The Dharma Of The Cosmos
With Mark WestmoquetteAn unexamined life is shaped by rigid mental labels, negative habit patterns and a pervading sense of separateness or isolation. The Dharma of the Cosmos invites you to turn your gaze upwards, using stargazing as a gateway to explore fundamental Buddhist philosophy and practice. Across 5 days of outdoor mindful stargazing sessions, the course bridges contemplative wisdom with the physical reality of the sky and universe. Through practices ranging from dawn transitions to night sky breathwork, you will learn to drop conceptual filters and cultivate spacious awareness. Theoretical ideas will transform into a lived, sensory reality, engendering a deep shift in your perception of the universe “out there” and the universe “in here”. Ultimately you will directly experience your fundamental connection to the cosmos. The journey begins at sunrise, then goes into the dark night - with practices to be done with the moon, on a clear starry night, and whatever the weather. You Will Learn About: - Dropping Conceptual Filters: Apply shoshin (beginner’s mind) and asvada (savouring) to perceive sensory reality in real-time rather than through past memories or mental labels. - Shifting Perspective on the Self: Understand prajna (wisdom) and sunyata (emptiness/potential) by recognizing that the physical body is composed of elements created in ancient exploding stars. - Recognising Your Inherent Wholeness: Uncover an unshakeable sense of completeness that remains untouched by passing stress or difficult emotions. - Embracing Transience without Suffering: Understand anicca (impermanence) and release tanha (grasping/desire) through the unpredictable nature of meteor showers. - Dissolving Boundaries: Practice anatta (non-self) through cosmic breathwork, softening the perceived line between "observer" and "observed."
A complete practice for connecting with yourself through mindful stargazing.
About this course
An unexamined life is shaped by rigid mental labels, negative habit patterns and a pervading sense of separateness or isolation. The Dharma of the Cosmos invites you to turn your gaze upwards, using stargazing as a gateway to explore fundamental Buddhist philosophy and practice. Across 5 days of outdoor mindful stargazing sessions, the course bridges contemplative wisdom with the physical reality of the sky and universe. Through practices ranging from dawn transitions to night sky breathwork, you will learn to drop conceptual filters and cultivate spacious awareness. Theoretical ideas will transform into a lived, sensory reality, engendering a deep shift in your perception of the universe “out there” and the universe “in here”. Ultimately you will directly experience your fundamental connection to the cosmos. The journey begins at sunrise, then goes into the dark night - with practices to be done with the moon, on a clear starry night, and whatever the weather. You Will Learn About: - Dropping Conceptual Filters: Apply shoshin (beginner’s mind) and asvada (savouring) to perceive sensory reality in real-time rather than through past memories or mental labels. - Shifting Perspective on the Self: Understand prajna (wisdom) and sunyata (emptiness/potential) by recognizing that the physical body is composed of elements created in ancient exploding stars. - Recognising Your Inherent Wholeness: Uncover an unshakeable sense of completeness that remains untouched by passing stress or difficult emotions. - Embracing Transience without Suffering: Understand anicca (impermanence) and release tanha (grasping/desire) through the unpredictable nature of meteor showers. - Dissolving Boundaries: Practice anatta (non-self) through cosmic breathwork, softening the perceived line between "observer" and "observed."
Meet your Teacher
Mark has a PhD in astrophysics and spent a decade as a professional researcher at world-leading institutions including University College London and the European Southern Observatory. Over the last decade and a half, Mark has dedicated his life to the study and practice of mindfulness, Zen Buddhism, and yoga, and is today a senior Zen teacher. At the heart of his work is a passionate conviction: that looking up at the night sky is one of the most direct ways to illuminate our fundamental nature. Mark is dedicated to bridging the boundary between the universe "out there" and the universe "in here", guiding people to explore their relationship with the cosmos so they can uncover who they truly are. This course brings together his knowledge of astronomy with his deep insight into Buddhist teachings, building on a number of books he has authored on the subject, including The Mindful Universe (2020) and Look Up At Bedtime (2026).