This retreat focuses on the cultivation of mettā, or lovingkindness—the intentional development of a heart grounded in goodwill toward oneself and all beings. Unlike retreats that emphasize mindfulness primarily as a basis for insight, the core practice here is the systematic cultivation of mettā as a way of relating to experience and living with greater kindness, even in a fractured world marked by uncertainty and stress.
Drawing on our mindfulness practice, we learn to recognize and soften habitual patterns that limit the heart’s natural capacity for goodwill. While the primary emphasis is mettā, we also explore compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity as supportive qualities.
This retreat is silent except for teacher-led Q&A, small groups, or other practice meetings.
Choose your rate
We offer our retreats on a sliding scale to make the Dharma accessible to all.
By selecting the highest rate you're able to afford, you help support Spirit Rock's ability to offer lower rates and meet the growing number of scholarship requests. Your generosity sustains our nonprofit mission and ensures that these teachings of lovingkindness and wisdom remain available to everyone.
Maximum generosity.
Helps the dharma remain accessible to all.
Generous support.
Helps the community and teachings.
Our standard rate.
The foundation of our community.
Partially subsidized.
Made possible by community generosity.
Needs-based assistance
Scholarships are limited to those with significant financial need.
If you need a scholarship to attend, we encourage you to select the scholarship rate that best aligns with you and your financial circumstances.
For those facing financial hardship, including elders 65+ on fixed incomes, or those with serious or life-threatening illnesses.
For those who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color and need financial assistance to attend a program.
For young adults (ages 18–26) experiencing financial need who wish to attend a program and deepen their practice.
For parents or legal guardians (grandparents, relatives, or foster parents) from low to modest income households who are actively raising children under the age of 18 in their home, with special priority given to those who are single parenting.
Please note that registration fees do not include teacher dana. At the end of the retreat, there will be an invitation to offer dana to the teachers and to Spirit Rock.
This program offers 12 Continuing Education (CE) credits/contact hours for $120. This program is applicable for licensed and license-eligible mental health and health care professionals, including psychologists, social workers (LCSW, LSW), counselors (LPC, LCPC, LMHC), marriage and family therapists, nurses (RN, NP), chiropractors, and other health care professionals. Please review our CE information page for provider details and to determine if your association or board will accept credits offered by Spirit Rock.
The cultivation of lovingkindness and the companion practices of compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity offer healthcare professionals a sustainable inner resource for the demands of clinical and caregiving work. Research on lovingkindness meditation and compassion-based training supports measurable benefits relevant to professional practice, including reduced empathic distress, decreased burnout risk, and enhanced capacity for emotional regulation. Caregivers will find these practices supportive for maintaining relational presence, softening self-critical responses, and bringing greater steadiness to the emotional weight of patient and client care. These practices translate directly to clinical environments, where the ability to remain open without becoming overwhelmed is both an ethical and a practical necessity.
Grounded in contemplative practice and supported by a growing body of research on compassion-based interventions, this program offers mental health and healthcare professionals practical skills for sustaining compassionate presence in both personal and professional life.
To be eligible for Continuing Education (CE), you must:
(Full attendance is required. Times are listed in Pacific time.)
Attendance policy for CE participants:
Gulwinder “Gullu” Singh is a corporate real estate attorney and dedicated Dharma practitioner teaching secular and Buddhist meditation in legal, corporate, and academic settings. A graduate of Spirit Rock’s Teacher Training, he serves on core faculty for major programs and is the incoming Co-chair of the Guiding Teacher Council.
Donald Rothberg, PhD, has practiced Insight Meditation since 1976 and trained in Dzogchen, Mahāmudrā, and Hakomi psychotherapy. A former professor, he now teaches meditation, psychology, and socially engaged Buddhism. He’s led long-term training programs through the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Saybrook, and Spirit Rock. Donald served on BPF’s board and is author of The Engaged Spiritual Life and co-editor of Ken Wilber in Dialogue.
Diana Winston is the Director of UCLA Mindful, the mindfulness education center of UCLA Health. She has taught retreats at Spirit Rock since 2004. She is the author of Fully Present, The Little Book of Being, and Wide Awake: A Buddhist Guide for Teens.
Beth Sternlieb is a teacher at InsightLA and co-director of clinical and research programs in yoga and mindfulness at the UCLA Pediatric Pain Program. Beth completed the SRMC/IMS/IRC 4-year teacher training in 2016.
