When we practice with wise intention, we bring more happiness into our lives, and more happiness into the lives of people around us. Intention includes three aspects: renunciation, or letting go of sense desires, loving kindness, which counters ill will, and compassion, which counters cruelty. Renunciation—letting go of needing things to be different than they are, loving kindness, and compassion all deeply support our practice of waking up and realizing a deeper happiness. Practicing wise intention is a gift both for the world and for our own practice right here.
John Martin
Residential Retreat Teacher
John Martin has been devoted to dharma practice since 2001, and has been teaching since 2014. He serves as the Co-Chair of the Spirit Rock Guiding Teachers Council. John teaches Vipassana, Metta and LGBTQI-themed meditation retreats. He is on the teaching team leading the four year Spirit Rock/Insight Meditation Society teacher training program. John’s spiritual path has included volunteer service work, including over 12 years as a hospice volunteer.
John Martin's Upcoming Programs
Retreat | Online
Saturday, March 29 | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Rainbow Day: A Peaceful & Loving Heart: Cultivating Equanimity
Open to all self-identified LGBTQIA+. Join together in the beauty of our LGBTQIA & GE community to cultivate and explore equanimity—a beautiful heart quality that involves holding the joys and sorrows of our lives and the world with balance. Equanimity acknowledges what is true in any moment with an open, courageous, and loving heart, even in the midst of life’s great challenges. Our time together will include guided meditations, Dharma teachings, and opportunities for sharing and connecting in our rainbow community.
John Martin
Retreat | On-Land
July 9 - July 18, 2025 | Wednesday - Friday | 9 nights
Summer Lovingkindness Retreat
Registration Opens - February 19. The Buddha’s teachings on the four divine sanctuaries (brahmavihāras) include meditations on universal friendliness (mettā), compassion (karuṇā), altruistic joy (muditā), and equanimity (upekkhā). Aimed at purifying our hearts and developing concentration, these divine sanctuaries help us find inner peace and powerfully engage with the world. This retreat will deepen our understanding of selfless love and its role in ending suffering. Retreatants are encouraged to combine this retreat with the Insight Meditation retreat to further develop concentration and purify the heart.
Retreat | On-Land
July 18 - July 27, 2025 | Friday - Sunday | 9 nights
Summer Insight Meditation Retreat
Registration Opens - February 19. This retreat will emphasize continuity of awareness in all activities, stabilizing the mind, and cultivating insight. Combining relaxation with clarity, we will explore the liberating teachings of the Buddha, including the foundations of mindfulness, the radical nature of impermanence, and the cessation of craving. Practitioners are encouraged to combine the Summer Insight Retreat with the Summer Lovingkindness (mettā) Retreat, although this is not required. For those attending both retreats, the teachers will guide and integrate the retreats as one offering.
Retreat | On-Land
November 2 - November 7, 2025 | Sunday - Friday | 5 nights
Cultivating Love, Clarity, and Resilience: An LGBTQIA+ and GNC Retreat
Open to all self-identified LGBTQIA+.
Registration Opens - February 19. This retreat offers a precious opportunity to come together in our LGBTQIA+ and GNC (Gender Non-Conforming) community. Together, we will embrace all of ourselves with love and a deep acceptance. On this retreat there will be an emphasis on cultivating a continuity of awareness in all activities, with a relaxed and gentle attention. We will also cultivate the Divine Abodes (beautiful qualities) of the heart: mettā (lovingkindness), compassion, joy, and the peace of equanimity.
Dharma Library
Can't join us live online or on the land? Study and practice at your convenience with John Martin through our new library of recordings, articles, and self-paced online courses.