Bathing in silence - meditating in the mountains
November 5 (Thursday) - November 12 (Thursday)
Led by Rev. Wow!Gong
Please sign up by clicking HERE.
at Southern Dharma Retreat Center
We are thrilled to share next year’s week-long retreat schedule at the Southern Dharma Retreat Center, located on the shoulder of the Smokey Mountains!
IN NATURE, OUR TRUE NATURE
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.
This retreat offers opportunities to practice meditation at rest and in motion. We will observe noble silence with sitting, movement, contemplation, journaling, DahnJon abiding, and lying-down meditation. The retreat includes group and individual teaching and sharing as well as ample free time for hiking or rest. The programs are geared to develop equanimity, insight, and mindfulness through the four stages of Timeless Zen Meditation. Step by step, you will receive practical guidance for meditation, Qigong/Tai-chi, and various breathing techniques.
In the spirit of community, all retreatants should arrive on time and stay through the mid-day meal on our final day. Arrival begins at 1:00 P.M. with orientation beginning promptly at 4:00 P.M.
In harmony with Won Buddhism’s belief in the interconnectedness of all things, we will practice outdoors as weather permits to receive the vital chi-energy of Southern Dharma and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Through tuning and balancing the energy of our bodies and minds, we will cultivate a calm awareness and invite the light of our true nature to shine. Come and rest in Samadhi and sculpt the great masterpiece of the “True I” in deep stillness!
Won Buddhism is a modern, eclectic form of Buddhism, originating in Korea in 1916. Its founder, Sot’aesan, envisioned a practice that emphasizes equality among all economic groups, races, and genders—and between priests and laity. He believed that great enlightenment is possible without removing oneself from the everyday world; that practicing Gratitude and the Threefold Study (cultivating Equanimity, Inquiry, and Mindful Action) leads to individual awakening and transformation of the world into a Paradise.
Rev. WonGong (affectionately known as Rev. Wow!Gong) is 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. Wow! leads a variety of workshops, retreats, youth dharma camps, and cultural enrichment programs. She integrates creative forms of meditation with body movements, 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.
Rev. Wow! 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. Rev. Wow! loves gardening and singing and recently released a CD, Chants of Samadhi for Daily Practice.