Please note that pets are never allowed at Bhavana Society.

Types of Visits

You are welcome to visit Bhavana Society as a day visitor, for a few days, or for more than two
weeks. To arrange a visit, you may contact us by email or phone or submit one of our application
forms: the Visitor Application, the Short-Term Resident Application, or the Long-Term
Residency Application.

Bhavana Society is open to visitors of all kinds. By visiting, you will experience a taste of
monastic life without making a lifelong commitment. The Buddha himself was clear that it is
important to visit monasteries and discuss his teachings with learned people. Many visitors tell
us that they have learned more about Buddhism from a single week at our community than from
years of reading books.

A Day in the Life of the Monastery

Visitors take part fully in the monastery's daily schedule. We rise each morning for silent
meditation at 5:00 a.m. After meditation, we chant Buddhist verses in Pali, the language of the
Buddhist scriptures. This sets the intention for the day, reminding us to make an energetic effort
to learn and put into practice the teachings of the Buddha. At 8:30 a.m., we gather for a
community work period.

Breakfast and lunch are eaten mindfully, in silence. There are no evening meal and no snacking
after noon. We observe this small daily fast as a practice of moderation; most people find that
they adjust to it quickly.

In the evening, we meditate together around 6:00 p.m. Afterward, we chant the same verses we
chanted that morning, but in English.

Between meditation sessions, there is plenty of free time. You are welcome to walk the grounds,
meditate, or browse our extensive Buddhist library, and there is always ample opportunity to
speak with monastics and lay residents. You may also be assigned simple chores to help out
around the monastery, an excellent opportunity to practice mindfulness while working. 

Planning Your Visit

We ask that all day visitors call at least 24 hours in advance to let us know they would like to
come, so that we can plan for your arrival. We ask that all visitors, whether staying for the day or
overnight, arrive by 5:00 p.m.

Please keep the purpose of your visit in mind throughout your stay. Our vision is to help people
practice and learn the Dhamma.