The Calm Within: A Clarity of Mind Mahamudra Meditation Retreat
December 5 - December 7
The Calm Within: A Clarity of Mind Mahamudra Meditation Retreat at The Mountain Retreat Center in Highlands, NC
Friday, December 5 – Sunday, December 7, 2025
Take a break from the busyness and excessive productivity of everyday life, and retreat into the clarity and calm deep within our own mind.
During this special weekend mountain retreat, attendees will be guided in meditations on the nature and clarity of our own mind. These sublime meditations are effective methods for improving concentration and counteracting negative mental habits that result in stress, anxiety and fear.
By training in these meditations, our mind becomes progressively more subtle and peaceful, causing us to experience a profound inner stillness and tranquility. Eventually, we will discover our own inner potential for lasting peace, happiness and true freedom.
These meditations are part of the Mahamudra tradition, the very essence of Buddha’s teachings. Gaining the slightest experience of these blessed instructions will revolutionize our life, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Sessions will be skillfully guided by the Resident Teachers of Southern Kadampa Centers. Sessions include a brief teaching, silent time for meditation and time for question and answer. All sessions are suitable for beginners and those with some experience of Kadampa Buddhism.
Everyone is welcome!
This regional retreat is organized by Kadampa meditation centers and branches in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday
3:00-7:30p.m. | Check-in at The Mountain’s main office
6:00-7:15p.m. | Dinner
7:30-9:00p.m. | Introduction and Session 1
Saturday
8:00-8:45a.m. | Breakfast
9:00-10:15a.m. | Session 2
11:00a.m.-12:15p.m. | Session 3
12:30-1:45p.m. | Lunch
4:00-5:30p.m. | Session 4 and Q&A
6:00-7:00p.m. | Dinner
7:15-8:30p.m. | Session 5
Sunday
8:00-8:45a.m. | Breakfast
9:00-10:00a.m. | Session 6
11:00a.m.-12:30p.m. | Session 7 and Conclusion
RETREAT TEACHERS
Gen Kelsang Norbu was ordained in 2006 by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, and was requested by him to be the Resident Teacher of KMC North Carolina. He earned the title ‘Gen’ in 2012, indicating that he is a senior ordained teacher in the New Kadampa Tradition of modern Buddhism. He is known for his loving and gentle nature and holds a very clear and sharp understanding of Buddha’s teachings.
Kelsang Dechok is a senior ordained teacher of Modern Buddhism. She has studied and taught in both the US and the UK for many years. She was ordained in 2006 by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, and was requested to be the Resident Teacher of KMC Georgia in 2023. Whether it be through guided retreats or classes, her playfulness and sincerity allow students to see how the teachings can benefit them in their busy modern lives.
Gen Kelsang Tabkay has been a practitioner of Kadampa Buddhism and student of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso for 18 years. Ordained as a Buddhist monk in 2013, he is the Resident Teacher of KMC South Carolina and previously, KMC Phoenix. He has also guided many retreats at the International Kadampa Retreat Center Grand Canyon. He is known for giving accessible and practical teachings, dedicating himself to bringing peace into the hearts of others.
Kadam Sharon Lovich has been practicing meditation and Kadampa Buddhism since 2003 and is the Resident teacher of the Je Tsongkhapa Kadampa Buddhist Center in Asheville since 2017. She has engaged in numerous focused meditation retreats and is known for teaching others how to develop a peaceful mind with great skill, lightness, and humor.
Ethan Lechner has been a practitioner of Kadampa Buddhism since 2008. In that time, he has traveled throughout the world to receive teachings from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and the tradition’s most senior teachers. Ethan is appreciated for his warm, humorous, and relatable style of teaching Dharma.
ABOUT THIS RETREAT
What is a retreat?
In meditation retreat, we take a break from our normal busyness to gain experience of a particular meditation practice.
