ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A Buddhist arts festival is coming to downtown Asheville this weekend with workshops and performances in the disciplines of dance, music and film.

Bodhi Fest will be held from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 16 at Asheville Community Theatre, 35 E. Walnut St. in downtown Asheville. Tickets are available at www.ashevilletheatre.org.

The arts festival is hosted by Heartwood Refuge, a Buddhist sangha located in Hendersonville, N.C.

Paths to peace

According to Heartwood member and Bodhi Fest organizer Bhikkhuni Bhusita, their teacher, Venerable Pannavati, had a clear idea of what she wanted Bodhi Fest to be.

“It is our hope to inspire people that paths to peace are within us in every moment, even in the presence of grief, fear and anger. Going against the stream of ordinary mindedness, there is the possibility to establish an equal mindedness that allows the ascendancy of faith and confidence in goodness,” Bhusita quoted from a statement by Pannavati.

“Buddha Dharma is not separate from ordinary life, but can be experienced in everything, seen, heard, touched, tasted, smelled or thought. With this in mind, we are devoting an entire day, not to doctrine, but examples of how the arts and simple talents we all possess can be used to inspire change and create contentment.”

According to Bhusita and their fellow Heartwood students and Bodhi Fest organizers, Santi Cooper and Samaneri Kedara-sacca, Bodhi Fest is for everyone, Buddhist or otherwise, to share and enjoy.

Festival schedule

• 7:30 a.m. – Doors open
• 8 to 9:30 a.m. – Dance workshop
• 9:45 to 11:15 a.m. – Songwriting workshop
• 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. – Short films and talk back discussion
• 12:45 to 2:15 p.m. – Lunch break
• 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. – Feature film #1
• 3:15 to 3:30 p.m. – Feature film #1 talk back discussion
• 3:30 to 4 p.m. Theatre/dance show
• 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. – Feature film #2
• 5:45 to 6 p.m. – Feature film #2 talk back discussion
• 6:15 to 7 p.m. – DharmaVoci concert

For more information about Heartwood Refuge, visit www.heartwoodrefuge.org.

For more information about Bodhi Fest, visit www.ashevilletheatre.org.