Philip & Judith Toy
Beginner's Mind: A Retreat for Everyone
September 14-16
2 nights $120 ($60 deposit) Dana
Waking up this morning, I smile.When our minds are trapped in the past or reaching for the future, we miss the magic and vibrancy of the present wonderful moment. This weekend is designed to offer skillful means to gently bring us into the moment – techniques that nourish simple, wholesome living, clarity and joy.
Twenty-four brand new hours are before me.
I vow to live fully in each moment
and to look at all beings with the eyes of compassion.
– Thich Nhat Hanh
"Beginner’s Mind" is for those who wish to begin, maintain, or strengthen a daily meditation and mindfulness practice. Experienced practitioners find refreshment and renewal at this retreat; and they model the strength of their practice for newcomers.
We form a community knit by profound silence, sharing chanting practice, singing, seated meditation, indoor and outdoor walking meditation, and work practice. In the sunlight of full attention, we bloom as flowers. We enjoy delicious veggie meals, views from the mountain top, and total relaxation. While the entire schedule is conducted in the grace and spaciousness of Noble Silence, there are ample opportunities for group discussion, as well as individual dharma interviews.
Beginners as well as experienced practitioners welcome.
The Toys have founded three sanghas in the US, in the Zen tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. Both have also studied with Soto and Rinzai Zen teachers. Both were ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh as core members of his order. They host a mindfulness practice center at their Black Mountain home and lead retreats and days of mindfulness. One of Judith’s essays was selected for Best Buddhist Writing 2006, published by Shambhala Press. She is a guest columnist for The Asheville Citizen-Times and associate editor for The Mindfulness Bell, an international quarterly for students of Thich Nhat Hanh. Philip’s book of poems, Opposing Traffic Has Extended Green, was published in 1994. He is a team supervisor for the American Red Cross Blood Services Division, Asheville.