Programs
The Ease of Letting Go
With Celeste Young and Phillip Moffitt
A Silent Insight Meditation Retreat ***Retreat Update: Several financial support spots are available for this retreat. Please contact us if cost is a barrier in any way! guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org*** Tuesday, May 21st - Saturday, May 25th Registration closes May 13th at 11:59pm Pacific Time Join us in the beautiful San Bernardino mountains for this short insight […]
Equanimity + Metta: The Ground of Wisdom
With Celeste Young and Dawn Scott
***Retreat Update: Several financial support spots are available for this retreat. Please contact us if cost is a barrier in any way! guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org*** A Silent Insight Meditation Retreat Monday, June 3rd - Sunday, June 9th Registration closes May 27th at 11:59pm Pacific Time Join us for an in person retreat in the beautiful San Bernardino […]
Creating Joy in Community Through the Practice of Gratitude and Equanimity
With Fresh "Lev" White, JD Doyle, René Rivera and Danielle Elizabeth Stevens
A Retreat for Trans, Gender Nonconforming, Genderqueer, Non-binary and all gender expansive communities A Silent Meditation Retreat Wednesday, June 12th - Sunday, June 16th Registration closes June 4th at 11:59pm Pacific Time This 4-day retreat will be a space grounded in self-care and compassion supporting our healing and resilience at this time in this world. […]
[ONLINE] The Dharma is Made for These Times: An Exploration of the Four Distortions of Perception
With Celeste Young and Ayya Santacitta
A very special online half day retreat exploring the four distortions of perception (Vipalassa) Sunday, June 23rd 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Registration closes June 22nd at 11:59pm Pacific Time Ayya Santacitta and Celeste Young will also offer an on land retreat on this same topic, all are invited to attend that retreat as well. […]
Summer Invitational: Declaring Our Interdependence: Cultivating Authentic Connection and Compassion
Restoration, Rejuvenation & Peer Connection: Mindful Self-Compassion (voluntary contribution-based pricing, pay at any amount) Thursday, July 4th - Sunday, July 6th, 2024 (lunch to lunch) option to stay independently until Monday July 7th (no meals) Please register by June 19th 11:59PM Pacific A retreat designed for connection, relaxation, and interactive discussions (large and small group), […]
Healing the Self, Loving the Self, Forgetting the Self
With Matthew Brensilver
***Retreat Update: This retreat is full with a large waiting list. It is unlikely a spot will be available from a waitlist sign up.*** You may also want to consider: Matthew is leading another retreat this Fall with Beth Sternlieb: Love and Rest September 25 - 30 (several financial support spots available) We are also […]
Dharmapala Training Retreat July 2024 (Big Bear)
We look forward to hosting the DPT2 Community at Big Bear in July 2024. If attending at Big Bear, please complete your registration. Please complete registration by Friday, July 12th. Planning your trip: If you are booking a flight for your trip our recommendation is to search for flights to the Ontario Airport(ONT) whenever possible. If […]
Dharmapala Training Retreat July 2024 (ONLINE ONLY)
We look forward to hosting the DPT2 Community at Big Bear in July 2023. If attending ONLINE, please complete your registration. Please complete registration by July 24th. About the Online Program At registration will receive a link with a landing page for the online community that includes the zoom and schedule information for the […]
Frazin Family Reunion 2024
Frazin Family Reunion at Big Bear Retreat Center Thursday, August 15th - Sunday, August 18th, 2024 FULL SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE SOON Accommodations: The Center consists of several single-story buildings and cabins for dining, meditation and sleeping. Our residence cabins are large furnished and comfortable with 3-4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, living rooms, a full […]
When Awareness Becomes Natural
With LC Tran and Kim Allen
A Silent Insight Meditation Retreat Monday, August 19th - Wednesday, August 28th Registration closes August 11th at 11:59pm Pacific Time In this 9-night/10-day retreat, we will explore Vipassana meditation in the practice style of Sayadaw U Tejaniya. Sayadaw’s approach is free from rigid forms, influenced by his previous life as a layperson and his […]
Dharma Dharma: The Unfolding of Nature
With LC Tran
Camping and Awareness in Nature Wednesday, September 4th - Sunday, September 8th Registration closes August 21st at 11:59pm Pacific Time A retreat offered in the Thai forest tradition. Participants must submit an application, interview with the teacher, and be approved to attend. This unique retreat will be offered by Leinchi (LC) Tran as a more […]
Dharma Dharma: The Unfolding of Nature (approved registrations only)
With LC Tran
