MahaSati Wisdom Awareness Training

MahaSati Essence of Mind Awareness Training is a long-term study-practice training for national and international intermediate/experienced practitioners with more than 5 years in Buddhist practice and more than 35 cumulative days of silent retreat (in any Buddhist tradition), who have a connection with Heather through sitting retreat with her or attending events with her.  


The Two Year Training 2026 - 2027

  • Individualized Training, which is Psychologically Mature and Embodied
  • Ongoing teachings, Study, Meditation, Daily Life Practice Support with a Committed Teacher
  • Accessing Pure Awareness/Empty Essence of Mind
  • Familiarizing and Stabilizing Essence of Mind
  • Option for Additional 2 Year Advanced Training


The format

  • Modules of Recordings and At Home Practices
  • Monthly Individual Sessions with Heather
  • Live Zoom Events
  • OnlineSmall Groups,
  • Annual Online Retreat 


Main teaching and practice themes include but are not limited to

  • Mindfulness of the Body and Nervous System
  • Deepening Concentration
  • Accessing and Deepening Pure Awareness (MahaSati)
  • Three Characteristics
  • Untangling and releasing Defilements,
  • Emptiness, Suchness
  • Dependent Origination
  • Heart Practice
  • Energy Practice 

This training is grounded in and influenced by the teachings and practices out of the Thai Forest tradition of Theravada Buddhism.


If you find yourself called to deepening your practice in a committed way and developing a relationship with Heather, please check the following Talk https://dharmaseed.org/teacher/202/talk/49778/ and if the teachings resonnate for you, email her at heather<at>heathersundberg.com. 
Heather can send you more information, including a link to the MahaSati website with full curriculum and training information.


Apply for the 2026 - 2027 Training

  • Application Window is February 1, 2025 thru November 20, 2025.
  • Applications will be reviewed and accepted in the order received, you are encouraged to apply early.
  • The other current trainings in progress began in 2016, 2020, 2022 and 2024.


Warm wishes,
Heather
 

“I’m so glad I joined the MahaSati training program with Heather! Not only is she a wonderful teacher who really takes great care transmitting the teachings and respecting the Thai Forest lineage, but she’s a genuinely caring person who really wants to make sure you succeed and understand the material. I’ve found the individual sessions, small groups, and larger group support to be invaluable as well, all of which has been wonderfully incorporated into the rest of the program. The program itself doesn’t move so fast that it requires a significant commitment from your life, but also gives you plenty to explore so you feel like there’s great value. You’ll have plenty to learn and play with! That being said, I think the most valuable aspect of this training program has been the way MahaSati weaves so many areas of practice together, along with the awareness practices that make it so unique. It’s a vast terrain that has the depth and mileage to support both deeper phases of practice like on retreat, and more supportive and relaxed phases of practice like in daily life.”
~ Nathaniel, AR
 

"I started the MahaSati practice with Heather in 2020 and I am so grateful.  Rather than homogenize teachings from a smorgasbord of traditions, Heather is teaching within a lineage.  This has brought so much coherence and clarity to the practice. Heather is so authentic and brings so much heart to the teachings, she is truly inspiring.  She really gets to know you and your practice.  The benefit of continuity with one guiding teacher is enormous. Practicing MahaSati has led to a deepening of practice, an opening of awareness, and increased wisdom.  There is so much more ease and equanimity in daily life.  I have seen and experienced a degree of untangling that I wasn’t sure was possible before engaging in this practice.  The path is clear, and I am on it."   
~ Cill, WA