“Everybody wants a happy life. This goal is entirely dependent on our inner peace… We are trying to seek a joyful, happy life from the outside — that is a mistake.” – His Holiness the Dalai Lama 

As spiritual practitioners, many of understand that although it is impossible to fully control our outer world, we can cultivate an “inner peace” independent of external conditions. During this retreat, you will be engaging in the ancient Buddhist Vipassana/Insight meditation practices that have brought profound “inner peace” to multitudes of people.

Profound peace and can also be experienced while immersing yourself in the beauty and simplicity of the Southern Dharma Retreat Center, located in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

This silent meditation retreat’s schedule will include formal sitting meditation, walking meditation, daily dharma talks, specific instructions, guided mindful movement, interviews, and chanting.This retreat is appropriate for those who have attended a previous silent meditation retreat, as well as experienced daily meditation practitioners.

Ronya Banks

Founder and lead teacher of the Asheville Insight Meditation center, in Asheville, North Carolina, Ronya Banks originally began her meditation practice in 1985, and she has spent over a year on silent residential Insight Meditation retreats with over 30 different teachers.  She considers Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein, and Gina Sharpe as her primary teachers.

In addition to experience as a Theravada Buddhist nun, Ronya is also a graduate of the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader program.  She has been teaching for over a decade to people from all over the world.  Ms. Banks earlier life also included being a business entrepreneur, consultant, and single mother of 2 presently grown children.  She is known for being able to distill complex subjects into easily digestible teachings.