Wisdom is understanding that we can find peace no matter what our circumstances are. That is real freedom.
Cara Lai
Residential Retreat Teacher
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 childbirth and motherhood.
Cara once worked as an artist, wilderness guide, social worker and psychotherapist, but traded it in for an all-out mindfulness rampage. She’s a working mom whose teaching is relatable, authentic, funny, sometimes crass, and accessible for many people. She teaches teens and adults at Spirit Rock, Insight Meditation Society, and Ten Percent Happier—ultimately hoping to get woke enough to bend spoons with her mind in front of large audiences. And to help everyone get totally free.
Cara Lai's Upcoming Programs
Short Program | On-Land
Sunday, July 27 | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Freedom Within Reach: Real Awakening in Ordinary Life
The attainment of enlightenment has a hallowed place in Buddhism. We often assume it’s some distant, rarified achievement that is only accessible for certain people at certain times. But what if each day could be punctuated by the experience of deep letting go? And what if nibbāna was something within our reach, or even inevitable? Our time together will explore the possibilities for nurturing freedom in the ordinariness of our lives. Please join us.
Short Program | Online
Sunday, July 27 | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Freedom Within Reach: Real Awakening in Ordinary Life
The attainment of enlightenment has a hallowed place in Buddhism. We often assume it’s some distant, rarified achievement that is only accessible for certain people at certain times. But what if each day could be punctuated by the experience of deep letting go? And what if nibbāna was something within our reach, or even inevitable? Our time together will explore the possibilities for nurturing freedom in the ordinariness of our lives. Please join us.
Family | On-Land
July 30 - August 3, 2025 | Wednesday - Sunday | 4 nights
The Family Retreat
Applications Open. Find joy in a retreat for the whole family and take time together to rest, reconnect, play, and enjoy! This four-night residential retreat for adults and children ages 7-15 years old will combine meditation and Dharma teachings, games, arts and crafts, nature time, and more. Kids and teens will have organized time each day to be with peers, fully supervised by our mindful leaders, and adults will also have time to practice, relax, and receive Dharma from the teachers.
Retreat | On-Land
August 5 - August 10, 2025 | Tuesday - Sunday | 5 nights
Young Adult Retreat
Open to Young adults ages 18-32 years. Registration Open. Join a kind community to practice mindfulness and compassion. Give yourself a break from overstimulation and come home to the simple experience of being alive. In mindfulness meditation, we practice resting, looking deeply, knowing moment-by-moment what it’s like to be human. Some of us are hesitant to look because we’re concerned what we’ll find. But our practice shows us that the more deeply we look into experience, the more reason we have to love.
Dharma Library
Can't join us live online or on the land? Study and practice at your convenience with Cara Lai through our new library of recordings, articles, and self-paced online courses.