Camping and Awareness in Nature Wednesday, September 4th - Sunday, September 8th Registration closes August 21st at 11:59pm Pacific Time A retreat offered in the Thai forest tradition. Participants must submit an application, interview with the teacher, and be approved to attend. This unique retreat will be offered by Leinchi (LC) Tran as a more […]
Solidarity Economics: Our Economy, Our Movement
With Dr. Manuel Pastor and Dr. Chris Benner
Reimagining our economy for the benefit of all A Fall Gathering & Dialogue Workshop Sunday, September 8th - Wednesday, September 11th, 2024 Please register by September 1st 11:59PM Pacific Join us this September for an interactive workshop dialogue with Chris Benner and Manuel Pastor with the goal to have us reflect, share, and learn […]
Coming Home to Our Hearts
With Gullu Singh and Louije Kim
A 5-Day Mindfulness Silent Retreat By UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness Saturday, September 14th - Thursday, September 19th To register and for more details visit UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness. This silent retreat is for those already teaching or interested in teaching mindfulness-based programs (MBP) such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive […]
Autumn Gathering of Western Region Retreat Centers
Regeneration and Resiliency A Gathering of Retreat Center Leaders and Staff Focused on Bio-regional Regeneration and Light-hearted Connection with Peers Saturday, September 21st - Tuesday, September 24th, 2024 Please register by September 14th 11:59PM Pacific Join us for an exploration on the topic of resilience and connection amongst peers in our regions. We hope […]
Love and Rest 2024
With Beth Sternlieb and Matthew Brensilver
A Silent Insight Meditation Retreat Wednesday, September 25th - Monday, September 30th Registration closes September 17th at 11:59pm Pacific Time We often long for love, both giving and receiving, but the busyness of life and the agitation of our minds do not create the conditions for love to arise. In dharma practice, we find love […]
The Rhythm of Connection: Embracing Quietude and Mindful Communication
With Ofosu Jones-Quartey, Anthony "T" Maes and Devon Sangster Rath
A Relational Mindfulness Retreat Wednesday, October 9th - Sunday, October 13th Registration closes October 1st at 11:59pm Pacific Time Join us for a transformative retreat that thoughtfully balances the power of silence with the art of communication, all taught through a trauma-informed lens. Our program is uniquely designed, dedicating half of our time to silent […]
The Sure Heart's Release
With Dave Smith and Erin Treat
A Silent Insight Meditation Retreat Monday, October 14th - Saturday, October 19th Registration closes October 6th at 11:59pm Pacific Time The primary focus of teachings throughout this retreat will draw upon the timeless instructions from the Satipatthana Sutta, the heart of the Buddha's instructions for the establishment of Mindfulness. Together, we will explore various methods […]
Weaving Ourselves Back into the Fabric of Life: An Exploration of the Four Distortions of Perception
With Celeste Young and Ayya Santacitta
A Silent Meditation Retreat: Dana-based retreat in the monastic tradition (donate at any amount) Sunday, October 20th - Saturday, October 26th Registration closes October 6th at 11:59pm Pacific Time This retreat is also offered as a brief half-day online retreat in June by these teachers as a donation-based rate. This is a great option if […]
The Limitless Heart: Cultivating Metta In Turbulent Times
With Yong Oh, Gullu Singh and Gabrielle Hammond
A Silent Insight Meditation Retreat Wednesday, November 6th - Tuesday, November 12th Registration closes October 29th at 11:59pm Pacific Time This retreat will focus on the cultivation of mettā. Mettā, usually translated as loving-kindness is an inner state of friendliness, benevolence, goodwill and universal positive regard. The Buddha said that when we develop mettā, “no […]
The Dharma of Desire: From Longing to Loving Presence
With Trudy Goodman and Lisa Ernst
A Silent Insight Meditation Retreat Wednesday, November 13th - Sunday, November 17th Registration closes November 5th at 11:59pm Pacific Time On the path of awakening, sometimes we may believe desire is a problem to be eradicated. Yet when we get curious about desire and look at our relationship to it, we can enter more deeply […]
Ancestors Welcome Here
With Ream, Em Morrison and Kimber Simpkins
Ancestral Healing Retreat For White Practitioners Committed to Racial Justice Tuesday, December 3rd - Sunday, December 8th Registration closes November 25th at 11:59pm Pacific Time White people*: We need all the help we can get. Who can we be today to change the conditions of our world for the better, to right the wrongs of […]
Awake in the New Year
With Deborah Eden Tull and Enrique Collazo
A Dharma & Dance Retreat Monday, December 30th - Saturday, January 4th Registration closes December 23rd at 11:59pm Pacific Time The New Year is a powerful threshold. Buddhist traditions have long emphasized the importance of setting clear and conscious intentions in our spiritual and ethical life. In this New Year’s retreat you will be invited […]