Awakening the Heart of Love: Choosing a Life of Kindness & Courage

March 1st - 6th, 2027

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Arrival: March 1st, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Departure: March 6th,  12:30 PM

Tuition:
Dana + 5 nights lodging (see below for more information about the practice of dana)
Combined at checkout

Meals & drinks included
Inc. V, VG, GF

Add extra nights at 50% off

Tuition:
This retreat is offered on dana – a generosity based practice supporting teachers which has been traditional since the time of the Buddha. Registration covers lodging and meals – while your generosity supports both teacher and teaching.

Meals & drinks included
Inc. V, VG, GF

Add extra nights at 50% off

About the Retreat

Awakening the heart of love and choosing a life of kindness and courage is necessary medicine for our ailing world. Come immerse yourself in this spacious silent retreat dedicated to nourishing the goodness that already lives inside of you, your buddhanature, the bodhisattva within. This requires steady, honest, tender, and patient courage, for both your personal circumstances and those in widening circles around you. The task is big, yet the Dharma offers timeless perspectives, wisdom and everyday practical guidance to meet it all.

Held in Noble Silence with a relaxed schedule, each day includes meditation, gentle mindful movement, daily dharma talks, along with expanded time for personal contemplative practices and reflection – time in nature, taking a hike, making art, writing, or even taking a nap. Rest is encouraged!

Small group discussions will be offered as further support for one’s practice, explorations, and discoveries.

What to Expect

Drawing on the teachings of the Buddha from the Insight Meditation tradition, we’ll take a deep dive into the foundational, nourishing, and transformative teachings of the heart, the Brahma Viharas:

  • Lovingkindness (Metta)
  • Compassion (Karuna)
  • Joy (Mudita)
  • Equanimity (Upekkha)

Together or separate, the Brahma Viharas become the reliable solid ground that support the capacity to skillfully navigate everyday life with clarity, balance, commitment and care.

Why Attend This Retreat?

Dedicating a week to caring for your own good heart among the beauty and support of the natural world deeply nourishes the capacity to show up in your own life with expanded capacity, resilience, sensitivity, and love.

Please come join us for a retreat dedicated to awakening the heart of love. Everyone is welcome, both new and seasoned practitioners.

FAQs

Do I need prior meditation experience?
No, everyone is welcome. We welcome newcomers.

With a silent retreat, what if I need to talk to someone?
We will offer regular opportunities to connect all welcome all questions anytime.

What if I have specific dietary restrictions?
All meals take into consideration many specific needs. Please be sure to let us know your details with registration.

Do I have to give up my phone during the retreat?
We strongly encourage a digital fast for the duration of the retreat, yet we understand sometimes people have an important reason to keep the phone handy, especially for medical reasons.

I take regular medication. Can I bring it with me?
Yes, please continue to take your medications.

Sample Daily Schedule

6:30 am Early Morning Session Movement

7:00 – Sitting Meditation

8:00 – Breakfast

10:00 am Daily Instructions & Sitting Meditation

11:00 am Walking Meditation

11:45 am Sitting Meditation

12:30 pm Lunch

1:30 pm Open Meditation, Personal Time, Small Groups

4:00 pm Sit

4:30 pm Dharma Talk

6:00 pm Dinner

7:30 pm Gentle Movement & Chanting

8:00 pm Sitting Meditation

Teacher Testimonials

“I treasure retreats with Heidi Bourne. Her dedication and love for the practices, her clear and warm teaching style, her knowledge, compassion, and humor deeply enrich my life and keep me coming back year after year.” Melissa R.

“It’s hard to put into words just how precious and sacred it is to spend time with others in a silent retreat surrounded by nature and supported by Heidi Bourne. She is a very skilled teacher with an expansive warm heart. Time in retreat nurtures my whole being and helps me meet my life in all its complexities with steadiness, compassion, and wisdom. Retreats with Heidi are one of my favorite times of the year.” Ally Z.

Retreat Faculty

Heidi Bourne

Heidi Bourne is a meditation teacher in the Insight Meditation tradition and is the founder and guiding teacher of Pacific Mindfulness. She has been teaching since 2005 offering classes, series courses, nature retreats, trauma-informed/sensitive and resiliency-focused professional programs. Heidi is especially interested in the integration of the common sense, accessible and timeless teachings of awareness, [...]

Heather Lear | MA.

Heather Lear, MA, our movement teacher, was born and raised with the Dharma in a family of Insight Meditation practitioners. She studies and teaches at the intersection of heart-centered Dharma, embodiment practices including Radiant Heart Qigong and community-centered racial awakening and DEIA work, and serves as the Program Manager at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Heather is a [...]

Lodging

We have several accommodations to choose from during checkout.
All options include our healthy meals and drinks. Inc V, VG, GF.

Dormitories
Rooms with beds for up to 7-8 people. Gender-segregated with men in their own dorm and women in another. The dorms use a shared bathroom down the hall, which is also equipped with shower stalls.

Monk Rooms
A cost-effective option for participants looking for indoor, solitary lodging, but who don’t mind using a shared bathroom or are looking for a more affordable retreat solution. These rooms are in the same hall as the Ridgen Dormitories, but offer more privacy than the dorms. In addition to a bed, bedding, a private room and closet, the monk rooms also have a large window and a desk and desk chair for added comfort.

Single and Double Rooms
The perfect choice for a retreat where you want both your own space and your own bathroom. Each room offers a little more space, a dresser and closet, and a 3/4s bathroom (toilet, sink, and shower, no bathtub) attached to each room.

Junior Suite
Our Lodge Junior Suites include a queen-size bed topped by a cozy comforter, a desk, dresser, closet and private bath with bathtub, plus a sitting area.

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