John D. S.

About John D. S.

I’m a writer and communications leader exploring the intersections of spirituality, ancestry, and awakening. My work bridges the contemplative and the creative—drawing on decades in publishing, service, and meditation.As Director of Partnerships and Communications at Insight Meditation Society, I support the organization’s mission by helping articulate who we are and what we do to a wide range of constituencies—from IMS’s global community of meditators and supporters to individuals and organizations interested in meditation, Buddhism, and contemplative practice—and by representing IMS in media and public-facing contexts.My work includes storytelling across multiple media; promotion of residential and online retreats and programs led by highly experienced insight teachers; and close collaboration with colleagues in support of fundraising and long-term sustainability.I also serve as host of the monthly IMS Book Club, an online program that brings together authors and readers for facilitated conversations around a featured dharma book. These discussions offer participants deeper engagement with Buddhist teachings and practice through the lens of contemporary voices and texts.My first book, A Pilgrim’s Digress: My Perilous, Fumbling Quest for the Celestial City (Harmony Books), was a San Francisco Chronicle bestseller and was praised by LA Weekly, Elle, Kirkus Reviews, and The Seattle Times for its humor, honesty, and insight into the spiritual search. Over the years, I’ve written essays and features for publications including the Los Angeles Times, Harvard Divinity Bulletin, The Christian Century, Commonweal, and others.Whether through writing, editing, or building bridges between communities, my aim is to explore how the stories we inherit—and the silence we break—shape our understanding of self, belonging, and the sacred.

Experience

1. Director of Partnerships and Communications

   Insight Meditation Society

   Jan 2018 — Present · Barre, MA, US

Education

• Harvard Divinity School

  Master of Theological Studies (MTS), Religion and Culture, Philosophy

  1987 — 1989

• Eastern Nazarene College

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Philosophy

  1983 — 1987

• Harvard University

  Radcliffe Publishing Course (Summer 1990)

  1990 — 1990

• Southern Connecticut State University

  Master of Science (MS), Clinical Mental Health Counseling

  2010 — 2013