A Day-long Retreat with John Orr
Sunday, March 2, 2025
9:00am to 4:00pm
(1 hour break for lunch)
Space is limited. Please register below.
Reflecting on the qualities of loving kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity provides a practice that let’s a person engage with world with more ease; something we could all use a little more of. The Meaningful Life Center is pleased to announce our rescheduled visit with John Orr. Originally scheduled for September 29 the event had to be postponed due to Hurricane Helene and the massive impact it had on John’s home area of Western North Caroline. Please join us for this special event and welcome John back to the MLC.
We look forward to having you join us for the very special event.
The Brahma Viharas: Loving Kindness, Compassion, Joy and Equanimity
During times of change, uncertainty, confusion and a divisive election season these four beautiful qualities of the heart, known as the brahma viharas (divine abodes), can help us to listen and keep our hearts open to each other. We will explore what seems to block us from dwelling in these sublime states of heart and mind. It is often our fears that get in the way of our access to this loving heart.
We’ll explore each of the Brahma Viharas during this day long workshop using mindfulness practice, guided heart centered meditations and chanting from various spiritual traditions, we will make contact with our powerful loving heart, nurture its healing energy and manifest it in the many contexts of our daily lives.
Teacher: John Orr received Theravada Buddhist ordination while living in Thailand and India as a monk for eight years. He has been teaching Vipassana Meditation and leading retreats, internationally, since 1980 and has also practiced in the Taoist, Tibetan Dzogchen, and Hindu Yoga traditions. John recently retired from three decades of teaching at Duke University and presently lives outside of Asheville, NC. John Orr taught several series of classes in the Durham-Chapel Hill area on Mindful Aging and Dying.
There is no registration fee for this day-long event. Following the Buddhist tradition, the workshop will be offered on a Dana basis. Dana (pronounced “dah-na”) is a Pali word meaning “gift” or “giving.” It is closely related to the virtue of generosity. In the Buddhist tradition Dana, or generosity is practiced by voluntarily making monetary offerings for the teachings. Participants of this workshop will therefore have the opportunity to practice generosity to both the Meaningful Life Center and John Orr as an expression of your appreciation and support of the teacher, the teachings and the community.
There will be two dana baskets at the workshop for John and the Meaningful Life Center. Offerings to John can be in the form of cash or checks payable to John Orr 165 Curtis Miles Road Alexander, NC 28701. Or PayPal at paypal.me/johnorr108 .
Dana for the Meaningful Life Center can be cash, checks payable to Meaningful Life Center 116 Carr Street Knoxville, TN 37919 or online with your debit, credit card, or your PayPal account at their website: HERE.
Meaningful Life Center is a 501(c)3 Tax Exempt Organization. All contributions to the center are fully tax deductible.