In a retreat, we have the opportunity to gain deeper concentration by letting go of our usual busyness, preoccupations and worries, to experience a spacious and life-enhancing perspective.
Even with poor concentration, we are generally more peaceful, relaxed, and happy on retreat than in our ordinary fast-paced, externalized lives.
Whether you’re a beginner or simply want to enjoy retreat in ideal conditions, every aspect of these retreats are structured to help you refresh your mind through meditation. During the breaks enjoy meaningful conversation and the beauty and tranquility of the North Carolina Highlands.
How to prepare
A wonderful way to prepare for this retreat is to read Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s text Mahamudra Tantra or The Oral Instructions of the Mahamudra.
Retreat Sessions
Sessions run between 60 and 75 minutes. The sessions combine practical instruction and time for meditation that will allow you to:
- connect with an experience of true inner peace
- develop basic techniques that can help you to create a consistent habit of meditation
- leave with practical inner tools to apply what you have learned to your daily life
During the Breaks
Between retreat sessions take time to relax and carry your experience of peace, enjoy the tranquility of the grounds and connect and discuss with like-minded people.
Make it a Digital Detox Weekend
Are you feeling over-stimulated by the modern world and your phone is rarely out of your hand? Are you losing time to tech-based distraction? Is your phone draining you of energy to live with clarity and focus? Instead of sinking into habitual distraction, now is the time to take back control of our mind. Consider leaving your phone in your car and taking a break.
Morning Silence Practice
During this retreat we will be practicing silence in the morning, until after lunch. Silence is not just about not talking, it is about developing an inner quality of stillness.
In silence, we engage with the meditation object in a more intimate way. We start listening to the Dharma from deep within our heart which gives us a special inner experience of the teachings. Penetrating insights arise and since we are able to hold onto them with firm mindfulness we find Dharma experience pervades and nourishes our heart at a very deep level.
REGISTRATION DETAILS
Registration Deadline: November 23, 2025
Registration opens: August 11, 2025
Registration fee includes:
- double or single room, or indoor camping bunkhouse
- bed linens, towels and shower amenities
- all program fees
- vegetarian dinner on Friday
- vegetarian breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday
- vegetarian breakfast on Sunday
- access to The Mountain grounds, facilities and hiking trails
Adult costs:
IMPORTANT: Expect simple, rustic accommodations, with basic amenities and a focus on nature. Contentment is an essential part of a successful meditation retreat. It will be cold, so please bring a space heater, additional blankets or sleeping bag, and anything that will help you be more comfortable.
Single Room (limited availability)
$490 per person
Double or Triple Room
$350 per person
If you don’t specify a roommate when you register, one will be assigned to you in the same gender.
Indoor Camping/Family Bunkhouse
$290 per adult
This is an indoor camping experience in a rustic cabin. Cabins have an indoor bathroom and shower and mini-split heating unit. Perfect for families!
Children and young adults:
Children may attend the retreat at a cost of $150 per child. We regret that children under 16 are not allowed in the main meditation room during sessions. A video link will be available in a comfortable quiet area reserved for families.
Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by two (2) nominated responsible adult carers over the age of 18. Those who are aged 16 and 17 years must be accompanied by an adult over 18. You will be asked to provide the names of the carers/accompanying adult at the point of booking, and will be unable to complete the booking without it. This retreat is a public event and the care and safety of children and young adults remains at all times the responsibility of their parents/nominated carers/accompanying adult. For insurance purposes, NKT-IKBU and the Retreat Organizers cannot take responsibility for children and young adults. Children (of all ages) must be under adult supervision at all times.
How to register:
- Go to The Mountain’s Portal
- On the top right click on Registration Portal.
- Create an account
- Complete your personal profile
- Under “Program Classifications” select OTHER RETREATS
- Select your room option
- Specify dietary needs, housing options and mobility needs
- Specify roommate options. If this is left empty one will be assigned to you
- Submit payment. Your spot is not secured until payment has been submitted.
