People come to retreat with a variety of experience levels. If you remain open, there is always something to learn—even if you’re a beginner accidently at an advanced retreat, or an experienced meditator at a beginner’s retreat! Read retreat descriptions carefully. A number of our retreats have prerequisites.
If you are new to meditation, we recommend you have some practice before coming on retreat. Ideally, you sit a few times a week for 15-30 minutes. It may also be helpful to go to a sitting group a few times a month, to gain the support of a meditation community, guidance from a teacher, and experience 30-45 minute sitting periods with others. If you don’t have any groups in your area, consider exploring some online options, free apps, or tele-sanghas.
If you have recently undergone a significant loss, trauma, or life change (death of a loved one, mental health concerns, etc), please check with your healthcare provider, grief counselor, or therapist before signing up for retreat.
Here is our typical retreat schedule. Please note: there is variation across retreats, and guided body movement practices are not guaranteed as a structured part of the retreat. When not offered, participants often find physical activity during down time through hiking, running, or yoga. We schedule retreats with large lunch breaks to accommodate those activities, or for a nice nap.
We cannot accommodate late arrivals or early departures for any retreat; please do not schedule any appointments during the retreat window. Arrival for first-time retreatants is from 3 - 5 pm on the start date of retreat, and departure for all retreatants is between 12 - 2 pm on the final day of retreat.
We do not allow cell phone use, except in cases of medical necessity to operate a medical device. Otherwise, we have a space to relinquish your phone to us, or you may keep it turned off and stored in your vehicle. In lieu of a phone, we display weather forecasts in the dining hall, have alarm clocks available at no cost, and offer watches for sale on site ($20).
If an emergency arises at home and your family or friends need to contact you, please tell them to call <828-933-3021> and a staff member will either answer directly or call them back as soon as possible. The retreat manager will communicate with you via note or, if urgent, through functional speech.
All of our meals are gluten-free and vegan, though our kitchen is not certified gluten-free and we offer vegetarian and glutenous options on the side of all meals. For many food allergies, we can offer simple accommodations and alternatives. List of ingredients are provided for all prepared dishes so that everyone can make the best decisions for themselves at the serving table.
If you have other specific dietary restrictions, please list them in your registration. If our kitchen manager needs to communicate with you further about your needs, they will send you an email! Feel free to reach out to <registrar@southerndharma.org> with any further questions.
There are 2-gallon containers for participants to store dry food in, as well as limited freezer and refrigerator space. We have a microwave available to participants as well.
Southern Dharma does not purchase nor serve any meat or fish products, so if this is an absolute requirement in your diet, please plan to bring what you will need for the duration of your stay–we often recommend tinned or dried meat products to avoid putting them in the shared microwave.
The terrain is hilly, and many areas, including the walk between the Lodge and the Meditation Hall, are only accessible via rough, uneven stairs. Most of our walking paths on site are gravel, dirt, or mulch. We do have some areas with handrails, but at this time, those with significant mobility issues may find our site too challenging.
Southern Dharma is located in a rural community in Spring Creek, North Carolina, about an hour’s drive from Asheville and 30 minutes by car from Hot Springs. The closest public transportation is in Asheville. Carpooling with other participants can be a great way to get to the Center, as well as a safe option for those who don’t feel comfortable driving through this region for any reason. We will send out a ride coordination spreadsheet to all participants so you can self-organize rides.
The road leading up to Southern Dharma from 209 can sometimes be tricky to navigate, especially for low-riding vehicles. Most times of the year, most vehicles can make the trip without issue. It is a gravel road and four wheel drive can be helpful but is usually unnecessary. There is a very small creek crossing about the size of a neighborhood speed bump. Note that West Road is a single-lane gravel road, so mirrors and pull-offs allow for vehicles to pass each other in the unlikely event of a crossing.
If you need help getting to the center from West Road, please call our help phone at <828-933-3021>
We are in the process of renovating our Lodge spaces, so we will have updated images in April 2026 of the different housing options available.
Yes! If our 25% or 50% Lodge scholarships are not sufficient to get you on retreat, please contact <registrar@southerndharma.org> to communicate what retreat you are interested in, and how much you are able to put towards your registration fees. We are happy to work with you to find a solution.
If you have a therapeutic or medical need for solitary lodging, we have one canvas tent reserved for a scholarship recipient. To request this, please contact <registrar@southerndharma.org>
Teachers are approved by our Programs and Communications Committee, composed of both board and staff members. To express interest in teaching, please email <info@southerndharma.org> with your CV and your connection to Southern Dharma, if any.
Please note that Southern Dharma’s mission is to offer meditation retreats, provide dharma instruction, and support communities, grounded in Buddhist practice traditions. As such, we only consider teachers whose teaching experience is rooted in Buddhism, though it may be informed by other spiritual paths.
No. Southern Dharma does not offer space rentals, and cannot accommodate individual retreats, no matter the experience level. You are welcome to participate in any of our calendar of events. Every few years we may offer a self-guided retreat, where a group of experienced practitioners may gather for a deep window of self-practice.
Southern Dharma considers event promotion for Buddhist events in Asheville or in the Southeast on a case-by-case basis. Please reach out to <info@southerndharma.org> to make your query.
