Tending the Self, Tending the World [ONLINE]

Open to experienced and new practitioners

Registration closes on July 8, 2026. If joining after this date, please contact us.

If one knew oneself to be precious,

One would guard oneself with care.

The sage will watch over herself

in any part of the night.

— Dhammapada 157

Tending the Self invites you into a weekend of deep care and recalibration — an opportunity to rest the heart and steady the mind through meditation, qigong, and mindful presence.

This retreat is an exploration of what it truly means to care for ourselves — not as indulgence, but as an act of wisdom. When we tend to the body with gentleness and allow the mind to settle, the natural qualities of the path — compassion, clarity, and ease — begin to shine through. As these qualities unfold, they ripple outward, shaping how we meet the world.

Through releasing the mind from its habitual preoccupations, we allow awareness to rest in its own spaciousness — a profound reset that restores resilience and builds our capacity to engage life with steadiness, grace, and courage.

From the outside, practice might appear quiet or self-focused — how can we sit still when the world is on fire? Yet when we meet ourselves with presence, we are cultivating the very qualities that allow us to meet the world with wisdom and love. Tending the self is not withdrawal; it is preparation for deeper connection. As Dōgen reminds us, the boundary between self and world is only imagined — when one is tended with care, both are healed. And we we tend the self we build more capacity to meet the difficult moments, for ourselves and others.

Each day will include periods of guided and silent sitting and walking meditation, qigong, and Dharma reflections. The retreat will be held mostly in noble silence, with time for guided instruction and shared inquiry.

Even two days of sincere practice can open the heart in unexpected ways. Join us for this nourishing weekend — a chance to rest, rebuild resilience, remember what truly matters, and rediscover the wholeness that connects self and world.

HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND TEACHERS

Gullu & Gabrielle were a wonderful mix of calming and humorous. I enjoyed Gullu’s humor and Gabrielle’s grounding and sweet nature. The teachings that touched me through their words were what I needed.

So kind. Patient. Wise- Loved moving first thing in the morning. Two beautiful souls.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON THIS ONLINE RETREAT

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

This will be a hybrid online retreat. The teachings in the meditation hall will be live-streamed for online participants. This retreat will be an interactive online retreat. Please plan to be present for the entire retreat and all the sessions. Presence is important for your personal practice and continuity, as well as the community container of retreat. The online retreat will be offered over Zoom. Please plan to have your video on during the sessions.

Online retreats offer the unique opportunity to deepen your practice in a “real world” setting, where meditation practice and regular life intersect more than in a typical residential retreat. This can be supportive for integrating the practice into daily life.

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.