Thank you for donating by Sunday, February 21st.
Please note this retreat meets the requirements for participants in Jack Kornfield + Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification program through Sounds True. It is designed for both Pacific and Eastern Time Zones.
The ancient Buddhist word Sati, often translated as mindfulness, has the notion of remembering at its root. During this retreat, we’ll practice remembering to come home to the body in the present moment to allow the mind and heart to settle. We’ll practice remembering the wholeness that exists within us even when we may feel fragmented, and we’ll practice remembering the innate capacity of the heart, to connect with a sense of freedom, joy, ease and well-being – a capacity important to remember – and which resources us – when times are difficult.
We aim to simplify life for a few days, putting aside the usual responsibilities and distractions as much as is feasible and to turn inward. We will alternate periods of sitting meditation and walking meditation, mindful eating, dharma talks, and rest. There will be daily instruction and guidance, periods where participants should be on camera, and periods of self-practice where a virtual meditation hall will be available.
To deepen your practice, there may be one optional Group Meeting session in Spanish and one in French (if there is sufficient demand). This retreat will be entirely in English with the exception of these two optional Group Meeting sessions.
Schedule:
All times listed are PT. All are strongly encouraged to attend as much of this retreat as your schedule allows with emphasis on the bolded sessions. For the schedule in ET click here. For all other time zones: Link to Time Zone Converter
Monday February 1
6:45 – 7 AM Arrive, settle, announcements
7 – 8 AM Opening
8 – 8:15 Break
8:15 – 9 AM Stationary meditation with instructions, walking instructions
9 – 9:30 AM Movement meditation
9:30 – 10 AM Guided Heart Practice
10 – 11:30 AM Meal break
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM Stationary meditation
12:15 – 12:45 PM Stationary meditation or Group meeting (when assigned)
12:45 – 1:15 PM Movement meditation or Group meeting (when assigned)
1:15 – 2 PM Stationary meditation
2 – 2:15 PM Break
2:15 – 3 PM Dharma Talk
3 – 3:45 PM Movement meditation
3:45 – 4:30 PM Stationary meditation or Group Meeting (when assigned)
Tuesday February 2 – Saturday February 6
6 – 6:45 AM Stationary meditation
6:45 – 7 AM Arrive, settle, announcements
7 – 8 AM Stationary meditation with instructions, Q&A
8 – 8:30 AM Movement meditation
8:30 – 9 AM Stationary meditation or Group meeting (when assigned)
9 AM – 9:30 AM Movement meditation or Group meeting (when assigned)
9:30 – 10 AM Guided Heart Practice
10 – 11:30 AM Meal break
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM Stationary meditation
12:15 – 12:45 PM Stationary meditation or Group meeting (when assigned)
12:45 – 1:15 PM Movement meditation or Group meeting (when assigned)
1:15 – 2 PM Stationary meditation
2 – 2:15 PM Break
2:15 – 3 PM Dharma Talk
3 – 3:45 PM Movement meditation
3:45 – 4:30 PM Stationary meditation or Group Meeting (when assigned)
Sunday February 7
6 – 6:45 AM Stationary meditation
6:45 – 7 AM Arrive & settle
7 – 7:45 AM Stationary practice and Dana Talk
7:45 – 9 AM Closing ceremony
The MMTCP student attendance and practice participation (with camera on) requirement is at least 5 bolded sessions per day including: Dharma Talk, Guided Heart Practice, Group meetings (when assigned), and at least 2 Stationary meditations.
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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.
Reserve a cabin on the Big Bear Retreat Center website HERE.
(Arrive 1/31/2021, Depart 1/7/2021)
