Spring Retreat With Therese Fitzgerald

  • 25 Apr 2018
  • 4:00 PM
  • 29 Apr 2018
  • 2:00 PM
  • Sautee, GA
  • 1

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FUELING THE FIRE OF OUR HEART’S DEEPEST DESIRE
Wednesday April 25 - Sunday April 29, 2018
Sautee Hereford Lodge, Sautee, GA



Our five days (four nights) nestled in the Georgia foothills at the Sautee Hereford Ranch will be a time to dwell in profound awareness of our heart’s deepest desire or bodhicitta—the yearning and purposeful drive that connects us with all living beings, starting with our precious “innermost request.” There will be balanced encouragement for buoying and delving deeply. Supported by the conditions of spring beauty, teachings, fellow practitioners, as well as solitude and silence, we can invite insights and reinvigorate our heart-minds.

The program will include sitting and walking meditation, mindful meals, Dharma discussion, mindful movement, meditative work, and talks by and personal interviews with the teacher.

This retreat, held mostly in silence, is recommended for both beginning and experienced meditators who feel drawn to contemplation and mindful living.


Therese Fitzgerald trained for eight years at the San Francisco Zen Center and Tassajara Mountain Monastery and then with Thich Nhat Hanh for fifteen years. She was ordained as a Dharma teacher by Thich Nhat Hanh in 1994 and has been teaching for twenty-five years. Originally from Charlotte, Therese now lives on the island of Maui, where she works as a Dharma teacher, and as a hospice Spiritual Care Counselor.



Facility  The Sautee Hereford Lodge sits on a beautiful 350 acre ranch in North East Georgia (2 hours from Atlanta). The lodge has 12 bedrooms, 6½ baths, a full kitchen and eating area, and separated meditation hall. The lodge has full HVAC.

Accommodations  You may choose a shared room in the lodge or tent camping on the grounds. 

Climate Control The retreat organizer will set thermostats to maintain a reasonable temperature and air flow in the lodge and meditation hall. The fans on the units can be noisy and guests should be prepared for the noise. Anyone who experiences discomfort should contact the retreat organizer and should not adjust thermostats.


Meditation Hall The teacher will designate how the meditation hall is to be used, including AC, seating arrangements, bell protocols, window treatments, lighting, and arrival time. The Meditation Hall Team will carry out the teacher's wishes and should be contacted with any issues. 



Schedule  Registration is from 4-6pm Wednesday. The retreat begins Wednesday evening with a meal at 6pm and ends Sunday after lunch and cleanup (about 2pm). 

Wednesday Start  The teacher has requested that everyone attend the entire retreat. 


Meals  Meals are vegetarian with dairy (labeled). Coffee, tea and snacks will be available during breaks.

All participants will have an opportunity for silent work in the kitchen to help prepare or cleanup our food. 


Cost  The cost of this retreat is $225 per person and includes accommodations and all meals. There will be an opportunity to practice Dana (generosity) to the teacher. 

This cost covers the facility, food, accommodations, and teacher expenses. It provides no profit to Red Clay Sangha. If we have more than 20 participants, it also will help cover a scholarship fund for those needing assistance.

Financial Assistance  We would like for every one to be able to attend regardless of ability to pay. To achieve this goal, we need those who are able to contribute into a fund to help pay for those who are unable. This gives everyone the opportunity to practice generosity together. 

All funds collected for this purpose will be divided equally between those who have requested them. You will be notified no later than 1 week prior to the retreat if there are insufficient funds to meet your request. 

Payment and Cancellation Full payment is required two weeks prior to the retreat to guarantee your spot. If payment or scholarship request has not been received, RCS reserves the right to fill spaces from any waiting list.

Cancellations at least two weeks prior to the retreat will be fully refunded. After this date, full refunds will be given only if the spot can be filled from the waiting list. If the spot cannot be filled, 2/3 will be refunded up to two days before the retreat.

No refunds will be made for cancellations less than two days prior to the retreat.


An Opportunity To Receive The Precepts During the retreat, Therese will be offering those who wish an opportunity to formally receive the Buddhist Precepts and a Dharma Name. More information can be found here.


Retreat Positions Red Clay Sangha is a peer-based organization with no staff. All retreat roles, such as Bell Master (timekeeper), Meditation Hall Team, and Teacher's Attendant are performed by the participants to support each other during the retreat.  In this way, everyone does a little and no one is stressed out. You will have an opportunity to sign up for the retreat roles prior to the retreat and kitchen duties (either cooking or cleaning once per day) at the retreat. 

Bell Master and Meditation Hall Team will meet with the teacher at 5pm on Wednesday for training. Prior experience is not necessary. 

Kitchen orientation will be given after breakfast cleanup on Thursday morning. It is helpful if those who are less skilled with cooking sign-up for dish-washing instead of cooking. 

There is not a designated work practice time on the schedule. 


Dana is the practice of generosity and helps remind us of the fundamental connected nature of life. By supporting our teachers we deepen our own experience on the path of practice while helping them to support others. Teachers generously give their time and energy through listening, sharing and teaching, often without financial reward. Offering dana makes it possible for them to continue their work and is their primary means of support.

In the spirit of this tradition, all participants will have an opportunity to make a voluntary contribution, called dana, at the end of the retreat. Because participants often ask what is considered appropriate, we offer the following guidelines: you may wish to make a contribution between $100-$200 for the retreat. Keep in mind your personal ability to give and what others might be able to contribute. Dana is entirely from the heart.

The Red Clay Sangha membership covers the travel expenses and a small contribution to the teacher. The retreat fees are used exclusively to cover the cost of the facility and food.


Questions or More Information? please contact Cherry Zimmer

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