Exploring & Reframing Our Sense of Being [Online]

Open to experienced and new practitioners

Registration closes on May 30, 2026. If joining after this date, please contact us.

With Buddha, Dharma and Sangha as our guides, this series explores re-cognizing and re-membering ourselves as part of a living, intelligent Earth and cosmos. By practicing to know ourselves differently, we uncover a sense of reverence for the Web of Life that opens us to the sacred, self-regenerative capacity of the biosphere we belong to. Changing from the ground up rather than from the head down will inform our ways of showing up in the world.

In these four sessions we will co-create a safe container that explores different ways of engaging with our being, helping us to realize a deeper sense of community with all of life. From this renewed sense of relationship a natural appreciation of accountability and care emerges.

Practices offered include Dharma reflections, guided meditations, chanting, sharing and exploratory circles. You are invited to bring an open heart-mind for looking at your life and world differently.

HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND TEACHERS

Ayya Santacitta did a great job of addressing the current predicaments that we’re all in, how we got here, and how practice shows us a way forward.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS ONLINE PROGRAM

This series will take place over 4 Sundays:

• May 31 | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm PT
• June 7, 14 & 21 | 10:00 – 11:30 am PT

This will be an interactive online series. Please plan to be present for all of the sessions. Presence is important for your personal practice and continuity, as well as the community container of the series. The program will be offered over Zoom. Please plan to have your video on during the sessions.

GENEROSITY: Retreat Costs and Fees

This retreat is offered on a sliding-scale basis to make it as financially accessible as possible. Please consider paying at the highest rate that you can afford: your generosity supports your fellow practitioners who need to pay less.

Registration fees for this retreat support the cost of developing and offering BBRC programs, which include lodging, meals, and staff compensation. Teacher compensation is not included in your registration fees. We price fees to make programs as financially accessible as possible.

As part of this tradition, many meditation teachers (including the teachers of this retreat) offer their teachings without set fees or compensation. There will be an opportunity to offer “teacher dana” (donations-generosity) to the teachers at the end of the retreat. It is encouraged but not required. Learn more about dana here.

Is cost a barrier? Nobody is turned away at Big Bear Retreat Center due to finances. We ask that financial assistance be prioritized for those who self-identify as BIPOC, hold marginalized identities, or are in financial need. For more information, please contact us at guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org.

FEEL WELCOME AND INCLUDED: A PLACE TO BELONG

Our intention is to be as accessible as we can, even in ways that we may not be aware of yet. We hope this is a space of inclusivity where people feel welcome and held. For us, it is a practice of consistent attunement, presence and care to our community. However you identify – race, gender, sexuality, disability, mental health, and so on – it is our wish to meet your needs for belonging.

What retreat participants have to say about our online programs

“Big Bear created an online retreat experience that was inclusive, supportive, and responsive. I felt held and cared about throughout the retreat.” – Bernadine

“This was a spectacular experience and one that could be appreciated by novice and experienced meditators and everyone in between. Doing it at home has helped me envision how to live more mindfully throughout my day.” – Deb

I felt very connected to the teachers, the teachings and the other participants, even while being on Zoom.  As a more experienced practitioner, this felt like such a good fit for where I am at and it met a need to bring mindfulness into my day-to-day home life. I felt Big Bear did an amazing job with the technical aspects of making sure we felt our questions were being heard and answered, and it just ran very smoothly.  I’m so impressed.  I feel so fortunate for the experience of getting such a well-curated online/home retreat.  – S.B.

See more of our online offerings on our SoundCloud, Dharmaseed & YouTube channel.