Timeless wisdom. A living master.
One unforgettable experience.
Discover wisdom that helps you live fully, understand death deeply, and move through life with greater freedom.
Join Gurudev for an immersive retreat on life's biggest questions, set against the turning colors of a Blue Ridge autumn.
Through meditation, reflection, and live Q&A, you'll explore life, death, and the journey that continues beyond both.
Space to explore, at your own depth
Whether you're curious about what lies beyond, deepening a meditation practice, or working through something personal, you'll find a space held for you here.
Live Q&A:
Bring your questions
Plug into a vibrant, global community of people living with greater joy. You'll meet like-minded people who share your passion for conscious living & become part of a global movement.
Meet Gurudev
Meet Gurudev
Since 1981, Gurudev has taught breath-based meditation techniques for health and well-being. His approach blends lightness, humor, inspiration, and ancient wisdom. Through his work, millions of people around the world have found calm, peace, and resilience. Over the years, his vision of a stress-free, violence-free society has ignited a global movement that has reached 180 countries. His ongoing humanitarian and conflict-mediation initiatives have helped strengthen communities in places as diverse as Colombia, India, the Ivory Coast, and North America.
A Force For Global Good
October with Gurudev
Frequently asked questions
The experience
Do I need any prior experience with meditation or yoga?
Not at all. This series welcomes everyone, from complete beginners to longtime practitioners. Gurudev is known for making the deepest wisdom accessible to anyone who shows up with an open heart.
I'm an experienced meditator. Will this deepen my practice?
Absolutely. Longtime practitioners often describe the experience of sitting with Gurudev as unlike anything they have encountered before — a depth of stillness and insight that goes beyond what regular practice alone can reach.
What will I experience?
Each session includes a guided meditation led by Gurudev, timeless wisdom made immediately relevant to everyday life, and live Q&A. Many people describe leaving with a sense of deep settledness — not something acquired, but something remembered.
Planning your visit
Transportation options
Visit the ride board to offer a ride or look for one:
| Route | Date | Departure |
|---|---|---|
| CLT to AOLRC | Oct 1 | 4:00 PM |
| CLT to AOLRC | Oct 2 | 4:00 PM |
| AOLRC to CLT | Oct 5 | 2:00 PM |
Times are tentative until the buses are confirmed, so please keep that in mind when booking flights. Links to sign up for the shuttle will come once the buses are confirmed.
If the shuttle times don't suit your travel plans
- Rent a car
- Taxi apps such as Uber or Lyft
- Hickory Hop — a regional airport shuttle service that runs daily and can be booked directly
I'm looking for roommates. Where can I search?
Post your roommate request on the stays board, where you can also see who else is looking.
How can I stay updated and connect with other attendees?
Join the WhatsApp channel for event updates, reminders, and to connect with other attendees.
Can I volunteer at the event?
Yes — volunteers help make this gathering possible. Share your availability and where you'd like to help through the volunteer form.
What is the cancellation policy?
Full refund, minus a $100 administrative fee, for all cancellations.
I have more questions. Who can I reach?
Email us at events.boone@aolrc.org and we'll help you out.
“...something so deep, so steady, and so powerful without struggle”
There are no real words for this. I just can’t believe what Gurudev has opened up for us. To touch something so deep, so steady, and so powerful without struggle.
Ghazal Z.
“It's real change.”
It’s not just intellectual. It's real change. There’s a sense of clarity and lightness. I feel like I’m becoming free.
Abhishek R.
“You begin to see what’s been holding you back”
With Gurudev, it’s not just learning. It’s a shift. Old patterns drop. The noise in the mind clears. You begin to see what’s been holding you back, and it starts to fall away.
Emett
What people are sharing
“I feel so full, aware, and light”
The stillness continues to deepen. There’s so much silence, yet I feel so full, aware, and light.
Karen
Timeless wisdom, brought to life
Many people describe leaving Gurudev's presence feeling not like they gained something new, but like they remembered something they always knew. That is the gift of this series.
Guided meditations
Be guided into profound stillness by one of the world's most celebrated meditation masters. Whether you're new to meditation or have practiced for years, these meditations will meet you where you are.
Time in nature to integrate
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the retreat offers space between sessions to walk, reflect, and let the teachings settle into the body, not just the mind.
A living master of the yogic tradition
For over four decades, Gurudev has been doing something remarkable — taking the most profound wisdom of the ancient yogic tradition and making it immediately accessible to anyone who walks through the door.
