The space is full. Please join our next retreat. Thank you.

Labor Day Happiness Retreat (Sept. 1, 3 pm – Sept. 2, 5 pm)

On this Labor Day weekend, we deserve to be free from labor, experiencing a relaxed mind and body. Come to this 2-day (overnight) retreat and connect with the happy, joyful heart within.

Guided by Rev. WonGong, we will practice many forms of meditation, including tea ceremony, traditional Korean drumming, singing bowl meditation, and a few surprises. Throughout the retreat, we will expand our happy, care-free energy!

Meals will be provided. All levels of practitioners are welcome. To honor the energy of the retreat, please plan to attend the entire retreat (3 PM Sunday through 5 PM Monday). You may stay overnight in the temple residence, in your own tent, or you may commute.

The suggested donation range is $50-$120. (Scholarships will be considered by prior request.)
When you transmit your donation, please make the notation for “Labor Day Retreat.”

Cancellation Policy:

· If you cancel 7 or more days prior to the retreat, your payment will be refunded in full.

· If you cancel less than 7 days in advance of the retreat, a nonrefundable credit toward a future NC Temple retreat program is available.

· No credit or refund is available if you cancel on the day of retreat, or if you leave the retreat early for any reason.  

For questions, please call us at 919-933-6946 or email us at WonTempleNC@gmail.com.

In Nature, Our True Nature

 April 5 (4pm) - April 11 (2pm)

In Nature, Our True Nature

Led by Rev. WonGong

April 5 (Friday) – April 11 (Thursday), 2024

Come and experience truth—the truth of our own nature!

Spring invites us to invoke our lively chi-energy. Come and experience the joy of our true nature with Rev. WonGong at the Southern Dharma Retreat Center in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

To go deep into our inner calm, we will observe noble silence, practicing many forms of meditation—sitting, movement, nature contemplation, journaling, DahnJon-abiding breathing, lying-down relaxation, and more. The program is designed to develop equanimity, insight, and mindfulness.

Our meditation will flow between practice at rest and practice in motion and will deepen each day with step-by-step guidance in qigong, tai-chi, yoga, and various breathing techniques. We will explore the relationship between healthy body energy and spiritual cultivation.

This retreat will include group and individual teaching and sharing with ample free time for hiking and rest. In harmony with the interconnectedness of all things, we will practice outdoors as much as weather permits and bathe in the vibrant mountain energy.

In the spirit of community, all retreatants should plan to arrive on time and stay through the mid-day meal on our final day. Please sign up only if you are committed to participating in the entire retreat. The retreat provides generous personal time, but please be aware that your full participation in group activities is expected. This retreat will be most beneficial for those who already have a regular meditation practice or multi-day retreat experience. If you have any questions about this, please contact Rev. WonGong (WontempleNC@gmail.com).

Ven. Juksanim, the Head Dharma Master of Won Buddhism USA is visiting our temple!

Join our special gatherings with happiness and dharma.

• March 16th. Saturday Meditation 10 AM

• March 17th. Sunday Dharma Service 10 AM

• March 17th. Sunday Raleigh Service 4 PM (10th Anniversary)

In Nature, Our True Nature

October 6 (Friday, 5 pm) - October 13 (Friday, 12 noon), 2023

Come and experience the joyful essence of our true nature with Rev. WonGong at the Won Dharma Center in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York.

To go deep into our inner calm, we will observe Noble Silence and cultivate many forms of practice—sitting, movement, lying-down relaxation, nature contemplation, journaling, DahnJon-abiding, and more. Our meditation will flow between rest and motion. With step-by-step guidance, we will deepen our meditation through qigong, yoga, and various breathing techniques.

This retreat will include group and individual teaching and sharing with ample free time for hiking and rest. In harmony with the interconnectedness of all things, we will practice outdoors in the crisp, freeing energy of autumn as much as weather permits and bathe in the expansive chi-energy of nature.  

In Won Buddhism, our true nature is symbolized by the image of a circle: no beginning, no ending—true voidness, marvelous existence. To connect with our true nature, we will cultivate equanimity, insight, and mindfulness—the Threefold Practice of Won Buddhism. Through this retreat, may we restore our calm, numinous awareness—the pristine authenticity of our true nature!

