Refuge and Response: Loving Engagement in a Time of Transformation (801R25) - On Land
James Baraz, MA, Carol Cano, MA, Kirsten Rudestam and Yong Oh
September 7 - 11, 2025
Registration closes at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on September 6, 2025. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early. Interested in Commuting to the retreat? – learn more below.
Open to: Invited climate activists and leaders
Description
Drawing on both Buddhist and Earth-based teachings, this gathering offers a space to explore the intersection of contemplative practice and engaged activism. Through morning retreat practice and afternoon symposiums, we will cultivate the inner resources and outer connection needed to meet this moment with clarity, resilience, and skillful action for those working toward a more just and compassionate world.
Invited guests attend at no cost. At the end of the retreat, there will be an invitation to offer dana to the teachers and to Spirit Rock.
Retreat Commuter Option
This is a residential retreat that includes meals and lodging. However, a retreat commuter is a practitioner who attends a full residential retreat, including all meals, but they are not provided with overnight accommodations. Instead, practitioners stay in their own home or find local accommodations. A communal resting area is provided during the day while on campus for the retreat. The retreat commuter is expected to attend the entire retreat just like residential retreatants. If you need suggestions for offsite accommodations, please visit our Offsite Accommodations page.
If you have questions about being a retreat commuter, please email Registration@spiritrock.org
About the Teachers
James Baraz, MA
James Baraz, MA, has a master’s in Psychology and is a founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center. James started the Community Dharma Leader program, the Kalyana Mitta Network, the Spirit Rock Family Program and helped create the Heavenly Messengers Training Program. James has been leading the online course Awakening Joy since 2003. He serves […]
Learn more about James Baraz, MA
Carol Cano, MA
Carol Cano, MA, has a master’s in Psychology and began her practice over 30 years ago at Wat Kow Tahm in Thailand and has actively engaged in building communities and teaching Dharma internationally. She is a graduate of the 2017-2020 Spirit Rock Meditation Center's Teacher Training program and a teacher at Spirit Rock often. She is […]
Learn more about Carol Cano, MA
Kirsten Rudestam
Kirsten’s teaching and facilitation is dedicated to life, the earth and alignment with the ground of being. She believes that practices of (re)connection are crucial in maintaining our capacity to face and respond to ecological loss and to embrace our inherent interbeing. Kirsten holds a PhD in environmental sociology from the University of California, Santa […]
Learn more about Kirsten Rudestam
Yong Oh
Yong is a Dharma Council teacher at the Durango Dharma Center and a core teacher for Sacred Mountain Saṅgha, and is also a visiting teacher for other community centers across North America. He teaches retreats at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Insight Meditation Society, Big Bear Retreat Center, and Vallecitos Mountain Retreat Center. He is a […]
Learn more about Yong OhCategories : Multi-day, On-land, Residential, Retreat