Simplicity and Stillness: Cultivating the 5 Spiritual Strengths [Online]

This online retreat is open to both beginners and experienced practitioners.

During this weeklong spring insight meditation retreat, we will learn to slow down and attune to the fresh simplicity of our present moment experience, rest in stillness, and connect with the heart’s inner capacity for healing and freedom.

We will be exploring the cultivation of the 5 spiritual strengths or the 5 spiritual faculties that the Buddha taught: cultivating mindfulness, confidence and trust, persistence, concentration, and wisdom to support the development of our meditation practice. We’ll tend to the heart and mind with compassionate mindfulness and strengthen our connection with ourselves and each other, with time for enjoying nature, deep rest, and practice surrounded by nature.

Together we will explore some of the supports for presence: letting go of distraction, the deliberate cultivation of simplicity and contentment, and a renewed sense of connection with our own bodies, hearts, and minds in community. By bringing mindful attention to our moment to moment experience, we can learn to cultivate resilience amidst change and grow in awareness, love, and wisdom.

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 instruction, Dharma talks, and small group practice discussion meetings with the teacher.

Registration for this retreat closes on April 22nd, 2025 at 11:59pm Pacific Time.

COSTS & FEES FOR REGISTRATION

Registration fees for this retreat is offered at sliding scale flexible pricing. Rates include all fees to put on the retreat. Teacher compensation is not included in your registration fees (see below). Is cost a barrier? Nobody is turned away at Big Bear Retreat Center due to finances. Please contact us if cost is a barrier in any way to attend.

DANA (GENEROSITY) FOR TEACHERS

As part of the Buddhist tradition, many teachers (including the teachers of this retreat) offer the teachings freely with no expectations of fees or payment, and rely on the generosity of students for their livelihood. As a practice of generosity from the heart, participants are invited to offer “dana” (donations-generosity) to the teachers at the end of the retreat. There are no minimums, expectations, or guidelines. It is not required. Teachers do not receive retreat fees, apart from travel reimbursement support. More information will be shared at the end of your retreat and after – this dana goes directly to the teachers and supports them in continuing to offer these teachings year after year. Read more here about the practice of Dana (Generosity), read more from Cloud Mountain on Dana for Dharma Teachers, and from Insight Meditation Society (IMS) here. 

An Online Hybrid Interactive Retreat

This retreat will be an interactive online retreat with the in-person participants and teachers, with camera views of the hall and projected for participants to see you. Please plan to present and actively attend for the entire retreat and all the sessions. This will be offered over Zoom. Please plan to have your video on during the sessions.

At registration you will receive a link with a landing page for the online community that includes the Zoom and schedule information for the online component of this program, along with any other helpful tips before, during, and after your retreat. This link will be emailed to you again 24 hours before your retreat. The retreat recording will be available within 48 hours of the retreat. This program recording as well as past program recordings can also be found in full on Big Bear Retreat Center’s YouTube channel.

What retreat participants have to say about programs at Big Bear Retreat Center

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

“I appreciated the way they held space for people in small groups and encouraged authentic sharing within the container of noble silence. I felt that they all skillfully met everyone where they were at, including myself.”  – Joe

Schedule for Online Retreatants

Below is a general sample schedule to support in planning ahead. All times PST and subject to change.

Opening Day
12:00 pm  Zoom room opens (optional for testing connection)
7:00 pm     Retreat Opening (all please attend)

Full Days of Retreat
6:30 am     Wake Up
7:00 am – 9:45 pm Full day of retreat, please plan attend (meals at 7:30a, 12:30p, 5:30p)
*throughout day expect periods of seated and walking meditations in addition to teacher guided sessions and talks

Closing Day
6:30 am    Wake Up
7:00 am    Sitting
8:00 am    Breakfast
9:30 am    Closing Program
11:30 am   Retreat ends