Windhorse Zen Community

New construction photos were added to the Windhorse flickr site, click to check them out!

We decided this year to try hiking out from a central location. We set up tents and an outdoor zendo in theBig Creek area of Great Smoky National Park, an easy hour’s drive from the Center.

The weather, after an initial cloudburst, was perfect.

Creeks and waterfalls were rushing, mossy forests glowing green and gold. 

Mushrooms everywhere – a spectacular variety irresistible to the mycologists in the group, who gathered and prepared only those asserted to be “1000% safe.”  Who knew that such delicacies as oyster mushrooms and rare black and orange chanterelles would grace our simple meals of rice and beans?

 

But the deeper nourishment came from mountains and rivers themselves. Hours of hiking the beautiful trails mostly in single-file silence, the vibrant stillness of the great forests, a brilliant crescent moon straight overhead at midnight, the single hair-raising scream of a bobcat at 3 AM (or was it possibly an Eastern cougar?), and the deep silence of candlelit zazen morning and evening – so many inspiring sutras!

Check out more photos of the retreat on Flickr:

• Wilderness Retreat Set 1
• Wilderness Retreat Set 2
• Wilderness Retreat Set 3

“Wonder and Wisdom,” a mélange of music, storytelling, bake sale and silent auction, was held at the local Unitarian church in Asheville to benefit Windhorse.

 Author and long-time Dharma practitioner Rafe Martin – was at his best. Many in the audience were taken by surprise at the power of live storytelling – so often considered to be ‘just for children’.

 Rafe’s selections ranged from a traditional jataka tale (The Banyan Deer) to the Mahabharata, to an ancient Irish legend (The Music of What Happens) and a dark and moving Grimm fairy tale (The Six Swans). One story melting into the next, a rich potion of words and images casting its spell overand through all those present – bringing forth now laughter,now a breathless stillness.

Download and listen to one of Rafe’s tales:  The Most Beautiful Music

A foursome of sangha musicians wove their own spell around us all while the bake sale and silent auction provided bargains on paintings, photos and jewelry.

 Benefit proceeds will help us move toward the completion of our residential building. 

To all who contributed time,gifts, skills and money, we at Windhorse extend heartfelt appreciation and gratitude!

Click to see more photos from the fundraiser.