big heart city spring retreat
with vinny ferraro
May 15-18, 2025
Menlo Park, CA
you are warmly invited
For generations, practitioners have stepped away from the hum of daily life to sit in the quiet of their own hearts. A silent retreat offers us an chance to slow down, listening deeply, and remembering what’s always been here.
You are warmly invited to join this shared field of practice, a few days of turning inward in the good company of Sangha. Together, we’ll cultivate steady presence, softening into the natural radiance of the unobscured heart. No need to force anything—just the simple, courageous act of being here, moment by moment.
This is an all-terrain practice: whether sitting, walking, eating, or resting, we bring awareness to it all. Through stillness and movement as well as shared silence, together we’ll explore how each moment conditions the next—how mindfulness ripens into wisdom, and how wisdom deepens into freedom.
Of course, there’ll be sessions for questions as well as ways to connect as a sangha.
You don’t need to bring anything but yourself, just as you are.
I hope you’ll join us for our annual Big Heart City Spring Retreat held at the beautiful Vallombrosa Center in the Bay Area.
-Vinny
PS — The retreat sold out on day 1. Thank You!
Please join the waitlist to be notified of any tickets that become available.
may 15 - 18, 2025
Vallombrosa Center, Menlo Park, California
30 miles south of San Francisco and just 2 blocks from the
Menlo Park Caltrain Station
Arrival: Thursday, May 15 between 4pm-6pm
Departure: Sunday, May 18 after 11am
Cost: There are 3 ticket levels available. Please choose the ticket level that feels generous for you.
All tickets include a single guest room with a private bathroom for 3 nights, dinner on Thursday, three meals on Friday & Saturday, breakfast and lunch on Sunday, and dana to Vinny. Tiers 2 and 3 include funds for organizational support and a donation to our scholarship fund. Shared accommodations will not be offered for this retreat.
At check out, you may choose to pay 50% now; the remaining balance of 50% will be due on or before April 21, 2025. The Big Heart City Treasurer will send you an email with a link to pay the balance.
A limited number of partial scholarships are available.
Please email info@bigheartcity.org to request a partial scholarship.
This is an in-person retreat. There will not be a virtual option to attend.
Tier 1
$850
Single room + private bath
All meals
Dana to Vinny
Tier 2
$950
All tier one +
Organizational Support
Donation to Scholarship Fund
Tier 3
$1100
All tier one +
Extra Organizational Support
Larger Donation to Scholarship Fund
Cancellations received on or before April 15, 2025 will receive a refund minus a $50 processing fee.
Cancellations received on or before May 1, 2025 will receive a 50% refund.
Cancellations received on or before May 8, 2025 will receive a 25% refund.
No Refunds after May 8, 2025.
Refunds are sent via check in the mail. You are welcome to transfer this registration to someone else if you are unable to attend. To cancel and request a refund, please email info@bigheartcity.org.