Opening to the Love and Wisdom of our Buddha Nature

This retreat is open to experienced and new practitioners.

From a Tibetan Buddhist perspective, our innate awakened nature (often called “Buddha nature”) is the basic space of our being, undivided from tremendous innate capacities of awareness, warmth, unconditional love, compassion, and wisdom. These innate capacities are always available below our surface consciousness, in the ground of our experience, but hidden by our habits of self-clinging thought and reaction. In this daylong retreat, we will explore several ways derived from Tibetan Buddhism to draw on qualities of that innate awakened nature to become an unconditionally loving, healing environment for all of our thoughts, feelings, and reactions, as the basis to become the same kind of unconditional environment for all others.

The powers of love, compassion and wisdom that emerge in this process are also employed to help the mind relax deeply into the source of those powers in the ground of our being, the intrinsic openness, clarity, and compassionate capacity of our pre-conceptual awareness, our innate awakened nature. From that depth of our being, we can hold others in the depth of their being and include them in those same unconditional qualities. This program of meditation practice has been called Sustainable Compassion Training (sustainablecompassion.org). In this retreat, we will adapt this direction of practice from Tibetan Buddhism, with assistance from relevant areas of modern psychology, to make it accessible both for Buddhist practitioners and for people of all faiths and backgrounds who seek an accessible way to realize unconditional, inclusive love and wisdom. This retreat will include periods of silence, short talks that introduce guided meditations, Q&A, and discussion.

Registration closes on May 12, 2027.

HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND TEACHERS

On John Makransky’s book on the meditation practices that he teaches (co-authored with Paul Condon, Shambhala 2025): 

“How Compassion Works is not only a handbook for the heart: it provides tools of emotional alchemy capable of changing your life forever.”  – Lama Willa Baker

“How Compassion Works is a high-resolution guide to both the instrumental and non-instrumental dimensions of meditation practice based predominantly on Tibetan teachings yet explicitly inviting a broader inclusivity. It is also a welcome and timely compendium of scientific evidence supporting the value of this relational approach and its liberative non-dual essence.”  – Jon Kabat-Zinn

“How Compassion Works has the power to transform individual lives and the very fabric of our world. The practices in this book truly work, offering a profound exploration of compassion as both an innate tendency and a skill we can intentionally cultivate” –Thupten Jinpa: “This book brings a whole new dimension to our understanding of how Buddhist meditative practices, especially loving-kindness and compassion, can bring about lasting personal transformation.” – Kaira Jewel Lingo

WHAT TO EXPECT ON THIS RETREAT

ABOUT SILENT RETREATS & SEE A SAMPLE SCHEDULE.

This is a silent mindfulness retreat, alternating sitting and walking meditation, instruction, dharma talks, work meditation, and practice discussion with the teachers.

GENEROSITY: RETREAT COST AND FEES

We strive to keep our retreats as financially accessible as possible. Your registration fee directly supports BBRC’s operations, covering your lodging, meals, and our dedicated staff. However, it does not include compensation for our teachers.

Rooted in tradition, our teachers share their wisdom without a set fee. Instead, participants are warmly invited to offer dāna (a donation of generosity) directly to the teachers at the close of the retreat.
While deeply appreciated and encouraged, dāna is never required. Learn more about dāna here.

IS COST A BARRIER?
Scholarships are available for those with reviewed, demonstrated financial need. Due to limited funds, not all requests can be honored. Contact guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org for more information.

SIMPLE YET COMFORTABLE, NESTLED IN NATURE

Preparing for your retreat

We offer several resources and information to best help you plan your time on retreat with us.

Getting to BBRC

We have several resources to support your travel. Visit Getting to BBRC & Rideshares and Shuttles for more.

Accommodations

We offer several lodging choices nestled in nature for each retreat.

Meals

Our meals are freshly prepared to support your retreat experience.

FEEL WELCOME AND INCLUDED: A PLACE TO BELONG

Our goal is to create a deeply inclusive space where everyone feels welcome. Whatever your race, gender, sexuality, ability, or background, it is our wish to provide a space where you belong.

As you plan your trip, please consider our unique environment:

• We are at 6,500 feet of elevation in a mountain town that experiences all four seasons.

• Our facilities are spread across a hillside, with outdoor walkways between buildings.

• We are located two hours from LA and near three major airports. Learn more about getting here.

• We are committed to accessibility. Please contact us to discuss any ADA needs.

Check out our Planning Your Retreat page for more resources, and contact us if we can help you prepare for your stay.

HEAR MORE ABOUT BIG BEAR RETREAT CENTER

Big Bear Retreat Center is exceptional in every way. The accommodations are outstanding, food exceptional, staff very responsive and helpful and the teachers are always so loving and knowledgeable. Just a top notch retreat experience!! – Sheila

I love Big Bear Retreat Center. It’s my dharma home away from home. Everything about it – staff, teachers, food, accommodations, setting – is exceptional. A true gift to the community!!

Big Bear Retreat Center is indeed a refuge. A safe space to open your heart. – Laura