This retreat is a nondenominational opportunity to explore one’s own true nature – free from the everyday distractions and busyness of our lives. The weekend will include silent sittings in the serenity of our meeting room or down by the river, some guided meditation, structured sharing and a guided inquiry talk by Don Oakley on Saturday morning entitled “Finding Peace“. All activities during the weekend are voluntary, of course, and all inquiry will be experientially grounded.
During the weekend there will be opportunities for quiet walks around our 160 acre property, sitting by the scenic Powell River which surrounds the property for 2 1/2 miles, for exploration of Nature, or simply to rest. You will be staying in one of the comfortable cabins with single bedroom occupancy to the extent possible. All meals and the event sessions will be in our Conference Building.
Each period of silent sitting will be an opportunity to simply let everything be as it is – naturally and without effort. You may discover the awake spaciousness that is ever-present – that exists prior to (and during) any effort to control or manipulate our experience.
The retreat is free but we ask that you bring and prepare one meal. Depending on the number of people attending, two people may be responsible for a supper or a breakfast, for example. In this way, you will have an opportunity to serve and to be served. You will also be asked to help with kitchen clean-up for one or two of the meals – usually a 20 or 30 minute endeavor. You may be surprised to find that these “yogi chores” can create a sense of community and surprisingly deep friendships with others even during a brief weekend retreat.
A portion of the retreat will be held in silence to deepen the opportunity to get reacquainted with ourselves. However, there will be a period on Saturday afternoon that will not be in silence in order to allow more time for interpersonal sharing and getting to know new-found friends.
We are located in Tazewell, Tennessee about an hour north of Knoxville. Click here for driving directions. Check-in will be between 4:30 and 5:30 pm on Friday August 19th.
If you are interested in a transformative weekend, please RSVP to Patty by Sunday August 14th to reserve your space. Patty@WellBeingCC.org or phone at 423-626-9000.
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