The Marvels of Mindfulness
I am the guiding teacher and a cofounder of Roswell Insight Meditation Community in Georgia. I began my meditation practice almost 50 years ago with my lifelong teacher Joseph Goldstein. I have also studied for decades with, and been a friend of, guiding senior insight teachers Rodney Smith and Narayan Helen Liebenson. My teaching comes from what I call "the school of keep it simple," with an emphasis on the essentials for a skillful, wise, affectionate life. My journey tells the story of how mindfulness can provide opportunities for transformation, which I call the Marvels of Mindfulness, in all aspects of one's life. I have completed three 3-month retreats as well as dozens of others and have studied in both Tibetan and Zen traditions. I am a retired doctoral-level psychologist and 25-year crisis intervention coordinator/team leader, as well as an ordained Christian deacon. I have been married to the love of my life for over 40 years and we have two children and two grandchildren.
More About the Book
A Guide to the Friends, Teachers, and Guardians that Support us on the Path of Goodness, Discovery and Truth.
“You don't need to read all the books in a spiritual library to walk the path of goodness, discovery and truth,” says insight meditation teacher, psychologist and 25-year crisis-intervention coordinator/team leader Mark W. Gebert. “All you need is to directly see and understand a handful of essential, universal teachings.”
SMILE is a thorough exploration of those simple (but not always easy) teachings. Written in warm, accessible language, the book covers key milestones and common challenges on the path of awakening as they naturally arose for Mark, whose teachers on countless retreats over almost 50 years have included Joseph Goldstein, Rodney Smith and Narayan Helen Liebenson.
The marvels of mindfulness, Mark explains, are uncovered using what he calls “the dearest friends of mindfulness, teachers of transformation and guardians of the heart.” Guided meditations and skillful means practices, including the acronym SMILE, make it easy for readers to bring these teachings into their daily lives.
These teachings have the power to transform greed, aversion and delusion into goodness, discovery, and truth. “They’re the key to living a happier and more skillful/peaceful life for the benefit of all beings,” Mark says. “It all begins with mindfulness and a simple, welcoming smile.”