Category Archives: Retreats and Events

December Refuge and Precepts Ceremony

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Once again this year, One Dharma will offer a Refuge and Precepts Ceremony  for committed practitioners. If you’re interested, here is some general information:

About the Refuge Ceremony
Taking refuge means relying wholeheartedly on the Three Jewels of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha to inspire and guide us toward a constructive and beneficial direction in our lives. The real taking of refuge occurs deep in our hearts and isn’t dependent on doing or saying anything. Nevertheless, we may wish to participate in the refuge ceremony by requesting a dharma teacher to formally give us refuge. The refuge ceremony is simple: we repeat the passages after the teacher and open our hearts to make a strong connection with the Three Jewels.

About Taking Precepts
Precepts are a joy, not a burden. They aren’t designed to keep us from having a good time and to make us feel deprived. The purpose of taking precepts is to give us internal strength so that we won’t act in ways that we don’t want to. Having understood that killing, stealing, selfishness and so forth only lead us to harm ourselves and others now and in the future, we’ll want to avoid these. Taking precepts give us energy and strength to do so. Therefore, it’s said that precepts are the ornaments of the wise.

To help people overcome their disturbing attitudes and stop committing harmful actions, the Buddha set out five precepts. During the refuge ceremony, in addition to taking refuge in the Three Jewels, we can take any or all of the five precepts, and become a lay Buddhist.

The five precepts

1. I observe the precept of abstaining from the destruction of life.

2. I observe the precept of abstaining from taking that which is not given.

3. I observe the precept of abstaining from sexual misconduct.

4. I observe the precept of abstaining from falsehood.

5. I observe the precept of abstaining from intoxicants that cloud the mind and cause carelessness.

The refrain “I observe the precept of abstaining from …” which begins every precept clearly shows that these are not commandments. They are instead codes of conduct that lay Buddhists undertake out of clear understanding and conviction that they are good for both themselves and for society.

If you are interested or have questions, please contact ernst.lisa@gmail.com no later than November 17.

Kindness and Compassion Daylong Retreat

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Saturday, December 6, 2014, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Nashville Friends House
sunrisemaryhelen

During the busyness and outward focus that often accompany the holidays, this daylong retreat will offer a quiet time to slow down, connect with our bodies and extend kindness and compassion to ourselves and others. Slowly, in the simplicity and silence of the day, we will learn to let go of distractions and touch our experience with a kind and open heart.

Led by meditation teacher Lisa Ernst, this silent retreat is suitable for newer and more experienced meditators. It will include periods of sitting and walking meditation, practice instructions and dharma talk.

Retreat fee is $50. A reduced fee spot is available, please inquire to the email below. Paypal is here. If paying by check, make it out to One Dharma Nashville. There will be a separate opportunity at the retreat to make a dana offering (donation) to the teacher.
For questions, contact onedharmaretreat@gmail.com.

Mindful Photos from Saturday’s Retreat

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Last Saturday I led a Contemplative Photography and Meditation Retreat at a farm outside of Nashville. It proved to be a particularly rich environment for shooting. The day was sunny, slightly cool and windy in the afternoon. Great cloud formations too. Here are a few of mine:

Patsy's Farm

Patsy’s Farm

patsysfarmadj windyskyTo see the full album from our group, go here.

Mindful Speech and Deep Listening Workshop

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Saturday, October 25, 1 – 4 p.m., 12 South Dharma Center

Cost: $35

Led by Lisa Ernst

lotusblue12

Learning to integrate our meditation practice with speech and communication is a vital step to bring mindfulness, compassion and realization into our daily lives. In this half day retreat we will extend deep listening and mindfulness from our sitting meditation into relational practices. These practices will help us listen and communicate from the heart as well as stay fully present in both silence and speech.

The workshop will include sitting meditation, mindful dialogue and group interaction.  Cost is $35. Payment may be made through paypal here. If paying by check, make it out to One Dharma Nashville and send to: 12 South Dharma Center, 2301 12th Avenue South, Suite 202, Nashville, TN 37024. Be sure to include your email address.

Lisa Ernst is a Buddhist Meditation teacher in the Thai Forest lineage of Ajahn Chah. She is the founder of One Dharma Nashville. In her teaching, Lisa emphasizes both transformational insight and everyday awakening as an invitation to embrace all of the path’s possibilities. She regularly leads classes, daylong and residential meditation retreats.

For information, email onedharmaretreat@gmail.com

Update – October 4 Contemplative Photography and Meditation Workshop

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There’s still time to register for my Fall Contemplative Photography and Meditation Workshop, coming up on Saturday, October 4 at a lovely, rural site in College Grove, TN (about 35 minutes from downtown Nashville). Full information and registration is here.

Here’s a shot from our 2012 photography workshop, by Bobby Zahn:

 

BobbyJune

Recap of “Living the Questions” Fall Retreat with Red Clay Sangha

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This past weekend I had the pleasure of leading a retreat in the North Georgia mountains, hosted by Atlanta’s  Red Clay Sangha. The theme was “Cultivating Clarity Through Living the Questions.” This is the second retreat I’ve led for Red Clay Sangha, which is a wonderful Zen community of dedicated practitioners committed to a welcoming, strong and supportive sangha. Because they are open to learning from and practicing in other traditions, I conducted the retreat Vipassana Style and a number of Atlanta Insight Meditation Community practitioners also attended the retreat.