His work has reached more than a billion people across 180 countries. His teachings have been presented at the United Nations, the World Economic Forum in Davos, and leading universities including Yale. His humanitarian and conflict-mediation initiatives have helped rebuild peace in communities across Colombia, Iraq, the Ivory Coast, and beyond.
But what people remember most is not the credentials. It is the love. The lightness. The way he makes the most ancient wisdom feel like something you always knew. You just needed someone to remind you.
Community with fellow seekers
Take a deep dive into the very source of your existence. Gurudev's teachings will guide you to uncover the true nature of your consciousness and connect with a deeper sense of self.
Art of Living as seen in
"Like fresh air to millions"
"Show promise in providing relief for depression"
"Life Changing"
"May be the fastest growing spiritual practice on the planet"
Art of living as seen in
"Like Fresh air to millions"
"Show promise in providing relief for depression"
"Life Changing"
"May be the fastest growing spiritual practice on the planet"
Art of Living as seen in
“Death is not the opposite of life. It is a fact of life. Only when we understand this do we begin to truly live.”
- Gurudev
SCHEDULE
Wed • Sept 23
Wisdom Session
7pm-9pm
Satsang
5:30pm-7:30pm
Choose your retreat experience:
WISDOM SERIES
with Gurudev
ART OF LIVING RETREAT CENTER
BOONE, NC
OCT 1-5, 2026
Life, Death & The Journey Beyond
Wisdom Series: Life, Death & The Journey Beyond
October 2 – 5
The heart of the series. Two days of teachings, guided meditation, and live Q&A with Gurudev on life, death, and what lies beyond.
Prerequisites: 18 years and above
Supporting Youth Program
(4-17 years)
Register here
We look forward to welcoming you.
Art of Living Part 2 with Wisdom Series
October 1 – 5
Extend into silence. Four days that pair the Wisdom Series with a guided silent retreat, for those who want to go all the way in.
Prerequisites: Art of Living Part 1 and participants must be 18 years of age or older.
Supporting Youth Program
(4-17 years)
Register here
As understanding deepens, fear settles into acceptance. Grief becomes wisdom. Each moment gets a little more meaningful.
Whether you're carrying questions about life's purpose, healing after loss, or simply curious to go deeper, this retreat offers something rare: wisdom that is light, deep, and relevant to everyday life.
Come discover the part of your soul that death cannot touch.
Tranquility Meets Transformation
Set amidst 380+ breathtaking acres of pristine forest high up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the Art of Living Retreat Center is a renowned sanctuary of peace that eases the mind and inspires the soul.
Watch the sun rise over the mountaintops, rejuvenate with an Ayurvedic body treatment, or feel the quiet of a walk in the forest. This is a place to make all your own, and our staff and volunteers are dedicated to help you do just that.
From the magic of nature to our signature retreats, there is something here for everyone.
THE MOUNTAIN RETREAT
Rest deeply. Awaken refreshed.
Our accommodations are designed with simplicity and serenity in mind, inviting rest, clarity, and inward reflection. Nestled in nature, rooms offer a quiet retreat from the distractions of daily life so you can fully immerse in your inner journey.
Choose from cozy shared rooms to private lodging, depending on your preference and availability. Each space is thoughtfully designed for comfort, simplicity, and rest, allowing the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains to take center stage.
LODGING
What you will experience
Getting here
Airport shuttle & transportation
Charlotte Douglas International (CLT) is the closest major airport to the Art of Living Retreat Center. We run shuttles on the main arrival and departure days, with several other options if your flights fall outside those windows.
Event airport shuttle
Booking openArriving · CLT to the Retreat Center
Departing · Retreat Center to CLT
Each leg is booked separately, so reserve your arrival and departure runs individually. All times are Eastern. Please allow a buffer between your flight and the shuttle departure.
Other ways to get here
Room & ride share
Offer a seat, find one with another participant, or look for a roommate.
Open the forumHickory Hop
An independent regional airport shuttle running seven days a week, year round. Useful if your flight falls outside the event shuttle times.
See routes & bookRent a car
All major rental companies operate at CLT. Parking is available at the Retreat Center.
Uber & Lyft
Both serve the Charlotte area. Availability can be limited for the mountain leg of the trip, so plan ahead.
Ayurveda Wellness Detox with Wisdom Series
Sep 27– Oct 5
Eight days that pair the Wisdom Series with a 5-night Panchakarma wellness detox—for a deeper reset of body, mind, and spirit.
Prerequisites: 18 years and above