<- How to make a donation to the teachers and to the center:
- Click the Donate button to the left, key in an amount, and key in your credit card information. Thank you for donation by November 8th
Please note this retreat meets the requirements for participants in Jack Kornfield + Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification program through Sounds True.
During this retreat, we’ll explore practices that help us to quiet the mind and open the heart and support of the development of wisdom, clear seeing, and loving awareness that is so needed in our world today. The daily rhythm of an online Insight meditation retreat includes guided and silent meditation practice, time for independent sitting in the communal virtual meditation hall and walking meditation periods, rest, mindful eating instructions for meals, Dharma talks, and small group practice discussion meetings with the teachers.
Practicing “alone together” while in our own spaces presents a unique and powerful new kind of retreat container to deepen our practice and the integration of mindfulness into how we’re living during these times. After teaching several online retreats, we’ve learned what works well for supporting a home retreat and have created a schedule that’s accessible to people with different circumstances. This particular format combines the dedicated practice time of a residential retreat while also supporting those with family members and/or other responsibilities.
There’s an optional first meditation period that usually begins before breakfast. Each morning the teachers offer continuing meditation instructions for the day. The whole retreat is a succession of mindfulness trainings, breathing practices, deep awareness of the body and environment, meditations on the nature of feelings, and awareness of mind from the Buddhist Insight Meditation tradition.
OPTIONAL: Meditation Cabins for Rent at Big Bear Retreat Center
If retreat practice is challenging because of your living situation or you would like to practice in a private location, there is an option to practice this online retreat on your own at the Big Bear Retreat Center. Please note: there would not be any in-person instruction or facilitated activities during your stay.
Big Bear Retreat Center is offering a limited number of its 3 bedroom / 2 bathroom cabins for rent, on a first-come first-served basis, for the duration of this retreat. Each cabin has a living area and small kitchen. The cabin (and portions of the grounds with wifi access) would be your own private space to participate in the online retreat virtually via your computer or phone.
Contact-free vegetarian meals will be delivered to your cabin three times per day, and coffee, tea, and snacks will be available in your cabin’s kitchen. You may also bring your own snacks with you. In addition to your private cabin, you will also have full access to the grounds, trails, meditation hall (limited capacity), and outdoor dining spaces.
Click HERE to find out about pricing.
Register for a cabin on the Big Bear Retreat Center website HERE.
(Arrive 10/1/2020, Depart 10/8/2020)
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Sitting (or stationary) Meditation: Sitting meditation is at the heart of silent retreats. In sitting practice silence and stillness develop, concentration deepens, and awareness expands. Through training the heart, kindness and compassion are awakened to meet all that arises within awareness. We come into presence and learn to find freedom in the midst of life as it truly is. The Buddha invited us to establish mindfulness in all postures. For those who find sitting is not possible for their body, alternate stationary postures are suggested.
Walking Meditation (or movement meditation): Throughout the retreat we learn to cultivate mindful awareness in all postures: sitting, walking, standing, and lying down. In mindful walking meditation practice, we learn to sustain meditative awareness through movement, and establish continuity of mindfulness in the midst of activity. Walking meditation helps us to bridge the gap between our experiences in seated meditation and daily life. We alternate between sitting and walking meditation to support the establishment of mindfulness and concentration and to balance the factors of energy and calm in our practice. The Buddha invited us to establish mindfulness in all postures. For those who find walking meditation is not possible, alternate forms of mindful movement are suggested.
Eating Meditation: Instructions will be given on how to integrate the process of nourishment and eating as a meditation during retreat for continuity of mindfulness and a deepening of practice. Retreatants are encouraged to bring the same calm, focused attention to eating as is brought to sitting, walking, and other activities. Through reflection on the Buddhist teaching of interdependence, we have the opportunity to slow down and recognize each bite of food we eat is a result of countless causes and conditions and to appreciate the blessing of mindful nourishment.
Dharma Talks and guided meditations: Each day, the teachers present a different set of teachings that are central to practicing mindfulness and compassion. These teachings can be applied to our own direct experience. Sometimes the talks focus on retreat practice, and sometimes they offer teachings for wise living in the world.
Dana/Generosity: There will also be an opportunity to offer Dana for the teachers and center at the end of the retreat. Thank you for your support!
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Schedule (PT):
(please note opening day will begin at 9am, not 7:00, closing day will finish at 12pm)
7:00 – 7:45 am Optional morning sit
7:45 – 9:00 am Meal break
9:00 – 10:15 am Sitting meditation (or stationary practice) with instructions, Q&A, announcements
10:15 – 10:45 am Walk or Small Group Practice Discussion Meeting (10:30am)
10:45 – 11:30 am Sit or Small Group Practice Discussion Meeting (10:30am)
11:30 am – 12:00 pm Walk (or movement practice)
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm Sit (or stationary practice)
12:30 – 2:30 pm Meal break
2:30 – 3:00 pm Sit or Small Group Practice Discussion Meeting
3:00 – 3:30 pm Walk or Small Group Practice Discussion Meeting
3:30 – 4:15 pm Dharma Talk
4:15 – 4:30 pm Break
4:30- 5:00 pm Sit (or stationary practice)
5:00 – 5:30 pm Walk
5:30 – 6:00 pm Brahma Vihara (Heart practice) guided meditation
6:00pm – evening Meal break, rest, or further practice
*The retreat includes 6 full days and 6 nights of practice together. MMTCP participants are required to attend all bolded items. All others are strongly encouraged to attend as much of this retreat as your schedule allows.
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*Note: This retreat meets the online retreat qualifications for Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach’s Mindulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program. If you are a participant in that program and would like to receive credit for attending this retreat, please indicate in your registration and fill out the agreement form to meet the requirements.
Any participants from the MMTCP training program will be required to fill out this agreement form as a prerequisite to the retreat.
