The story of
Dharmashire
This dream is manifested within a piece of redwood forest on Mount Tam in the community of Muir Woods Park, Mill Valley, California. The property was originally settled in the mid 30s as a hiker’s retreat and lodge with an adjoining “hot dog stand” created to serve food to explorers walking up to the Alpine Club and the top of the mountain.
The lower cabin, the realization of a master craftsman, is at the heart of Dharmashire. It is a historic log cabin with bark on redwoods and a 50 year collection of majestic spirit animals.
It is a mystical experience that must been seen in person to be fully appreciated.
The hot dog stand, also know as Sanghashire, has been restored and converted into the home of the proprietor. Sanghashire is also available for rent.
The dream
"It took 10+ years of curiosity to find Dharmashire. It will take generations to fully realize it."
The idea of Dharmashire started many years ago on a piece of land in Western North Carolina called “The Shire”.
Once upon a time, The Shire, was many acres of forest and farmland. The Shire was previously Cherokee Indian land at the edge of the Eastern Continental Divide in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
When that land was passed to another caretaker, the owner and his daughter, began imagining a new place for adventure.
The purpose
The purpose of Dharmashire is to hold space where people can find their creative energy, write a book, compose music, sit quietly, and perhaps, find their own inner sanctuary, within nature.
Dharmashire has access to miles of hiking trails, quiet meadows and forested meditation spaces, anchored by a one acre core piece of property, embraced by a six acre green space for the deepest of privacy in the area.
Using Dharmashire as a starting point, or sitting place, one has the opportunity to reconnect with their own inner peace. To disconnect from the digital domain, recharge the mind, body, and spirit. Get back to what really matters. Being at one within.
Privacy and views
Dharmashire is in a sanctuary of absolute privacy and silence. The unexpected views of the San Francisco Bay, Mount Diablo, Berkeley Hills, the Richmond bridge, downtown Mill Valley, and Tiburon are stunning.
Space.
Once you enter the property, you will find yourself on a wandering pathway down to an enchanted cabin and meadow. Continuing, below that, are acres of land and trails for discovery and meditation. With a working fireplace and an outdoor gas fire pit, the home creates many rooms, both inside and outside, to explore. And, room explore yourself.
Experience.
Meditate, create, sit, spend time with your loved one(s), or just be quietly and write a book. It is a great place for a writer to find inspiration. It is also the perfect place for a class to be taught, or for leaders to gather, play and learn, and listen to their own wind.
What are dharma and shire?
Dharma has many meanings depending on the source. It may refer to the eternal, inherent nature of reality, an aspect of truth, or emptiness, or purpose, or meaning, or reason, depending on how you translate the word. The word Shire is an old Germanic English word, which translates to mean county, piece of land, or place of safety.
Merging these two words, from the East and the West, Dharmashire literally means place of emptiness, or place of purpose. It is an opportunity for Eastern philosophy and Western thinking to merge in a way to help us see the world with more clarity, and the way we can be in the world to find a peaceful center inside of ourselves, and ultimately make a greater positive impact to support others as we return to our every day lives.
Small as the footprint may be, the view is vast.
You can visit, experience, sit, listen, be, and feel the shire of dharma.
We're looking forward to seeing you be here.