In the spirit of community, all retreatants should arrive on time (check-in starts from 3 pm) and stay through the mid-day meal on our final day. 

Please be aware of the following considerations before you sign up:

1.    Please commit to participating in the entire retreat.

2.    The retreat provides generous personal time, but please be aware that your full participation in all group activities benefits your practice and the practice of the entire group. Please plan to participate fully.

3.    Commit to practicing Noble Silence including no phone use throughout the retreat.

4.    This retreat will be most beneficial for those who already have a regular meditation practice or prior multi-day retreat experience. If you have any questions about this, please contact Rev. WonGong (WontempleNC@gmail.com).

You can register now at the Won Dharma Center website.

In Nature, Our True Nature

 April 8 (Saturday) – April 15 (Saturday), 2023

In Nature, Our True Nature

Led by Rev. WonGong

April 8 (Saturday) – April 15 (Saturday), 2023

Come and experience truth—the truth of our own nature!

Spring invites us to invoke our lively chi-energy. Come and experience the joy of our true nature with Rev. WonGong at the Southern Dharma Retreat Center in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

To go deep into our inner calm, we will observe noble silence, practicing many forms of meditation—sitting, movement, nature contemplation, journaling, DahnJon-abiding breathing, lying-down relaxation, and more. The program is designed to develop equanimity, insight, and mindfulness.

Our meditation will flow between practice at rest and practice in motion and will deepen each day with step-by-step guidance in qigong, tai-chi, yoga, and various breathing techniques. We will explore the relationship between healthy body energy and spiritual cultivation.

This retreat will include group and individual teaching and sharing with ample free time for hiking and rest. In harmony with the interconnectedness of all things, we will practice outdoors as much as weather permits and bathe in the vibrant mountain energy.

Please join us as we restore our calm, numinous awareness through the pristine authenticity of our true nature!

In the spirit of community, all retreatants should arrive on time and stay through the mid-day meal on our final day. 

There are still a few spaces available; please register through this link: Mountain Retreat at Southern Dharma (April 8-15) led by Rev. WonGong

Dharma Name Holders' Retreat
(February 3-4, Fri, Saturday)

Dear Dharma Name Holders,

Welcome to our annual retreat! This retreat will be a special time for deepening our meditation practice together. Please sign up below if you are planning to participate in- person. Please plan to arrive on time and practice with us until the end. (Only dharma name holders are eligible to register for this retreat.)

In Nature, Our True Nature

October 6 (Thursday, 5 pm) - October 12 (Wednesday, 12 noon), 2022

Come and experience truth—the truth of our own nature!

In Won Buddhism, our true nature is symbolized in the image of a circle: no beginning, no end—true voidness, marvelous existence.

In this retreat, we will explore our true nature in both rest and motion though many forms of meditation: sitting, movement, tea ceremony, contemplative journaling, DahnJon-abiding breathing, lying-down relaxation, and more.

Our days will be permeated with noble silence, and we will focus on developing equanimity, insight, and mindfulness through the four stages of Timeless Zen Meditation. Throughout this retreat, you will receive practical step-by-step guidance for meditation, qigong/tai-chi, and various breathing techniques.

The connection of healthy body energy and spiritual cultivation will be emphasized, and there will be opportunities for group and individual teaching and sharing, as well as ample free time for hiking or rest. By tuning and balancing the energy of our bodies and minds, we will cultivate a calm awareness, deepen our meditation each day, and let the light of our true nature shine.

In harmony with Won Buddhism’s belief in the interconnectedness of all things, we will practice outdoors as weather permits, to receive the crisp, freeing energy of autumn in the Catskill Mountains. In the spirit of community, all retreatants should arrive on time (check-in starts from 3 pm) and stay through the mid-day meal on our final day. 

