Touching Earth and Sky, a 5-day meditation retreat, will be grounded in the three tenets of the Zen Peacemaker Order: Not Knowing, Bearing Witness, and Compassionate Action. This retreat will consist of meditation, creative practices to cultivate not knowing mind, bearing witness experiences, and wisdom councils to hold what arises. The main focus is our environment, the climate crisis we are all experiencing, and the healing and hope possible when we touch earth and sky through contemplative practice and compassionate action. Retreatants will also explore and deepen their understanding of how social action, community, meditation and spirituality are interdependent on one another and can impact our relationship to climate change today. 

This meditation retreat includes preparation and integration meetings (pre- and post-trip) centered on meditation practice and the three tenets of bearing witness. Students will explore and deepen their understanding of how social action, community, and meditation and spirituality are interdependent on one another and can impact our relationship to climate change today.

This is an intercollegiate collaboration retreat that Dharma Gates is hosting along side the Buddhist Chaplains of Davidson College, Duke University, and Wake Forest University. You do not need to be a college student to join anyone ages 18-35 is welcome to register! The retreat is residential and retreatants will be expected to share rooms. All meals will be at the retreat center or at local restaurants.

The retreat is run entirely by dāna. Find out more about dāna here