Retreats & Classes

Because of the ongoing uncertainty of the covid19 delta variant, many of the meditation programs that will be offered will be held online via zoom.

Serendipity: An Exploration of Spirit, Dharma & Meditation 

A bi-weekly class offered online via Zoom

January 30 – May 21, 2024
Meets every other Tuesday from 6:45-9:00 pm EST

Guided by Barbara Brodsky, Aaron, and John Orr, through Deep Spring Center.

Our 2024 class focuses on “Living our Practice with Awareness and an Open Heart.”

The class will include a talk or instructions from Aaron and Barbara, Vipassana, Pure Awareness, and other meditation instructions from John, meditation time, and sharing and questions in large groups. Small group participation is encouraged. These small groups are recommended but optional and will meet separately from class time.

* Registration deadline is Monday, January 29th. To register, contact Tana Dean at om@deepspring.org.

More Info: https://deepspring.org/calendar/winter-2024-class-serendipity/2024-01-30/

 

The Social Sangha – Black Mountain, NC

Monthly Dharma Talks offered by John Orr at the Quietude Center

January 25, February 29, March 28, April 25, May 23, and June 27:
Fourth Thursdays monthly through June,
6:30-8:00 pm
EST

Meditation followed by Dharma talk and discussion. No registration is necessary. All are welcome!

The Quietude Center
1130 Montreat Rd, Black Mountain, NC 28711

 

February Workshop: Living from our Non-dual Essence: the mundane and the Ever perfect

A Week-long Online Healing Workshop, through Deep Spring Center

February 17-24, 2024

With Barbara Brodsky, Aaron, John Orr and Tavis Taylor

The core program will run from 10am – 6pm Eastern Time. On most days there will be optional additional meditation time with John Orr, including instruction, talks, guided meditations and chanting.

More Info & Registration will be added soon on: https://deepspring.org/calendar/feb-2024-healing-workshop/

 

Mindful Aging and Dying

A one day program with John Orr at the Appalachian Dharma & Meditation Center

Saturday, March 9, 2024
9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Location: Appalachian Dharma & Meditation Center
108 W 10th Ave (lower level), Johnson City, TN
Website: www.dharma4et.org

More Info & Registration: No pre-registration necessary, but please arrive before program begins at 9:00 AM. There is no fee for attendance. Dana (generous giving) is encouraged.
Questions? Contact: mail@dharma4et.org

 

Mindful Aging and Dying: Series

A Four-Week Online Series, offered by John Orr via Zoom

Mondays 6:30-8:00 PM
March 11, 18, 25, and April 1

With John Orr

Each class will include discussion of the reading described below, meditation, and group exercises related to living and dying.

The primary text that we will be working with is “Living in the Light of Death: on the art of being truly alive” by Larry Rosenberg. The book is based on a teaching of the Buddha called “Five Subjects for Frequent Recollection,” which shows us how intimacy with aging and death can be a profound practice that leads to liberation.

Offered on a dana basis. Your free-will offerings to John enables him to continue to give these programs and is greatly appreciated. More information regarding dana will be sent with the Zoom link after you register.

Registration: Contact John Orr at johnorr108@gmail.com to register. There is no fee for the class;  but you must register to join and recieve the Zoom link. The Zoom link will be sent out March 10th.

 

Emerald Isle Beach Retreat

A week-long retreat, in person at Emerald Isle, North Carolina
* Covid testing protocal is required prior to the start of the retreat.

Saturday, April 13 – Saturday, April 20 2024

Led by John Orr, Barbara Brodsky and Aaron

Location: The Emerald Isle Retreat is a student-organized retreat, held at a large vacation rental home on the beach of Emerald Isle, NC. View location website here.

General Description: This retreat is one of silent vipassana meditation and pure awareness practice. There are mindfulness tasks, morning instruction, evening dharma talk, sitting and walking meditation, small groups, optional yoga and optional Darshan energy exchange with the Mother as channeled by Barbara Brodsky. Prior experience with vispassana instruction and retreat is required.

Silence and Schedule: Starting after introductions on Saturday evening we all go into silence. When we have our small group meetings to voice our experience of the retreat to the teacher, you talk when it’s your turn. And sometimes after an evening dharma talk or morning instruction, there is opportunity to ask questions. On Friday afternoon, we break the silence and talk during dinner. We also have a planning meeting. Remember, this is a student-organized retreat, so we speak up about issues and plan for next year. FYI, attendees this year will have first choice of attending the next year’s retreat. Then later there is a closing circle where we speak from the heart about our experience of the retreat. Checkout is at 10 am Saturday morning, and silence ends after morning meditation that day. After breakfast, there are things to be done to close down the retreat and return the house to the way we found it. At any time, if you want to stay in silence instead of talking, you have that choice.

What airport to fly into: It depends where you’re coming from. The closest airport is OAJ, the Jacksonville, NC airport. But people from the West Coast say it’s easier (or perhaps more possible) to fly into RDU, the airport in Raleigh, NC the day before the retreat. They stay with someone overnight or in a hotel and then get a ride down to Emerald Isle the next day.

Sleeping arrangements: Rooms are assigned. The empty room that needs one or two people is on the bottom floor on the streetside of the home. The meditation hall is on that level too.

Food: The retreat price includes food and beverage. We hire a cook from The Food Fairy company to provide meals. The food has always been a highlight of the retreat. Many of the mindfulness tasks have to do with preparing meals (or cleaning up). An email will be sent to everyone before the retreat about their food preferences and requirements. For instance, if you don’t use cow’s milk, you can state it there. If you’ve got an unusual eating requirement, consider that it might be best to bring the item yourself rather than asking the Food Fairies to get it for the retreat.

Registration:

  • Contact Celeste Zygmont, retreat organizer: celestezygmont2@yahoo.com.
  • $920 covers the cost for the retreat, to be paid during the registration process.
  • John and Barbara also accept dana for their teachings, so please plan for that along with the cost of attending the retreat.

Living Our True Nature as Love: Vipassana, Pure Awareness and Practices of the Heart

A week-long vipassana retreat online via Zoom

Friday, June 7 – Friday, June 14, 2024

Led by Barbara Brodsky, Aaron and John Orr

All are welcome. No experience is necessary.

More Info & Registration: https://deepspring.org/calendar/retreat-winter-2024-living-our-true-nature-as-love-2/