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

Residential Retreats (Multi Day Retreat)

Free Yourself From the Prison of Your Mind: A Retreat for People in Recovery

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Vimalasara Mason-John, MA

Diana Gould

  • Location Big Bear Retreat Center
  • Experience Levels All
  • Date Starts Wednesday, December 4, 2019
    Ends Sunday, December 8, 2019

    4 nights

Refund and Event Policies

Very often it seems that our minds are out to get us; that our mind is like a bad neighborhood we daren’t go in alone. And yet, while it is true that a huge part of our suffering is produced by the mind, it is also true that the same mind contains all that we need to free us from that suffering and addictive behaviors. 
 
Many of us try to escape from “the prison of our minds” with addictive substances or compulsive behaviors, activities and patterns that, by trying to avoid pain and suffering, only cause more.  In this retreat we will explore healthier and more productive possibilities, based on ancient spiritual teachings still amazingly relevant today. We will see how the teachings of the Buddha can be utilized to liberate us from stinking thinking, negative thought loops, insecurities, destructive  and addictive behaviors that can sabotage our liberation and freedom.
 
As both Marcus Garvey and Bob Marley said, “ Free yourself from mental slavery none but ourselves can free our minds.”
But we can take the journey together. Come sit with us, and find the beauty and power within. 
 
Appropriate for anyone who identifies as being in recovery from addictive behaviors of all kinds, as well as those who would like to be in recovery. Appropriate for both new and experienced meditators, the newly and longtime recovered. We are all in recovery from something.
 

InsightLA Teacher, Diana Gould will be assisting Vimalasara Mason-John on this retreat

Retreat Dates: 4 nights, 5 days

Arrive 4:00pm Wednesday, December 4th

Depart 11:00am Sunday, December 8th, 2019

Special Funding: Rob Koberg, brother of InsightLA Executive Director Mark Koberg, died recently after a long battle with alcoholism. In response, the InsightLA community has raised money in his honor to assist those who may not have the resources to attend this retreat. Financial support is accessed after clicking Register Now button. 

Accommodations: Located just a 2.5 hour drive from Los Angeles, Big Bear Retreat Center is nestled in the ancient Juniper woodlands of the San Bernardino Mountains near the town of Big Bear, California. The tranquil property is immediately adjacent to the National Forest and offers access to roughly 1,300 acres of conserved lands.

The property consists of eleven separate buildings for dining, meditating, and sleeping. The single-story residence buildings include both single and double rooms. There is a mirror and a small clothes-hanging area in each room. Two bathrooms are located in each building.

Yogi Jobs: Participation in this retreat will involve a light working meditation to support the community experience.  When you arrive you will be assigned a daily task to complete with mindful attention.  Please let us know if you have any physical challenges that might impact your ability to perform certain tasks.  Please also bring long pants, closed toe shoes, and a shirt that you can change into in the event you are assigned a yogi job in the kitchen.

Meals: All meals will be vegetarian with vegan and gluten-free alternatives when applicable.

Pricing: There is special funding allocated to People of Color (POC), Queer people, folks with serious medical conditions, and young adults (age 18-24). Funding is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Financial support is budgeted per class, retreat or event and because of high demand, can run out quickly. Financial support is accessed after clicking Register Now button. 

Donations or Dana: Please note that the price of the retreat covers accommodation, food, facilities, and other InsightLA expenses.  To allow the teachers to continue their dharma work, support from the students is needed.  There will be an opportunity to contribute at the end of the retreat to support the teachers.

Work Retreatant Opportunity:  A work retreatant can attend the retreat for free in exchange for up to 5 hours of work a day and the rest of the time they can attend all activities of the retreat.  If you are interested please email melissamckay@insightla.org. 

Vimalasara Mason-John, MA

Dr. Vimalasara (Valerie) Mason-John MA is a TEDx speaker, author of 8 books including Detox Your Heart, Meditations for Emotional Trauma, and her award-winning books Eight Step Recovery – Using The Buddha’s Teachings to Overcome Addiction and her novel Borrowed Body. She is a senior teacher in the Triratna Buddhist Order, practicing for 27 years,... Read more

Diana Gould

Diana Gould has been a meditator for over 35 years, practicing Insight Meditation for 20 of those years. She has been a facilitator for the Vipassana Support Institute and has taught meditation at the Learning Curve at the Gay and Lesbian Center. She is a graduate of the Community Dharma Leader program at Spirit Rock,... Read more

Pricing Options
Shared Room (Base Cost) $440
Single Room (Base Cost) $760
Need Financial Support?

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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