Steadying the Heart: Refuge through the Four Sublime States (284R23)
Oren Jay Sofer, SEP, Cara Lai, MA, Jessica Morey, MA, Yong Oh and joshua bee alafia
September 23 - 30, 2023
Registration open until 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on September 22, 2023. A waiting list will be created if the retreat fills early.
Interested in Commuting to the retreat? – learn more below.
RETREAT TO BE HELD ON THE LAND!
Open to: Everyone
Description:
The Buddhist path includes practices to cultivate four powerful and transformative qualities—kindness, compassion, joy, and balance. These qualities are innate human capacities, and can also be developed into more reliable dwelling places for the heart. Known as the brahmavihāra, or “sublime homes,” these states can serve as powerful supports for wellbeing, wholeness, concentration, and the maturing of Insight practice.
In this silent meditation retreat, we will explore techniques for developing each of the four sublime states, as well as ways to release the obstacles that often get in the way of living with more ease, happiness and peace. Our time together will include silent and guided sitting meditation, walking meditation, Dharma talks, instructions, Q&A and small group meetings with the teachers.
This retreat is appropriate for both beginning and more experienced meditators. This retreat is silent except for teacher-led Q&A, small groups, or other practice meetings.
This retreat is silent except for teacher-led Q&A, small groups, or other practice meetings.
Financial Details
Residential Retreat Sliding Scale:*
Supporter Rate w/guaranteed single room – $3640
Benefactor Rate – $2870
Sustainer Rate – $2205
BASE – $1435
Reduced Rate – $910
Scholarship Rate (BIPOC, Mudita/Karuna, or Young Adult) – $385
*Fees DO NOT include a donation to the teacher(s).
Scholarship offerings: All scholarship rates require a minimum fee ($55/night). Scholarships are limited to TWO per calendar year for on-land retreats. And, while we are not able to offer “pay what you can”-type of scholarships for in-person retreats, they are still available for online offerings as space allows.
Hemera Fellowships for Residential Retreats – are you eligible and a first-time retreatant? Learn more details…
Room Occupancy Update**: We have double and single occupancy rooms. Many of our rooms are single occupancy (only 16 of 80 rooms are double occupancy). We offer a “guaranteed single room” rate and these will be limited (16). This rate guarantees a single room while helping to support scholarships and all we do here at Spirit Rock. The remaining single rooms are not exclusive to the top end of the sliding scale; however, they are initially prioritized for those with serious medical needs.
**Subject to change depending upon COVID-19 situation.
IMPORTANT – Details on our current COVID Safety Protocols for In-person Retreats.
Cancellation Policy for Residential Retreats:***
Standard Cancellation Fee Schedule:
- $100 On or before 8 weeks
- $175 4-8 weeks before
- $300 2-4 weeks before
- No refunds as of 2 weeks before
Scholarship Rates (and Commuter) Cancellation Fees:
- $75 On or before 8 weeks
- $100 4-8 weeks before
- $200 2-4 weeks before
- No refunds as of 2 weeks before
***Fees reduced for serious illness or death in family
Retreat Commuter Option:
The retreat commuter option will only become available once the retreat is full with a waitlist.
Prerequisite to Attend as a Commuter:
You must have attended at least one 7-night or two 5-night silent, Insight (vipassanā) meditation residential retreats PRIOR to attending this retreat.
What is a Retreat Commuter?
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. Special reduced rates are listed below for retreat commuters
If you have questions about being a retreat commuter, please email Registration@spiritrock.org
Commuter Sliding Scale:
Benefactor – $1435
Sustainer – $1075
Base- $720
About the Teachers

Oren Jay Sofer, SEP
Oren Jay Sofer teaches meditation and communication internationally. He holds a degree in comparative religion from Columbia University, is a Certified Trainer of Nonviolent Communication, and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner for the healing of trauma. Oren is also the author of several books, including the best-seller "Say What You Mean: A Mindful Approach to Nonviolent […]
Learn more about Oren Jay Sofer, SEP
Cara Lai, MA
Cara Lai spent most of her life trying to figure out how to be happy—or at least avoid total misery—which ultimately led to her spending the majority of her adulthood meditating. She's explored the wild beauty of the human experience through many adventures in consciousness, including long retreats, chronic illness, and the profound experiences of […]
Learn more about Cara Lai, MA
Jessica Morey, MA
Jess Morey is a meditation teacher and contemplative coach. She began practicing meditation at age 14 on teen retreats offered by the Insight Meditation Society (IMS), and has maintained a consistent commitment to meditation since. Diving head first into meditation at such a key developmental stage makes the revelatory perspective of mindfulness & compassion her […]
Learn more about Jessica Morey, MA
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 Oh
joshua bee alafia
joshua bee alafia’s meditation practice began in 1989 when his mother gave him a mantra to work with. This sparked a rich journey into different styles from the Hawaiian Shamanic, Hindu, Sufi, Dzogchen, Taoist, and Vipassana traditions. Wanting to bring Vipassana practice to the youth, he began teaching mindfulness practice to incarcerated, court involved and […]
Learn more about joshua bee alafiaCategories : Multi-day, On-land, Residential, Retreat