Love and Rest [Online]

This online retreat is open to both beginning and experienced practitioners.
Registration for this retreat closes on September 15, 2025 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 naturally arises when we rest deeply. When we let go of the dissatisfaction of endless grasping, we experience loving awareness itself. As we do this, we discover what’s been waiting there all along, a softening of the heart, a truly satisfying love.

The daily rhythm of a retreat usually involves alternating periods of stationary (usually sitting) and movement meditation, nature walks, meals and tea, as well as practice meetings, dharma talks and rest periods. The first session usually begins before breakfast. Each morning the teachers offer continuing meditation instructions for the day. The whole retreat is a succession of mindfulness training, breathing practices, deep awareness of the body and environment, meditations on the nature of feelings, and awareness of mind from the Buddhist Insight Meditation tradition.

HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND TEACHERS

I am in awe of the profound energy of love emanating from Beth & Matthew.

This retreat was phenomenal. The teachers were amazing and wonderfully generous in sharing their profound knowledge in a loving, accessible and entertaining way.

GENEROSITY

Retreat Cost & 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, as is the tradition of these retreats (see below). We price fees to make programs as financially accessible as possible.

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.

Dana (Generosity) for Teachers (not included in registration fees):

The spirit of generosity is a foundational component to the Buddhist path. It supports the development of lovingkindness and compassion, deepens awareness of our interconnectedness and encourages non-attachment. 

As part of this tradition, many meditation teachers (including the teachers of this retreat) offer their teachings without set fees or compensation. BBRC reimburses teachers’ travel costs and provides teachers with meals and accommodations while teaching, but teachers receive no direct compensation from the retreat center. 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. When we all take part in the offering and receiving of dana, we join a large circle of generosity. 

Visit this page to learn more about the practice of Dana and Generosity, in general and at Big Bear Retreat Center.

An Online Hybrid Interactive Retreat

This retreat will be an interactive online retreat with the in-person participants and teachers. The meditation hall will be livestreamed and online participants will join the retreat via Zoom.

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.

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. Please plan to have your video on during the sessions.

At registration you will receive a link with a landing page for the online retreat. This includes the Zoom and schedule information, 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.

See more of our online offerings on our SoundCloud, Dharmaseed & YouTube channel.

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 hybrid retreat, as an online participant.” – Bernadine

“This was a spectacular experience and one that could be appreciated by novice and experienced mediators and everyone in between. Doing it at home has helped me envision how to live more mindfully throughout my day.” – Deb

“LOVED this hybrid retreat. So much care and attention was clearly paid to how to help integrate the onsite with the online cohorts.”

Schedule for Online Retreatants

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

Opening Day
2:00 pm     Zoom room opens (optional for testing connection)
4:30 pm     Online Welcome Session (all please attend)
7:00 pm     Retreat Opening

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