Opening to the Unconditional Love and Wisdom of Our Buddha Nature: Sustainable Compassion Training

Open to practitioners with two years of regular practice of a contemplative discipline such as daily meditation or prayer

Registration closes on April 4th. If joining after this date, please contact us.

From a Tibetan Buddhist perspective, our buddha nature is the basic space of our being that is undivided from vast capacities of awareness, warmth, love, compassion and wisdom.
These capacities are always available below our surface consciousness, but often hidden by our habits of thought and reaction.

In this retreat, we will learn three modes of practice adapted from Tibetan Buddhism that help harmonize us with those innate capacities. The receptive mode generates a field of care that helps us find access to unconditional qualities of love and wisdom from the depth of our awareness (our buddha nature). In the deepening mode, we let those loving qualities help the mind settle into their source—the non-conceptual openness, simplicity, clarity, and compassionate warmth of our buddha nature. In the inclusive mode we come from that depth of being to recognize others in their depth, and to include them in those unconditional qualities of openness and compassion.

This process also empowers our ability to discern the empty, constructed nature of all our reactions to others that impede our compassion. In this retreat, we adapt this pattern of practice from Tibetan Buddhism, with some assistance from modern psychology, to make it accessible both for Buddhist practitioners and for people of all faiths who have previous contemplative experience and seek an accessible way to cultivate unconditional love and wisdom.

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

Dharma talks that introduce guided meditations, large group Q&A, small group discussion.  A meditation handout will be provided.

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