replenishment for Ourselves as Caregivers" — a workshop for those who care for others either professionally or in the home
    Info: Ellen Mintzer, pmintzer@earthlink.net

  • May 8-9, 2009 — Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
    May 8: Buddhist-Christian Dialogue with John Makransky and Bonnie Thurston
    May 9: daylong workshop — "Meditations of Compassionate Communon and Presence: How Meditation Practices Can Deepen Your Clinical Work"
    Info: Martha Robbins, mrobbins@pts.edu

  • Sept. 12, 2009 — Barre Center for Buddhist Studies
    Workshop for Helping Professionals
    for therapists, social workers, counselors, nurses, educators: "Compassion Beyond Fatigue: Meditations of Deep Replenishment for Ourselves as Caregivers"
    Info: musoeng@dharma.org