Jonathan Relucio teaches mindfulness and embodiment practices grounded in healing, justice, and liberation. A former Senior Trainer at Niroga Institute, he teaches with Spirit Rock, East Bay Meditation Center, and Braided Wisdom, drawing on over 20 years in community organizing, social services, and leadership development. He's part of CDL 7.
Ronya is the founding teacher of Asheville Insight Meditation group. She has been practicing mindfulness meditation since 1985, has sat on two years on retreats, and had experience as a Theravada Buddhist nun. Born in Kuwait of Palestinian-American descent and raised in Islamic faith, Ronya values justice and equality.
*Fees reduced for serious illness or death in family
**Monthlong retreats and Dharma Training programs have specific and very different cancellation policies. Refer back to your confirmation email for this information.**
Payment plans are available to everyone! Installments can only be set up on a credit cards, and some debit cards (we only accept VISA, Mastercard, or Discover).
You can either pay in full or pay a 30% deposit when you register. If you choose the deposit option, the remaining balance will be automatically charged monthly in equal installments using the same card you used to pay your deposit. The payment will debit on the 'same date' of the month that you paid your deposit. Full payment is due 2 weeks prior to the retreat start.
Let us know if you need to adjust a debit date or if you need to update your credit card. Any adjustments need to be done well in advance of a scheduled debit date. We are not able to 'reverse' a charge once it has been processed.
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 limited number of "guaranteed single room" rates which guarantees a single room while generously 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.
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 at their own expense. A shared resting area is provided during the day while on campus for the retreat located below the main hall. The retreat commuter is expected to attend the entire retreat just like residential retreatants. Special reduced rates are available for retreat commuters. An added benefit of a retreat commuter, is that you could be offered a residential spot on opening day due to a very last minute cancellation. Additional fees will be due if this option is accepted.
The retreat commuter option will only become available once the retreat is full with a waitlist. However, if your personal circumstances preclude you from attending a residential retreat (staying overnight), please reach out to us as we may be able to offer you a commuter spot sooner and we would be happy to have a conversation with you. ("Personal circumstances" could be situations like if you are a sole caregiver, or parent w/young children where you need to be home each night, for example.)
Prerequisite for Commuters:
You must have attended at least one weeklong silent residential retreat (5-7 nights) in Insight (vipassanā) meditation PRIOR to attending this retreat. Online retreat experience is not eligible for this prerequisite.
If you have questions about being a retreat commuter, please email [email protected]
Explore the practice of being on retreat - Learn more here.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center offers several categories of scholarship types for residential retreats. Scholarship rates are limited to those with significant financial need. A scholarship application is required to be considered for any scholarship rate below. We have many requests for scholarships and cannot honor all requests. Visit our Scholarship FAQs at the bottom of the Financial Support page.
Muditā/Karuṇa Scholarship Rate:
Dr. Marlene Jones People of Color Scholarship Rate: supports individuals who have significant financial need and who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a Person of color.
Toni Ko Scholarship Rate: supports individuals who have a significant financial need, are 27-55 years old, AND are attending their FIRST silent residential retreat (limited to a 6-night retreat only) at Spirit Rock. This scholarship is a one-time award. This has a $50 reservation fee that is fully refunded upon retreat attendance.
Present Parent Scholarship Rate: supports parents or legal guardians (grandparents, relatives, or foster parents) from low-to-modest income backgrounds wanting to attend a residential retreat who are actively raising children under the age of 18 in their home, with special priority given to single parents. It is available for most standard residential retreats (9 nights or less) and only once per calendar year. It is not available for the following: monastic retreats, family retreats, monthlong retreats, or any training programs with residential retreats. This has a $50 reservation fee that is fully refunded upon retreat attendance.
Young Adult Scholarship Rate: supports individuals who have significant financial need and who are between the age of 18-26 years old. If all the Young Adult rates are sold out, you may select one of the above options that may also apply to you.
Renunciate Monastics: Monastics in the Buddhist traditions are invited to attend Spirit Rock retreats without cost. Monastic discounts can be extended only to one having taken vows and abiding as a renunciate, living exclusively on donations and having no form of income through work or other sources. You will need to provide the name of the monastery you are affiliated and the lead teacher or abbot you practice under. To learn more, contact the Registration Dept at: [email protected].
*Maximum annual scholarship limit is two per calendar year; this limit is not a guarantee.