Latest News: Our building projects are progressing apace. The cob yurt, and the canvas yurt on a 600' deck, are completed and ready for use. Most importantly, we've cleared the last hurdles in getting the full permit for our main building project, the residential space - the walls are finally going up! Completing this building will put us in a much better position to accommodate people for sesshin and extended workshops, and to provide housing for visitors and long-term staff. Finishing the project, however, will require the involvement of those who share a commitment to the Dharma and who want to support the work at Windhorse.. More...

Windhorse Zen Community is located on 16 acres of woods and fields in the mountains of Western North Carolina. In the training at Windhorse we emphasize direct, personal experience of the heart of the Buddha's teaching. We try to live simply and sustainably, recognizing the essential value of authentic relationship and community practice.

Getting started in Zen training here is quite simple. Our schedule includes daily meditation, chanting, retreats, workshops, ceremonies and other sangha events. Residential training of shorter or longer periods is also available for those interested in immersing themselves more fully in an integrated form of practice.

The teachers at Windhorse are Sunya Kjolhede and Lawson Sachter, Dharma heirs of Roshi Philip Kapleau (The Three Pillars of Zen). Both Lawson and Sunya give regular Dharma talks and dokusan (individual instruction). Lawson is also a licensed psychotherapist, and Sunya has been involved in 'circle' work, pastoral counseling and work with children. These backgrounds complement almost 40 years each of Zen training, and provide a unique foundation for the exploration of Zen in the context of the enormous social and environmental challenges of the 21st century.

For more information about the schedule, programs and teachers at Windhorse, or to get an update about some of our current projects, please explore within. We welcome your questions and comments.