An Undefended Heart: A Big Heart City Retreat

What does it mean to live with a heart that is both open and unafraid? This five-night silent meditation retreat, held at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California, invites you to discover the heart as a wellspring of wisdom, connection, and genuine freedom. Rather than treating difficult emotions as obstacles to overcome, this program—led by respected teachers Vinny Ferraro, Matthew Brensilver, and Cara Lai—welcomes the full spectrum of human experience: the joy and the grief, the beauty and the challenge. Through heart-centered practices grounded in Buddhist meditation traditions, you'll learn to meet life with both courage and tenderness, developing resilience without hardening yourself to what matters most.

This is a retreat for anyone ready to explore what an undefended heart truly means—not naïve or fragile, but clear, present, and capable of holding complexity. Whether you're a longtime practitioner or new to meditation, this December retreat offers a rare opportunity to go deep into practices that transform how you relate to yourself and others. You'll leave with concrete tools for cultivating lovingkindness and embodied awareness, and a renewed sense that your heart's wisdom is not a luxury—it's essential to living fully.

What to Expect

Five days of silent meditation in a supportive community at Spirit Rock. Your days will unfold through a careful balance of formal sitting and walking meditation, guided heart-centered practices, dharma talks from the three teachers, small group meetings, and opportunities for one-on-one inquiry. The retreat is entirely silent except during teacher-led sessions and structured practice meetings, creating a container where you can turn inward without distraction.

Rather than intellectualizing the heart, you'll work directly with your own experience—noticing where you naturally close down, where you become defended, and where wisdom already lives. The curriculum welcomes practitioners of all levels, though those new to meditation are encouraged to complete two or three daylong programs beforehand to build foundational skills. You'll leave with a deeper understanding of your own capacity for resilience and connection.

Venue & Logistics

Spirit Rock Meditation Center, nestled in the beautiful Marin County landscape of Woodacre, California, provides an ideal setting for this immersive retreat. The retreat runs December 6, 2026. Wear comfortable, warm clothing suitable for sitting meditation and walking practice. Please contact Spirit Rock directly regarding accessibility accommodations or dietary needs.