The Sacred and Eternal Present Moment

In order to find inner peace and wisdom, virtually every spiritual lineage stresses the importance of learning to plumb the depths of the present moment. The simple techniques of mindfulness and kindness, taught by the Buddha, teach us to do just that. This silent retreat will have periods of sitting and walking meditation, yoga practice, opportunities to talk with a teacher, and formal presentations. It is suitable for both beginners and experienced students and for people of all faith traditions.

Pendle Hill supports Mary Grace in her discernment that in lieu of cash honoraria, she welcomes participants into the Dana practice for this program.

Leader(s)

Mary Grace Orr Mary Grace Orr is a teacher emeritus at Spirit Rock Meditation Center (Buddhist) in Marin County, CA, and the founding teacher of Insight Santa Cruz, in Santa Cruz, CA. She is deeply interested in Christian mystical traditions and is a graduate of the Living School, where she studied under Richard Rohr, Jim Finley, and Cynthia Bourgeault. In 2021, she became an oblate of the New Camaldoli Hermitage in California. Her teaching now includes both the Buddhist and Christian perspectives. A beloved teacher at Pendle Hill, Mary Grace has led retreats here since 1997. She lives in Hawaii. She teaches there and on the mainland, as well as online since the beginning of the pandemic.

Anne Briggs is a lifelong Quaker who also leads the Insight Meditation Community of Chestertown (MD). She completed the Community Dharma Leader Training (CDLT) at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and has assisted Mary Grace for many years.

Rebecca Kronlage has been a student of mindfulness, meditation, and yoga for over three decades. Her teaching is deeply rooted in Buddhism and the Kripalu Yoga Center tradition where she lived as a resident and senior teacher. As an ovarian cancer survivor, she brings a deep sense of awe, love, and respect for yoga and mindfulness as a healing practice that has saved her life. She has lead women’s international travel adventures and now resides on the Gulf Coast in Mississippi where she co-founded Treehouse Yoga Studio.

Financial aid may be available. If you are seeking funds to participate in this program, click to review and complete our Financial Assistance Application and a Pendle Hill staff member will follow-up with you shortly (please do NOT register online). Thank you for your interest.

Travel directions to Pendle Hill. Please make sure to review our health and safety expectations at https://pendlehill.org/stay/covid-19-information/.