Love and Awareness: The Heart That Knows
With Celeste Young and Vance Pryor
June 8 - 14, 2026
Open to experienced and new practitioners
Registration closes on May 25, 2026. If joining after this date, please contact us.
Join us in the natural beauty of the San Bernardino mountains for this silent insight meditation retreat.
Awareness and love are not two separate paths but one living expression of wisdom. When the heart is open, awareness becomes tender; when the mind is clear, love naturally shines through. This retreat invites a relaxed exploration of that meeting point — cultivating mindfulness that is infused with care, and love that is grounded in knowing.
Through sitting and walking meditation, silence and gentle inquiry, we learn to rest in awareness, welcoming all experience with clarity and compassion. As the heart steadies and softens, wisdom unfolds naturally — revealing a peace that does not depend on conditions.
Together in community, we will explore letting go of distractions, cultivate simplicity and contentment, and support a renewed sense of connection with our own bodies, hearts, and minds in community.
The structure of this Vipassana retreat includes guided meditations with time for Q&A each day, silent sitting and walking meditation periods, rest, mindful eating instructions, Dharma talks, time in nature, and small group meetings with the teachers to support your practice.
HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND TEACHERS
This retreat was one of the most beautiful, healing experiences of my life. The deep wisdom and kind compassion could be felt in every moment. Every lesson and meditation helped me immensely. – Bridget
Gentle, extremely knowledgeable. Funny, caring, and tender. – Liz
WHAT TO EXPECT ON THIS RETREAT
This is a silent mindfulness retreat with alternating sitting and walking meditation, instruction, dharma talks, work meditation, and practice discussion with the teachers.
Learn more ABOUT RETREAT & SEE A SAMPLE SCHEDULE.
GENEROSITY: Retreat Costs and Fees
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. As a practice of generosity from the heart, participants are invited 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.
SIMPLE YET COMFORTABLE, NESTLED IN NATURE
Accommodations
We offer several lodging choices nestled in nature for each retreat.
Meals
Our meals are freshly prepared to support your retreat experience.
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.
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.
Please consider this about our environment:
– The center is on a hill with outdoor walkways between dining, gathering, and residential spaces.
– We are located at an elevation of 6,500 feet altitude in a ski town in the mountains of Southern California.
– We experience weather of all four seasons.
– We are located about 2 hours from Los Angeles and near 3 major airports. Learn more about getting here.
– We have a commitment to everyone’s mobility needs. Please contact us about ADA accessibility.
Visit our Planning Your Retreat page to learn more about accessibility and other resources. Contact us if we can support ahead of time.
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
About the Teachers & Facilitators
Celeste Young
Celeste Young is a Theravadin Buddhist mindfulness and Dharma teacher. She has been practicing meditation and sitting retreats since 2002. She was one of the first teachers to be empowered at InsightLA, a nonprofit Buddhist and secular mindfulness organization based in Los Angeles. Since 2011, Celeste has worked with thousands of meditation and Dharma students […]
Learn more about Celeste Young
Vance Pryor
Vance Pryor, PsyD, began practicing insight meditation in 1998. He has been deeply influenced by the teachings of Mahasi Sayadaw and Sayadaw U Tejaniya. His training to become a teacher has been supported by the mentorship of Steve Armstrong and Kamala Masters. He is a graduate of IMS’s 2017-2021 Teacher Training Program.
Learn more about Vance PryorCategories : Meditation, Meditation Retreat, Open Reg