Title - TBD
Residential Retreat with Gareth Young
Wed., March 19 2025 - Sunday March 23, 2025
YMCA Camp Ocoee, Ocoee, TN
...or in this case, a pond with a view!
Of the four clingings (to sensuality, habits, self, and views), one that is causing great suffering in this election year and time of polarization is the clinging to views. It is one that is so deeply ingrained in our minds and to which we've become so accustomed that it's often incredibly hard to even see it happening, let alone do anything about it.
Buddha, The Great Physician, offered us a course of medicine and treatment to cure our ills. On this retreat we will be exploring where and how our views show up, how to see them more clearly both as they arise, and as the reinforce themselves over time, and above all we'll be looking at how to loosen our entanglement with them and reduce our own suffering and the suffering of others.
Gareth Young is a co-founder and the guiding teacher 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 into his teaching.
Gareth's teaching authorization is in the Thai Forest lineage of Ajahn Chah, Jack Kornfield and Lisa Ernst.
Location YMCA Camp Ocoee, Ocoee, TN (about 2 hours north of Atlanta). (We miss Sautee Hereford, home of the aquatic bovine in the picture, but are becoming familiar with and very fond of our new space.) For more information, visit the Camp Ocoee Website
Schedule and Arrival Registration will be from 4:00 to 6:00 on Wed. March 12th, 2025. Please plan to arrive during this window. Instruction on work duties and other retreat matters will be provided after dinner, and it is enormously helpful if all are present for this segment of the day. The retreat begins with dinner at 6:00 pm on the Wednesday evening and finishes up at lunchtime on Sunday the 23rd. A full schedule will be available prior to the retreat's start date.
Accommodation Rooms are comfortable and spacious with adequate bathroom facilities. The rooms are generally shared, but at far less than their maximum capacity. We do our best to accommodate the needs and wishes of attendees, but are generally unable to provide private sleeping. Camping is an option.
Meals Vegetarian meals will be provided. Vegan, 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: We are requesting proof of vaccination and will keep an eye on Covid developments and adjust protocols if circumstances merit as the date of the retreat approaches.
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 thirty days prior to the start of the retreat. Should RCS need to cancel a retreat for any reason (unlikely), all payments would be refunded in full.
Refund policy for cancellations: If you register and cancel 30 days or more prior to the retreat start date, you will receive a full refund. Cancellation up to 15 days prior to the start date will receive a 50% refund. No refunds are available after that date.
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 need financial assistance for this retreat, please contact the retreat administrator.