The Seven Factors of Awakening [ONLINE]

Open to experienced and new practitioners

Registration closes on November 16, 2026. If joining after this date, please contact us.

In Buddhist practice we often investigate the nature of suffering and how to diminish it. Yet the Buddha also emphasized developing the wholesome, life-affirming qualities that bring ease, joy, and clarity to the heart and mind. These qualities are not luxuries on the path—they are the very conditions that support wisdom and liberation.

One of the Buddha’s most beautiful teachings on these positive qualities is the Seven Factors of Awakening: mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, calm, concentration, and equanimity. As we nurture these factors, they naturally balance and strengthen one another, opening the way to deep insight and peace.

During this retreat, we’ll explore how the seven factors are already present in us, though we may often overlook them in daily life. Through mindfulness and reflection, we’ll learn to recognize their presence, allowing them to naturally strengthen and deepen—both on the cushion and in the flow of our daily activities.

Our time together will include sitting and walking practice, dharma talks, small-group meetings, and mindful, compassionate community in the peaceful mountain setting of Big Bear Retreat Center. Whether you are new to retreat practice or an experienced meditator, this retreat offers a supportive environment to deepen presence, awaken joy, and rest in the stillness of the heart.

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.