DEEPEN RESPITE AWAKEN
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness.
This meditation retreat is offered to everyone who is interested in the intersection of the Buddhist teachings of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness and MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction), MSC (Mindful Self-Compassion), or other Mindfulness-Based Interventions.
This is a great retreat for clinicians, other professionals and caregivers who teach mindfulness, those who are interested in eventually teaching mindfulness, or simply anyone for their own curiosity of the subject. Contemplation of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness supports and enriches the practice at every stage along the developmental path of practice.
Caring for others can become exhausting when we don’t pause to nourish the heart and mind. Through exploration of the Four Foundations, practice deepens as burdens of caregiving diminish. A silent meditation retreat can offer just the right medicine to awaken, or re-awaken, your purpose as a teacher.
The retreat will be held primarily in noble – companionable- silence with daily deepening instructions, loving kindness and compassion practices and small group check-ins with the teachers. Each day has periods of guided and unguided meditations, walking meditations, and we suggest a daily mindful movement practice.
A familiarity with formal meditation practice is assumed.
Opening Day Schedule
2-4pm Arrival and Room Assignments
4:30-5:15pm Optional Hike
5:30-6:15pm Dinner
6:15-6:45pm Orientation/Manager’s Talk
7:00-9:00pm Welcoming Ceremony
Please note this retreat meets the requirements for participants in Jack Kornfield + Tara Brach’s Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification program through Sounds True.
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Continuing Education Units (optional):
Psychologists: Continuing Education Credit for this program is provided by UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by theAmerican Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course offers 16 CE credit.
California licensed MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, LCSWs: Continuing Education Credit for this program is provided by UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. The UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. 16 CE credit may be applied to your license renewal throughthe California Board of Behavioral Sciences. For those licensed outside California, please check with your local licensing board to determine if CE credit is accepted.
Nurses: UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP16351, for 16 contact hours.
To purchase CEs click here.
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Learning Objectives:
- Articulate the key aspects of mindfulness as it relates to stress reduction, coping with pain and illness and enhancing well-being
- Differentiate MBSR from relaxation and other distraction techniques that may seem similar but are fundamentally and theoretically quite different in contending with difficulty and enhancing quality of life
- Describe the benefits of prolonged and deepened silent practice for stress reduction and the development of equanimity
- Apply mindfulness techniques in both personal and professional settings as a means of contending more effectively with the demands of both settings
- Integrate mindfulness into social interaction with patients, colleagues, supervisors, family and friends to facilitate more effective and mindful communication
- Articulate the potential benefits of mindfulness-based stress reduction (and mindfulness in general) to educate patients and their families about the benefits of such programs in their own lives
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The daily rhythm of a retreat usually involves alternating periods of stationary and movement meditation, nature walks, meals and tea, as well as practice meetings, dharma talks and rest periods. The first session usually begins before breakfast. Each morning the teachers offer continuing meditation instructions for the day. The whole retreat is a succession of mindfulness training, breathing practices, deep awareness of the body and environment, meditations on the nature of feelings, and awareness of mind are from the Buddhist Insight Meditation tradition.
Stationary Meditation: Stationary meditation is at the heart of silent retreats. In stationary practice silence and stillness develop, concentration deepens, and awareness expands. The training of the heart brings kindness and compassion for all that arises. We come into presence and learn to find freedom in the midst of life as it truly is.
Movement Meditation: Graceful and wise movement on the earth is also a way to practice meditation. On retreat, periods of movement meditation alternate with periods of stationary meditation. Through walking practice we learn to sustain meditative awareness through movement. In movement meditation, we become aware in the midst of activity. Throughout the retreat we learn to cultivate a mindful awareness in all postures, sitting, walking, and lying down.
Eating Meditation: An awareness of food, and the mindful understanding of the entire process of nourishment and eating is included in the practice at retreats. Retreatants are encouraged to bring the same calm, focused attention to eating as is brought to stationary and movement meditations. Mindful eating is a wonderful context for the arising of insights. Every bite of food we eat contains, rain, sun, earth and the work of many, many beings.
Dharma Talks and guided meditations: Each day, the teachers present a different set of teachings that are central to practicing mindfulness and compassion. These teaching can be applied to our own experience. Sometimes the talks focus on retreat practice, and sometimes they offer teachings for wise living in the world.
Pricing: The price of the retreat includes accommodation for 6-nights and all meals for the duration of the retreat.
Single Room $350 per night
Shared Room $180 per night
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.
Accommodations: The center consists of 13 separate buildings and cabins for dining, meditation, and sleeping. The single-story residence cabins are large fully furnished and comfortable cabins with 3-4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms for shared use. Cabins include both single and double rooms, a living room, central heating, a full kitchen, and a deck outside in nature. Cabins are simple yet fully set up for a comfortable stay in the mountains during retreat.
The Center: Big Bear Retreat Center offers a tranquil space nestled in the forested mountains. This natural environment offers the opportunity to settle and practice in nature. We offer several miles of secluded hiking trails, quiet forested land submerged in nature, and decks for outdoor practice and relaxation.
Meals: The center provides fresh, healthy vegetarian meals made with seasonal and organic ingredients to support a nourishing time and practice while at the center. Additionally offered are fresh daily juices.
Donations/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 the teachers.
Online: To attend this retreat online please click here to register.
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We are deeply grateful to our community members for their understanding, patience, and support through this challenging and life changing chapter of our journey together. We are eager to move into the next phase of our adventure. In keeping with the principles of the dharma that underlies all of our activities, primarily ahimsa (do no harm), we are requiring that all attendees be fully vaccinated in order to attend any in-person event. If you certify that you meet this requirement please select ‘yes’ on the registration page.
We are monitoring the COVID protocols in San Bernardino County where masks are currently not required indoors for vaccinated individuals. We are requiring masks indoors while walking (masks are not required during Stationary Meditation and while actively eating) on Oct 31, Nov 1, and Nov 2. Masks are optional indoors on Nov 3, 4, 5, and 6. If by the start of retreat masks are required by San Bernardino County, we will require masks indoors for the entire duration of the retreat. Everyone entering BBRC (including staff, teachers, and participants) must provide proof of a negative PCR covid test within 48-72 hours of arrival. We will also have rapid tests available at the center if anyone experiences symptoms during the retreat. To reduce exposure, everyone (including staff, teachers, and participants) must remain on property for the duration of the retreat.
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