Michael Stone

Michael Stone (1974–2017) was a Buddhist teacher, author and mental health advocate who worked at the intersection of personal, political and ecological awakening. He had a gift for sharing complex, interdisciplinary ideas in a way that was contemporary, relatable and heartfelt, and his style was smart, instructive, calm, direct and funny.

He taught silent meditation retreats in North America and Europe, along with yoga and meditation workshops that combined practice and study. He gave talks, trained other professionals and mentored future dharma teachers. He wrote several books, including Family Wakes Us Up, co-written with Matthew Remski, and hosted the Awake in the World podcast. In 2003 he renovated a garage in downtown Toronto that became Centre of Gravity, a charitable organization integrating yoga and meditation, which he closed in 2014 to focus on building an international community without walls.

Michael held a Master of Arts in psychology from Vermont College, where he studied with James Hillman. He trained in Insight Meditation and was authorized to teach in the Vipassana lineage, was influenced by Zen, and studied yoga postures and breathing with Richard Freeman. He drew on eastern mindfulness traditions and western psychology together, believing in depth without dogma and an ethics-based spirituality accessible to contemporary, urban people.

He often spoke of his childhood friendship with his uncle, who lived with schizophrenia, and of how the mind is more unstable than it seems. He hoped people would feel ignited and consoled. His teachings continue through an archive of talks, courses and writing.