Retreat Program Schedule

(Subject to Change)

First day: Arrival Day

5:30 pm: Dinner

7-8:30 pm: Opening Meditation & Ceremony

From Day 2:

5:30-6:40 am: Morning meditation

6:40-7:45 am: Walking & qigong

7:50-9:00 am: Breakfast

9:00-10:00 am: Self-practice

10:00 am-12 noon: Guided meditation & silent sitting

12 noon- 1:00 pm: Lunch

1:00-2:30 pm: Self-practice or interview with teacher

2:30-3:30 pm: Qigong meditation by Rev. Ginger

3:30-5:30 pm: Samadhi in nature

5:30-7:00 pm: Dinner

7:00-8:30 pm: Evening practice (dharma talk, journaling, meditation)

8:40-9:30 Optional self-practice

9:30 ~ Meditation in sleep ~zzzzzzz

Rev. WonGong (affectionately known as Rev. Wow!) is a lifetime dedicated dharma teacher. As a pioneering Won Buddhist priest, she has established temples in Chapel Hill and Raleigh, North Carolina. She is a guest lecturer at schools, colleges, and meditation centers, teaching Buddhist philosophy and meditation to people of all ages and backgrounds. Her creative teaching connects Buddhist concepts with daily practice.

Rev. WonGong integrates creative forms of meditation with body movement, vocal Qigong, breathing techniques, guided meditation, and laughter. She is active in the international interfaith community and is a leading Korean-to-English translator of dharma teachings, serving as a spiritual bridge between East and West.

She loves gardening, architecture, interior design, and singing. In 2018, she released an album, Chants of Samadhi for Daily Practice, and, in 2020 she released her second album, Chants for Healing.

To register, click the button below. Please register early due to limited space.

Our true nature is the state of mind that exists before sadness, worry, anger, happiness, or joy. In true nature, there is nothing to defend. There is nothing lacking or overflowing—no sense of success or failure. Our true nature cannot be described in words but is always there. It is indestructible.

This retreat will focus on cultivating equanimity, insight, and mindfulness with nature as our dharma teacher. We will deepen our practice through silent meditation, chanting, body movement, dharma discourse, small group conversation, and one-on-one interviews. The mind-body relationship is integral to this experience, so we will include ample movement (stretching, Tai-chi, Qigong) and rest time to balance chi-energy.

This retreat draws on the heritage of Won Buddhism, a modern spiritual movement from Korea, with philosophical background in Taoism, Confucianism and traditional Buddhism.

Let us bathe together in the great mountain energy of Southern Dharma!

Space is limited and registration opens on July 1st at this link.

Guided by Rev. WonGong. Rev. WonGong (affectionately known as Rev. Wow!Gong) is the head dharma teacher at the Won Buddhism Meditation Temples in Chapel Hill and Raleigh, North Carolina. She is a guest lecturer at schools, colleges, and meditation centers around the world, teaching Buddhist philosophy and meditation to people of all ages and experience. Rev. WonGong integrates creative forms of meditation with body movement, vocal Qigong, breathing techniques, guided meditation, and laughter. Rev. WonGong is a master of implementing ideas for integrating the concepts of Buddhism into daily practice. Her kind, compassionate, and wise nature makes her a valued life counselor and effective teacher. She loves gardening and singing; she’s released two CDs—Chants for Healing (2020) and Chants of Samadhi (2018).

August 2 (Mon) - 3 (Tue), 2021

10:00 AM - 8:30 PM

Age: 13~18

This teen retreat will be held in-person. We will explore a variety of meditation and mindfulness practices including sitting, lying down, bowing, qigong, creative chanting, arts and crafts, cooking class, dharma movie making, tea ceremony, mindfulness games, peer-led dharma discussions, and more! Each teen will learn how to lead a guided meditation. The program will help participants experience self-discovery, awareness, and self-confidence.

Sliding Scale Fee: $30 - $100

Please consider paying the maximum fee if possible for you, so that others can be supported.

Cancellation Policy:

· If you cancel 7 or more days prior to the retreat, your payment will be refunded in full.

· If you cancel less than 7 days in advance of the retreat, a nonrefundable credit toward a future NC Temple retreat program is available.

· No credit or refund is available if you cancel on the day of retreat, or if you leave the retreat early for any reason.  

For questions, please call us at 919-933-6946 or email us at wontemplenc@gmail.com.