Southern Dharma

Southern Dharma Retreat Center offers rustic and intimate retreats, grounded in Buddhist traditions.

06/06/2026

In celebration of Pride Month, we are reflecting on what it means to find a "home" within our own being. Prince M. Levy-Benitez reminds us that nonbinary genders are "beginningless and endless," serving as a powerful teacher of nonduality in our practice.

Southern Dharma is proud to host an LGBTQIA+ Affinity Retreat from September 17-20, 2026. This is a dedicated space to practice, breathe, and exist in community, guided by Prince M. Levy-Benitez and Em Morrison.

Whether you are a long-time practitioner or new to the cushion, we welcome you to join us in exploring the many expressions of being in the world that arise as "not two."

✨ Learn more and register here: [https://southerndharma.org/retreat-schedule/1567/rooted-in-the-turning-world-lgbtqia/]

05/21/2026

Our tucked away Buddha Garden is a sanctuary for the soul, combining the peaceful presence of a stone figure with the vibrant, lush life of the forest.

It's a place to simply be. A reminder to slow down, breathe deeply, and find your own quiet corner of calm.

What's your favorite peaceful escape? Let us know in the comments. 👇

🌱✨

05/15/2026

Meet Ronya Fakhoury Banks, LCSW. 👋✨

Ronya brings a rare combination of clinical experience and deep Buddhist knowledge to Southern Dharma. By integrating the Mahasi Sayadaw and Thai Forest traditions, she helps practitioners find a path to well-being that is both scientifically grounded and spiritually profound.

She’ll be leading our June 17-21 retreat, focusing on finding stability in an unstable world. Whether you are a long-time meditator or just starting your mental health journey, Ronya’s guidance offers a compassionate map toward clarity.

See the slides for more on the benefits of mindfulness, and visit our website to secure your spot for June!

05/08/2026

You know who we love? Our friends!

We want to send out big cheers into the universe for Keith Felicity, who has been one of Southern Dharma's constant and kind faces for the last three years.

Before Keith Felicity passed on the tie-dye baton as the Retreat Center Director to our wonderful Donna Blagdan (pictured here) they were ordained as Reverend Keith Felicity through 's Teacher Empowerment Ceremony.

And this month, they begin their clinical pastoral education at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill!

This will be their first internship as part of their Interreligious Chaplaincy Program at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, which they anticipate graduating from with their MDiv in December.

Have you had the chance to meet Keith on retreat? Send some mudita their way!

05/04/2026

Pro tip: You don’t actually have to be "Southern" to find your Dharma here. 😉

We took a look at our 2025 numbers and—wow. We welcomed 662 of you from 33 different states! From our neighbors in North Carolina to our long-distance friends in California and New York, our 2025 retreatants proved that the trek to the mountains is always worth it. We’re so grateful to be a destination for practice, reflection, and community for folks all over the country.

Where are you joining us from this year? 📍

**Edited with updated numbers and states included!

04/16/2026

Fresh Spaces, Same Sacred Stillness ✨
We are overjoyed to finally share the results of our recent renovations at Southern Dharma Retreat Center!

While the heart of our practice remains rooted in silence and simplicity, we’ve spent the last few months mindfully upgrading our facilities to better support your journey inward. From refreshed practice spaces to cozy, updated accommodations, every hammer struck and brush moved was done with your comfort and contemplation in mind.

What’s New?
Enhanced Living Quarters: Subtle improvements to ensure your rest is as restorative as your practice.

Sustainable Upgrades: Practical improvements to our historic buildings to ensure we remain stewards of this land for years to come.

Enhanced Airflow: New, quiet ceiling fans installed on the third floor and in all second-floor bedrooms to keep your rest cool and tranquil in the mountain summers.

Whether you’re a longtime sangha member or considering your very first silent retreat, we can’t wait to welcome you "home" to these renewed spaces.

Ready to see for yourself? Check out our upcoming retreat schedule at the link in our bio and be among the first to experience the "new" Southern Dharma.

04/04/2026

🌸 Spring is here!

The days grow longer as green crawls up these mountains, and there’s a renewed sense of energy everywhere we look. It’s the perfect time to shake off the winter chill and start dreaming of sunshine, connection, and deep breaths.

While we’re soaking up every bit of the spring bloom, we’re already looking ahead to those long, golden summer days. There is no better time than now to give yourself something to look forward to.

✨ Join Us for a Summer Retreat!
Whether you’re looking to find your flow in nature, deepen your practice, or simply unplug from the digital noise, we’ve designed these retreats to be your ultimate summer sanctuary.

Reconnect: Step away from the "busy" and back into your body.
Restore: Enjoy guided sessions, nourishing food, and fresh air.
Renew: Return home with a clear mind and a full heart.

🔗 Visit southerndharma.org to browse dates and register.

03/28/2026

For Women's History Month, we asked some of our teachers what wisdom they carry from other women teachers in the world -- Here is a collection and celebration of that wisdom.

Who are the women teachers who have helped you on your path?

03/09/2026

✨ Find Your Seat: April Retreats at Southern Dharma
Register now to claim one of the remaining spots for our upcoming April retreats! Whether you are just beginning your journey or looking to deepen a long-standing practice, we have a space held for you in the quiet beauty of the mountains.

🗓️ Upcoming April Programs:

Vibrant Sky: The Practice & Vision of Open Awareness
Teacher: Jogen Salzberg
Dates: April 2 – April 5
Level: Open to all skill levels

We are One, We are Whole
Teacher: Rev. WonGong So
Dates: April 10 – April 17
Level: Open to all skill levels

The Intuitive Heart: A Meditation Retreat for Experienced Meditators
Teacher: David Chernikoff
Dates: April 29 – May 3
Level: Experience required

🌿 Join Our Community
At Southern Dharma Retreat Center, we believe these teachings should be accessible to all, which is why financial aid is available for these programs. If what you see is insufficient, please email [email protected] so we can find a way to get you on retreat!

🔗 Ready to join us? Click the link in our bio to register today!

03/02/2026

We honor the life of Venerable Dr. Pannavati Bhikkhuni, Maha Theri, beloved co-founder of Heartwood Mandala monastery in Hendersonville NC and teacher at Southern Dharma Retreat Center. To commemorate her, we offer a reflection from her student, Brian Silva:

"Our dearest teacher Venerable Pannavati, left her body on 2/26/2026 at 1:30pm EST. Her monastics, two lay residents and Kaye, her devoted Kappiya and friend, held vigil for her from 9am that day through her transition. Venerable Pannavati has been my wife Nancy and my teacher for many years. Venerable was one of the first African-American Theravada nuns in the United States. During her service to the Dharma Veneralbe made numerous trips to India lending support to the Dalit, a cast often called untouchables. Venerable worked hand in hand with them to improve their living standards and teach the Dharma. She and others ordained some of the very first bhikkhunīs of Thailand. In recent years Venerable Pannavatti has been dedicated to helping bring her teacher H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III’s writing to our country.

Words will never explain how she impacted all our lives and touched our hearts. Her joy was contagious and her fearless compassion paved the way for so many people. She was a true kalyanamitta and her favorite thing to do was to give a Dharma talk! Everything that she did was for the Dharma and for saving sentient beings."

Address

1661 West Road
Hot Springs, NC
28743

Telephone

(828) 622-7112

Website

http://www.southerndharma.org/

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