Co-hosted by InsightLA and Big Bear Retreat Center
Book early and get $100.00 off listed prices. Offer valid until Mar 11, 2025. For any questions or support for registering or preparing for this retreat, contact guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org*
For more details and to register for this retreat, visit Big Bear Retreat Center: Shelter from the Storm: Cultivating a Steady Heart (July 10 – 13, 2025)
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Open to both beginners and experienced practitioners.
Registration for this retreat closes on June 26, 2025 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. If looking to join after this date, please inquire at guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org.
The storms affect us deeply on multiple levels of our being. In this meditation retreat we’ll practice with an attitude, approach and meditative techniques which encourage the mind, the body, the heart and the nervous system to calm down. As we calm down we can rest more deeply, resource ourselves more fully and begin to access an intrinsic well-being that is available even when conditions are difficult. This ability to reset and to start again refreshed is the cornerstone of resiliency.
The Buddha often spoke of life in this world as an uneven path that constantly challenges us to walk evenly. This seems as true as ever 2,600 years later in a world that is fraught with multiple trials, including climate change, divisive public discourse, the epidemic of gun violence, and even the comparatively mundane challenges of work-life balance.
The retreat will be held mostly in noble silence with opportunities to ask questions.
WHAT IS A SILENT MEDITATION RETREAT?
Also known as Vipassana, or Insight, this is a retreat held for several days in the practice of “noble silence” with alternating periods of sitting and walking meditation throughout the day. There are teacher-guided sessions and talks, as well as self-guided periods. There also will be interview opportunities with the teachers to talk about your experience. Silence usually begins after dinner on arrival day and ends after breakfast on departure day. All are asked to hold the practice and silence throughout the entire time and to not leave the retreat early, so as to support the fullness of practice. Read more here on what to expect and sample schedule.
GENEROSITY
Retreat Cost & Fees:
Registration fees for this retreat support the cost of developing and offering BBRC programs, which include lodging, meals, and staff compensation.Teacher compensation is not included in your registration fees, as is the tradition of these retreats (see below). We price fees to make programs as financially accessible as possible.
Is cost a barrier? Nobody is turned away at Big Bear Retreat Center due to finances. We ask that financial assistance be prioritized for those who self-identify as BIPOC, hold marginalized identities, or are in financial need. For more information, please contact us at guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org.
Dana (Generosity) for Teachers (not included in registration fees):
The spirit of generosity is a foundational component to the Buddhist path. It supports the development of lovingkindness and compassion, deepens awareness of our interconnectedness and encourages non-attachment. Learn more about the practice of generosity.
As part of this tradition, many meditation teachers (including the teachers of this retreat) offer their teachings without set fees or compensation. BBRC reimburses teachers’ travel costs and provides teachers with meals and accommodations while teaching, but teachers receive no direct compensation from the retreat center. As a practice of generosity from the heart, participants are invited to offer “teacher dana” (donations-generosity) to the teachers at the end of the retreat. When we all take part in the offering and receiving of dana, we join a large circle of generosity. Learn more about this offering and tradition from IMS.
Click here for the Big Bear Retreat Center’s Cancellation Policy.
Is this your first retreat? Read more about retreats at Big Bear Retreat Center.