Fall Retreat with Red Clay Sangha. Photo by RIchard Skoonberg

Fall Retreat with Red Clay Sangha. Photo by Richard Skoonberg

Gareth Young, a  deep and dedicated practitioner and one of the founders of Red Clay Sangha, wrote a blog post about his retreat experience, which you can read here. Gareth is very involved in Atlanta’s interfaith community and he writes often about his experiences participating in several faiths.

Our location for this retreat was The Sautee Lodge near Helen Georgia. Its a lovely rural spot, perfect for a silent meditation retreat.

View from Sautee Ranch

View from Sautee Ranch

Update — Fall 7 Day Residential Retreat near Nashville

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Sunday Evening, November 9 – Sunday Noon, November 16

Sponsored by One Dharma Nashville

Bethany Hills Retreat Center, Kingston Springs, TN

Led by Lisa Ernst

398b3-lotusblossomAs winter approaches and daylight wanes, there is a natural tendency slow down and turn inward. Yet, in the busyness of the approaching holiday season we may forget that true refuge is right where we are. This silent retreat will focus on cultivating a quality of compassionate presence that embraces our experience with equanimity and insight. Through this practice we begin to pierce the illusion of separateness and taste the joy of interconnectedness to all things.

The retreat is offered on a sliding scale basis from $425 – $550, which includes lodging and all meals. Teacher compensation (dana) is separate. A deposit of $300 is due upon registration with the balance due no later than November 1. To make your deposit, go here. For paypal, please use the donate button. For questions, email onedharmaretreat@gmail.com.

Lisa Ernst is an authorized Buddhist Meditation teacher in the Thai Forest lineage of Ajahn Chah, Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman. She is the founder of One Dharma Nashville. In her teaching, Lisa emphasizes both transformational insight and everyday awakening as an invitation to embrace all of the path’s possibilities. She regularly leads classes, daylong and residential meditation retreats.

For questions, email onedharmaretreat@gmail.com

Mindful Photography Workshop

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Cultivating Clarity, Receptivity and Joy With a Camera

Saturday, October 4, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Rural College Grove, TN

Registration deadline, Friday, September 26 doublelog

Please join us in a beautiful rural setting for a day of mindfulness as we combine meditation and the practice of contemplative photography. We will use our cameras as a means to reflect our awareness of this moment in its ever changing forms. This approach often yields unexpected and remarkable results that differ from conventional shots. There’s no need for expensive equipment or technical knowledge, just a willingness to meet the moment in an open and receptive state.  A simple, yet profound joy often arises in this alliance of mind and heart, camera and surroundings.

Led by meditation teacher and artist Lisa Ernst, the workshop is suitable to beginning and experienced meditators. In addition to several photography sessions, the workshop will include meditation, silence and group interaction. The retreat site, about 35 minutes from downtown Nashville, includes wooded hills, fields, rock formations and interesting structures.

The fee is on a sliding scale from $75 – $100. Two reduced fee slots are available for those who need financial assistance.

A $50 deposit reserves your space and is due by 9/26. Paypal is available here. If paying by check, make it out to One Dharma Nashville and send to One Dharma Nashville, c/o 12 South Dharma Center, 2301 12th Avenue South, Suite 202, Nashville, TN 37204. Please include your email address. Details and directions will be sent in advance of the retreat. For more information email onedharmaretreat@gmail.com.

 

Basics of Meditation Three Week Course

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Sponsored by One Dharma Nashville

Thursdays September 11, 18 and October 2, 2014

7 – 8:30 p.m.

Still Lake reflecting the clouds and sky. - Lisa Ernst

Still Lake reflecting the clouds and sky.
– Lisa Ernst

This 3 week course is appropriate for beginners as well as more experienced meditators who want to refresh the fundamentals of their practice. In a step-by-step process you will learn the nuts and bolts of insight meditation and basic mindfulness practices. You will learn correct meditation approaches to insure an effective and ongoing practice. You will also learn to be more in touch with your body, emotions and mind through Buddhist mindfulness. This class will provide you with a supportive environment; there will be plenty of time for discussion and Q&A.

Led by senior meditators and One Dharma facilitators Michael Crowder and Patsy Cutillo, with guidance from founding teacher Lisa Ernst.

Course fee is $50 and can be paid through Paypal here.

For information, email onedharmainfo@gmail.com

Middle Tennessee Fall 7 Day Retreat in November

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This retreat is on and general registration is open:

Sunday Evening, November 9 – Sunday Noon, November 16, 2014

Bethany Hills Retreat Center, Kingston Springs, TN

Led by Lisa Ernst

IMG_6143Please join us for a rare opportunity to participate in a seven day meditation retreat in Middle Tennessee. Week long retreats offer a sustained opportunity to unplug and move deeply into the silence of heart and mind, where we access insight and compassion. We also enrich and revitalize our daily lives through this gift of extended retreat.

The retreat is offered on a sliding scale basis from $425 – $550, which includes lodging and all meals. Teacher compensation (dana) is separate. A $300 deposit will reserve your spot, with the balance due by November 1.

Lisa Ernst is a Buddhist Meditation teacher in the Thai Forest lineage of Ajahn Chah. She is the founder of One Dharma Nashville. In her teaching, Lisa emphasizes both transformational insight and everyday awakening as an invitation to embrace all of the path’s possibilities. She regularly leads classes, daylong and residential meditation retreats.

Deposits can be made through Paypal here or mailed to One Dharma Nashville, c/o 12 South Dharma Center, 2301 12th Ave. S. Nashville, TN 37204.  Be sure to include your email address.

For questions email onedharmaretreat@gmail.com.