Retreats

  • $403.00 – Residential Stay
    plus dana (offered at the end of the retreat) to the teacher and to Heartwood. You can read more about the practice of dana here.
  • $207.00 – Commuter Option
    Commuters attend the full retreat, including lunch and dinner, but are not provided with overnight accommodations or breakfast. It is important to note that by registering as a commuter, you agree to attend the entire retreat and to arrive and depart at the scheduled time each day. Your presence is important, as having retreatants come and go or miss sessions can disrupt the container created by group practice. dana (offered at the end of the retreat) to the teacher and to Heartwood. You can read more about the practice of dana here.
  • $152.00 – Zoom Option
    plus dana (offered at the end of the retreat) to the teacher and to Heartwood. You can read more about the practice of dana here.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION View Here SCHOLARSHIP QUALIFICATIONS View Here

Location: Heartwood Refuge and Retreat Center

Address: 159 Osceola Rd Hendersonville, NC 28739

Contact: Clear Grace
[email protected]
828-356-5568

Cancellation Policy: As a dana-based, volunteer-based center, we are unable to provide refunds. At this time, all retreats are non-refundable. We understand that emergency circumstances arise. In this case, please submit in writing to explain the nature of the emergency circumstances to the retreat manager at [email protected] to secure a credit for future Heartwood offerings.

Room Assignments: All rooms are single-occupancy at this time and until further notice, due to the need for social distancing.

Email us about program

When Everything Falls Apart, What Remains? ~ Retreat Scholarship Eligible ~ Zoom online option

with John Orr

August 12 - 16, 2020

If circumstances allow, the retreat will be hosted by John on site at Heartwood. In either case it will be offered online.

Our world has seen a massive upheaval as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the continuing racism and political divisiveness. We are all having to deal with changes in our lives and the communities we live in. At times it may seem like everything is falling apart and we are left with a profound feeling of uncertainty. Now more than ever the dharma and our meditation practice can be a refuge to meet the present challenges.

During this retreat we will explore the ancient teachings of:
    The Don’t Know Mind (making friends with uncertainty)

    Impermanence (this too shall pass)

    Dissolution (when everything falls apart, what remains?)

    Non Duality (Something isn’t separate from Everything)

Our meditation draws on Mindfulness, Vipassana and Pure Awareness.

Clear instruction will be offered for all levels.

Loving Kindness and Compassion Meditation and chanting are also part of our week together. A special focus will be how to practice and hold our hearts open with the discomfort, stress and pain of today’s world.
Our days will include daily instruction, sitting meditation live with the zoom group or on your own, walking meditation, small group meetings, dharma talks, mindful movement and chanting.

We recognize that some people participating with Zoom from home may have others in the dwelling and not be able to observe total silence. Please just do the best you can with mindfulness of the home around you. A retreat such as this is a wonderful way to integrate and deepen our practice in our home environment.

Being with community is especially helpful during these times of isolation and social distancing and you welcome to join us for meditation, dharma and spiritual friendship.

 

 

 

Leader

John Orr
John Orr received Theravada Buddhist ordination while living in Thailand and India as a monk for eight years in the 1970’s. He has been teaching meditation and leading retreats internationally since 1980 and has also practiced in the Taoist, Dzogbchen and Hindu Yoga traditions. He teaches through the New Hope Sangha in Durham, North Carolina and Deep Spring Center Ann Arbor, Michigan. He recently retired from teaching for three decades at Duke University.
Learn more about John Orr