A Practice for Interesting Times
Residential Retreat with Gareth Young
Thurs., March 10, 2022 @ 6PM - Sunday 12 Noon on March 13, 2022
YMCA Camp Ocoee, Ocoee, TN
Note: 100% refund minus a $25 admin fee if you test positive for COVID at any time before the start of the retreat and can provide proof of a positive test result.
An apocryphal ancient Chinese curse alludes to the challenge of living in interesting times. In our interesting times this is showing up in the stress we experience with the ongoing uncertainty and fear of COVID19; with the magnitude and speed of climate change becoming more apparent; and with sharpening political and cultural polarization, intolerance and division.
While it’s easy for us to get caught up in this stress and watch helplessly as it spirals out of control, our practice promises the possibility of a different reaction. In fact, our practice allows us to regard the curse of interesting times as a blessing, and the stress (one of the translations of “dukkha”) as the grist with which we work. Making this pivot can open up great opportunities in our lives – a true gift – but doing so requires skill and wisdom. And this skill and wisdom include cultivating the ability to seclude ourselves in mind and heart.
We start our weekend together by giving ourselves the gift of seclusion: three days in which we have no contact with the outside world and its stressors. While in seclusion we will explore ways to relate to the stress and to the stressors of our lives that allow us to open up our heart to compassion and equanimity, and position us to reenter the world not just better able to cope, but with tools and practice that will allow us to manifest peace not just for ourselves but for others.
Gareth Young is a meditation teacher, a businessman and co-founder of Red Clay Sangha. He has maintained a committed meditation practice for over 20 years in the Zen and Vipassana traditions, and integrates over 10 years of interfaith engagement as well as teachings from Tibetan and Lotus Sutra traditions into his practice and life. Gareth received full teaching authorization in the Thai Forest lineage of Ajahn Chah, Jack Kornfield and Lisa Ernst and is a firm advocate of the principles and practices of One Dharma. He lives in the Atlanta area with his wife and their dogs, chickens and bees. He has two adult children.
Location YMCA Camp Ocoee, Ocoee, TN (about 2 hours north of Atlanta). For more information, visit the Camp Ocoee Website
Schedule The retreat begins with dinner at 6:00 pm on Thurs. March 10th, 2022. A full schedule will be available prior to the retreat's start date.
Accommodation 1-2 people per room max, pending an on-site visit in February to better understand room availability. There is a chance that all participants will get their own room but we are not sure yet; TBD closer to the retreat. The main lodge is fully handicap-accessible.
Meals One full, prepared vegan meal per day (Th-Sat) and numerous options available for preparing the other daily meals in silence for yourself. Dairy and gluten-free options will be available for every meal; snacks will also be available. Please mention any dietary restrictions on the registration form.
COVID Vaccinations and COVID Tests To keep all retreat attendees as safe as possible, participants need to be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID by February 24, 2022, two weeks before the retreat's start date. A copy of your vaccination card is needed to complete the online registration process. In addition, on arrival, retreat attendees are required to present negative results from a COVID test performed 2 days prior to the start of the retreat. There are no exceptions to this requirement.
You can request up to four free tests from the U.S. government using this link: https://www.covidtests.gov. The tests are supposed to ship 7-14 days from the date you request them.
Payment and Refund and Cancellation Policies
Payment Payment in full is preferred at time of registration. However, it is permissible to pay half at time of registration and the rest one week prior to the start of the retreat. Should RCS need to cancel a retreat (unlikely), all payments would be refunded in full.
Refund policy for cancellations:
Financial Assistance One of Red Clay's goals is for every one to be able to attend regardless of ability to pay. To achieve this goal, a scholarship fund has been accumulated from donations from previous retreats and is available to help pay for those who need financial assistance. If you are interested in receiving financial assistance for this retreat, contact the retreat administrator.
Dana is the practice of generosity and helps remind us of the fundamental connected nature of life. By supporting our teachers and Sangha, 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. Participants often ask what is considered appropriate; we suggest that you give within your means and from your heart. All dana is appreciated.