Mountain Meditation Retreat

A Transformation of the Heart

A weekend of powerful meditations for enhancing loving kindness

With Kadampa Teachers Gen Norden, Sharon Lovich and Kelsang Jangchen.

Focussing on the teachings and meditations of the chapter Enhancing Cherishing Love, from the book The New Eight Steps to Happiness by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche.

Spend a relaxing and meaningful weekend away, in the tranquil setting of Unicoi Mountain Retreat Center. Guided by qualified meditation Teachers from our regional Kadampa Centers, and meditating and discussing with spiritual friends, this weekend will be a chance to rest, reflect and bring the meaning of the Dharma loving kindness into our hearts.

This is a special opportunity to spend time quieting the mind and deepening your meditation practice, free from everyday distractions.
“For someone who’s main wish is to achieve the spiritual realizations of love, compassion, bodhichitta and great enlightenment, living beings are more precious than a universe filled with diamonds or even wish-granting jewels. Why is this? It is because living beings help that person to develop love and compassion and to fulfill his or her wish for enlightenment, which is something that a whole universe filled with jewels could never do.”

As Shantideva says in Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life:
“Since living beings and enlightened beings are alike
In that the qualities of a Buddha arise in dependence upon them,
Why do we not show the same respect to living beings
As we do to the enlightened beings?”
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, The New Eight Steps to Happiness

SCHEDULE:

Friday, December 3rd

5pm–7:30pm | Registration and settling in to accommodations
7:30 – 8:45pm | Introduction to Weekend Teaching and Meditation with Gen Norden

Saturday, December 4th

8:30–9:45 am | Session One
11:00 am–12:15 | Session Two
12:30 pm | Lunch
4–5:15 pm | Session Three
5:15–5:45 pm | Discussion and Q and A
6:00pm | Dinner
7:3–-8:45 pm | Session Four

Sunday, December 5th

8:30-9:45 am | Session Five
11:00 am–12:15 pm | Session Six
12:15–12:45 pm | Final Discussion and Q and A.

COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS:

We care about your safety and well-being! Here is a list of COVID-19 prevention measures for this retreat:

-Please email us if you would like to book a shared room, but do not have a roommate. This year, we are making special accommodations due to COVID concerns. Email admin@meditationforeveryone.org

-During retreat sessions at the beach house building, everyone must wear a mask. If you don’t have a mask with you, one will be provided.

-We have a UV air purifier running at all times inside the beach house to encourage air flow.

-Chairs in the beach house meditation room will be socially distanced. This year, we will be doing away with the indoors eating area in order to have room for everyone to seat at a distance.

-Any meals, beverages and snacks will be offered to-go. Retreat attendees are encouraged to eat these outside (weather permitting) or inside their cabin. We will be setting up tables outside for those who wish to eat together, or you may have a picnic on the beach or use one of the many picnic tables in the area.

-We offer hand sanitizer to all our guests and volunteers, and sanitize all high touch areas before every class.

About the Teachers

Gen Kelsang Norden is the Resident Teacher of Kadampa Meditation Center Georgia. Gen Norden has been an ordained Buddhist nun since 1994 and has been teaching Buddhism and meditation in the US and the UK for over 25 years. We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to enjoy the precious dharma of Modern Buddhism with such an experienced practitioner.

Kelsang Jangchen is a Buddhist nun and the Resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center South Carolina. She has been a student of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso since 1999. Jangchen teaches with warmth and compassion, offering practical methods to help people experience more peace and happiness in their daily lives.

Sharon Lovich is the Resident teacher of the Je Tsongkhapa Kadampa Buddhist Center in Asheville. She has engaged in numerous focused meditation retreats and is known for teaching others how to develop a peaceful mind with great skill, lightness, and humor. Sharon has been practicing meditation and Kadampa Buddhism since 2003. She teaches numerous meditation classes and retreats in Asheville, NC and Greenville, SC.