Windhorse Zen Community

The renowned New York guitarist and composer will appear in concert on Saturday, June 5th at 7:30pm, at the sanctuary of the Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 1 Edwin Place in Asheville.

Frederic Hand is one of the most versatile guitarists now performing. Equally at home on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera and in the recording studio, he has created Emmy winning television scores, and innovative reinventions of early music with his group Jazzantiqua.

Your donation for this event is tax deductible and will be used to further the teaching and practice programs at Windhorse. Minimum suggested donation is $25.00, student rates available; no one will be turned away at the door. Click below to purchase or call 828-645-8001.

A workshop on the teachings and practice of Zen Buddhism with Sunya Kjolhede and Lawson Sachter, Dharma teachers at Windhorse Zen Community.

Saturday, January 16, 2010, 9:45-1:30 pm.

Early registration and Students: $25.00, $35.00 at the door.
Vegetarian lunch is included.

For registration and information call 828-645-8001 or email at windhorse@windhorsezen.org.

Our location is at 580 Panther Branch Road, Alexander, NC 28701.
In the Weaverville area, 20 minutes from downtown Asheville.

Our recent Saturday night astronomy event at Windhorse turned out to be more than any of us had dared hope for. Looking in turn through Bernie Arghiere’s powerful telescope, positioned at the top of the driveway near the zendo, we gazed in awe at Jupiter, huge and brilliant, with its colored bands and 4 moons. Our eyes followed the trail of Bernie’s handheld Star-trekky laser beam that seemed to actually touch the stars, as he pointed out clusters and constellations, sharing with us some of the mind-stretching facts and colorful myths connected with them.

We decided this year to try hiking out from a central location. We set up tents and an outdoor zendo in theBig Creek area of Great Smoky National Park, an easy hour’s drive from the Center.

The weather, after an initial cloudburst, was perfect.

Creeks and waterfalls were rushing, mossy forests glowing green and gold. 

Mushrooms everywhere – a spectacular variety irresistible to the mycologists in the group, who gathered and prepared only those asserted to be “1000% safe.”  Who knew that such delicacies as oyster mushrooms and rare black and orange chanterelles would grace our simple meals of rice and beans?

 

But the deeper nourishment came from mountains and rivers themselves. Hours of hiking the beautiful trails mostly in single-file silence, the vibrant stillness of the great forests, a brilliant crescent moon straight overhead at midnight, the single hair-raising scream of a bobcat at 3 AM (or was it possibly an Eastern cougar?), and the deep silence of candlelit zazen morning and evening – so many inspiring sutras!

Check out more photos of the retreat on Flickr:

• Wilderness Retreat Set 1
• Wilderness Retreat Set 2
• Wilderness Retreat Set 3

“Wonder and Wisdom,” a mélange of music, storytelling, bake sale and silent auction, was held at the local Unitarian church in Asheville to benefit Windhorse.

 Author and long-time Dharma practitioner Rafe Martin – was at his best. Many in the audience were taken by surprise at the power of live storytelling – so often considered to be ‘just for children’.

 Rafe’s selections ranged from a traditional jataka tale (The Banyan Deer) to the Mahabharata, to an ancient Irish legend (The Music of What Happens) and a dark and moving Grimm fairy tale (The Six Swans). One story melting into the next, a rich potion of words and images casting its spell overand through all those present – bringing forth now laughter,now a breathless stillness.

Download and listen to one of Rafe’s tales:  The Most Beautiful Music

A foursome of sangha musicians wove their own spell around us all while the bake sale and silent auction provided bargains on paintings, photos and jewelry.

 Benefit proceeds will help us move toward the completion of our residential building. 

To all who contributed time,gifts, skills and money, we at Windhorse extend heartfelt appreciation and gratitude!

Click to see more photos from the fundraiser.