 Location
Southern Dharma is located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, about one hour northwest of Asheville by car. It is nestled in a secluded hollow on 15 acres within a 135-acre preserve of privately owned forest land adjacent to the Pisgah National Forest. Although its mailing address is Hot Springs, SDRC is actually located in a hollow on Hap Mountain in the small community of Spring Creek. The center is easily accessible by car, and can provide or arrange transportation to and from Asheville Airport for those traveling to retreats by air.
Retreats
Southern Dharma retreats are distinguished by the natural beauty of the environment, the small size of the retreats, the excellence of the teachers, and the dedicated staff. Retreats have no more than 30 participants. All retreats include periods of meditation, quiet reflection, and silence. People having widely varying levels of experience come to Southern Dharma. Some are beginners; others have been practicing for years, even decades. Unless a retreat is designated only for experienced practitioners, it is appropriate for all levels.
Retreat Facilities
SDRC's facilities include a Meditation Hall, Lodge, and four tent platforms with outdoor bathrooms and an outdoor shower nearby. All retreatants are housed on the premises, either tenting or sleeping in the Lodge. The first floor of the Lodge includes a kitchen, dining room, small sitting area, and library. The second floor has four double and three triple rooms, and the third floor is a dormitory with eleven, twin-size platform beds. The four wooden tent platforms offer privacy and picturesque tenting beside a mountain stream.
Scholarships
Thanks to the generosity of many, Southern Dharma is able to offer a limited number of scholarships to those who would be unable to attend a retreat without some financial assistance. Two types of scholarships are offered. Work-Study Retreatants commit to work up to two hours daily for the duration of one retreat in exchange for a reduced retreat fee equal to the scholarship registration fee of $35. Scholarship Retreatants pay a reduced retreat fee (minimum of $35) based on their personal financial situation and are asked to contribute as much as they possibly can toward the full per-diem of $70. Scholarship retreatants may volunteer to work during the retreat in exchange for their reduced registration fee but are not required to do so.
The center expects those requesting financial aid to be honest in their own self-evaluation of need and to pay as much of the registration fee as possible with the understanding that the center's scholarship fund is limited. To apply for a scholarship, simply register for the retreat of interest, paying the $35 scholarship registration fee instead of the usual deposit. The scholarship application fee will be refunded if no scholarships are available for the retreat of interest on the day that a scholarship retreat registration is received. If a scholarship remains available, SDRC staff will contact applicants with information about how to complete an application.
Resident Volunteers
Resident Volunteers commit to work full-time (8 hours/day on 5 days/week) for an agreed-upon length of stay in exchange for room, board, and the opportunity to participate in retreats on a part-time basis as the volunteer's work schedule and needs of the center allow. The minimum stay is five work days, and the maximum stay is three calendar months. SDRC has no more than one Resident Volunteer at a time. Resident Volunteers may be required to forego participation in retreats if the needs of the Center require it, the teacher is not open to volunteers participating in retreat activities, or the Director decides not to allow participation. For additional information, including availability, please email or call the center.
History
 Southern Dharma was founded in 1978 by two ordinary women, Melinda Guyol and Elizabeth Kent. These women had a lot of energy, a fair amount of idealism, and the willingness to take a chance on a dream. Elizabeth continues to maintain a residence in the Practice Community and to serve on SDRC's Board of Directors. A five-year frenzy of clearing land, remodeling existing buildings, new construction, and road repairs followed the founding. During this initial construction phase, Southern Dharma sponsored a limited number of programs, and word about the new retreat center slowly spread. As new facilities were completed through the years, retreat offerings increased in number, length, and size. The center was originally incorporated in the 1980's as Southern Dharma Foundation, Incorporated. The Foundation was dissolved in 1990 when the center incorporated in North Carolina as Southern Dharma Retreat Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. The center currently offers 25 to 30 retreats each year attended by 500 or more retreatants. Click here for more information about Our Story »
Visiting
SDRC welcomes visitors to come see the center's facilities and enjoy the grounds for a day. However, visits need to be scheduled well in advance at a time when someone is available to welcome visitors, and the visit will not conflict with other scheduled activities. Please call or email the center to arrange a time to visit.
Members/Friends
Becoming a Member/Friend of Southern Dharma indicates support of the center's mission to offer affordable, teacher-led retreats representing a variety of spiritual traditions with a unifying thread of meditation, contemplation, and silence. Anyone can become a Member/Friend simply by contributing $40 to SDRC. These contributions help both to maintain our facilities and to supplement our scholarship funds.
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