Financial Support

Our mission is to make all of our programs accessible. Every fee-based offering has a limited number of pay-what-you-can spots available to support self-identified people of color, members of marginalized groups (queer people, transgender people, and  people with disabilities) and those in financial need (those for whom the cost to attend is not financially possible). 

These spots are offered on a first come, first served basis. Please pay at the highest level you can afford. In order for this support to be available, we rely on those who can afford to pay the full price to do so.

Find out if spots are available by clicking REGISTER NOW on the event you are interested in.

Safety 

We work to protect the safety of all students. We reserve the right to remove any student from any class, sitting group, retreat, or any event if the student is disruptive to the safe learning environment we maintain for all.

Cancellation & Refunds

We reserve the right to cancel a class or special event due to low enrollment or other circumstances which would make the event non-viable. If InsightLA cancels an event you’ve registered for, you will be offered a full refund. If an event has to be postponed for any reason, you will have the option to either receive a full refund or transfer your registration to the same event at the new, future date. If you cancel, we apply a 5% credit processing fee and the refunded amounts are listed below:

MBSR, MSC, & MBHC, Mindfulness for Beginners & Special Events

7 days – 95% Refund
<7 days – No Refunds – Credit given if requested or donation to InsightLA

Fee-Based Non-Residential Retreats (note: Donations are non-refundable)

>7 days – 95% Refund
<7 days – No Refunds – Credit given if requested or donation to InsightLA

Residential Retreats

> 8 weeks – amount paid less $100
4-8 weeks – amount paid less $175
2-4 weeks – amount paid less $300
< 2 weeks – No refund

Residential Retreats with Financial Support:

> 8 weeks – amount paid less $75
4-8 weeks – amount paid less $100
2-4 weeks – amount paid less $200
< 2 weeks – No refund

Register Now Save for Later Please log in or create an account to be able to use this functionality.

  • Location Big Bear Retreat Center
  • Experience Levels All
  • Date Starts Sunday, August 31, 2025
    Ends Thursday, September 4, 2025

    4 nights

Refund and Event Policies

This retreat is hosted by Big Bear Retreat Center, not InsightLA.

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 the Big Bear Retreat Center’s website: The Brilliant Weave of the Brahma Viharas and Emptiness

________

Open to both beginning and experienced practitioners.
Registration for this retreat closes on August 17, 2025 at 11:59pm Pacific Time. If looking to join after this date, please inquire at guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org.

Experience the power of an open heart in the expanse of awareness. The Buddha taught that we all have the capacity to abide in the four Brahma Viharas (the divine heart states). These are: Lovingkindness, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy, and Equanimity. If we look deeper, we will see the interplay of emptiness with the Brahma Viharas and how they support each other.

Emptiness in Buddhism is the direct experience of seeing through separation – a separate self. Thich Nhat Hanh famously said “we are all here to wake up from the illusion of our separation.” 

In this retreat we will weave the heart practices with emptiness to see beyond the prism of separation and into the boundless nature of the awakened heart/mind. This silent retreat will include periods of sitting and walking meditation, daily instructions, dharma talks, Q&A, mindful movement and meetings with the teachers. 

 

Lisa Ernst

Lisa Ernst is a meditation teacher, artist and founder of One Dharma Nashville. In her teaching, Lisa emphasizes both transformational insight and everyday awakening as an invitation to embrace all of the path’s possibilities. Lisa has been meditating for over 30 years in the Zen and Vipassana traditions. She teaches internationally and has led retreats... Read more

David Cabrera

David Cabrera has been a Vipassana practitioner and instructor since 2007 and received certification through Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program in 2021. He is currently a mentor, and is part of the faculty training new mentors, for Banyan.  David has also led meditation and mindful movement retreats at Spirit Rock... Read more

Pricing Options
Private room with private bath $1200
Private room with shared bath $880
Double room with shared bath $600
Triple Room, Shared Bath $360
Camping Rate $360

Register Now

Financial Support

Our mission is to make all of our programs accessible. Every fee-based offering has a limited number of pay-what-you-can spots available to support members of marginalized groups (people of color, queer people, people with disabilities) and those in financial need (those for whom the cost to attend is not financially possible).

These spots are offered on a first come, first served basis. Please pay at the highest level you can afford. In order for this support to be available, we rely on those who can afford to pay the full price to do so.

Register Now

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