Living Stillness
Big Bear Retreat Center
nestled in ancient Juniper woodlands in the Big Bear mountains of CA
Wednesday, June 23, (4pm) – Sunday, June 27, 2027 (1pm)
“If you really let yourself be here in this moment, you will find that everything begins to glow. Everything is radiant, luminous, clear, and transparent. That glowing luminous awareness has within it all kinds of wonderful qualities: love, harmony, beauty, and grace. Since our lens has been out of focus most of our lives, we have come to believe that our distorted perception is how things are.”
Meditation & Teaching: Adam Moskowitz | Yoga: Raquel Scalon
Retreat offers a rare opportunity to take refuge in practice, nature, and community. We slow down and let go of the exhausting pursuit of trying to be elsewhere. We release our demanding routines and dwell more fully in the here and now, where love and growth are possible, as Jon Kabat-Zinn has shared. On retreat, we learn to meet life moment by moment. In other words, we learn to relax.
The practices we explore include mindfulness, insight meditation, and the heart practices of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. We learn to recognize each moment as an opportunity to awaken, enjoy, and be more kind. We learn to see ourselves clearly, which is at the heart of spiritual practice and the discovery of a deeper happiness.
Meditation reminds us that a pool of well-being exists within us and can expand when we care to notice it. Its expansion relies on our time and awareness, not our frantic, external seeking. The purpose of retreat is to create the time for this well-being to awaken and, ultimately, help us inhabit our everyday lives and human relationships with more lightness, appreciation, creativity, and freedom.
From the mindfulness perspective, we need occasional retreat. We need periods of true quiet and opportunities to put down all responsibilities. When paired with practice, community, nourishing food, and time in nature, this quiet becomes a gateway to insight, self-discovery, and renewal. Throughout the retreat, you will be fully supported through guided meditation, teachings, time for reflection and questions, and the gift of being together.
Retreat includes:
Sitting and walking meditation*
Gentle movement
Mindfulness and Dharma teachings
Journaling and group reflection
Optional one-on-one meetings
Nourishing meals
Labyrinth and hiking trails
Spacious wilderness landscape
*Prioritizing self-care is encouraged. Resting on your back or using a chair in the space is invited.
Schedule
Check-in begins at 2pm on Wednesday. We invite you to get settled, hike on the beautiful trails, walk the labyrinth, and connect with others.
We ask that you arrive no later than 4:00pm.
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday each include a full day of group sessions and time for rest.
The retreat ends around 1pm on Sunday.
Beginning Thursday morning, we will enter a period of silence and guided practice, which will continue until around lunchtime on Sunday. Those new to retreat or extended silence often discover a deep, previously unrecognized longing for it.
Food
Dinner will be offered on Wednesday night.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be offered on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Breakfast and lunch will be offered on Sunday.
The kitchen offers snacks in the dining hall which is open 24/7. Coffee/tea is served daily. In each cabin, as well as the dining hall, there is a refrigerator and pantry space to store your own snacks/food.
Meals include vegetarian and meat options.
The kitchen will accommodate major dietary needs including vegan, dairy free, gluten free and allergies.
Lodging
Private room: $1,500 | Ensuite bathroom
Private room: $1,100 | Shared bathroom (2–3 people)
Scholarships: We offer a limited number of reduced-rate spaces for participants with financial need. If financial assistance would support your participation, please reach out to Adam@onemindful.com to request more information and an application. Submitting an application does not guarantee a space, as the number of scholarships available is limited.
100% of the registration fee goes toward food, retreat management, and use of the land and facilities. The teachings are offered freely. Participants are invited to offer an additional donation to the teachers following the retreat.
Refund Policy
If you need to cancel, please send written notice of cancellation to Adam@onemindful.com.
If you cancel more than 90 days prior to the start of the retreat, you will receive a refund minus a $100 cancellation fee.
If you cancel 60 to 90 days prior to the start of the retreat, you will receive a refund minus a $300 cancellation fee.
If you cancel within 60 days of the start of the retreat, we are unable to offer a refund unless we can fill your spot, due to our rental agreement.
Location & Altitude
The center is located on a hill, with outdoor walkways connecting the dining, gathering, and residential spaces.
Big Bear Retreat Center does have some accessibility limitations. If you have concerns about your mobility or ability to navigate the retreat center, please reach out before the retreat so we can better understand what support you may need. We would like you to be able to participate in the retreat as fully as possible. If you haven’t yet let us know about any accessibility needs, please email us.
The retreat center rests at 7,000 feet
If you are sensitive to altitude, we recommend bringing any necessary medication or supplies to help you adjust to this environment smoothly. This includes melatonin or aids for sleeping.
Filtered water will be available in all cabins and gathering spaces
Golf carts will be available for use for folks who need time to adjust to the elevation changes
Registration
If this is your first retreat with us, please read this page before registering.
To reserve your space, please make a payment and complete the registration form below.
Please note that we cannot confirm your space until both have been received.
Pay: Private room | Ensuite bathroom ($1,500)
Pay: Private room | Shared bathroom ($1,100)