Vision Statement

The Bhavana Society was created to preserve the Theravada forest meditation tradition within the context of Western culture.

Our vision is as follows:

To provide a forest monastery where ordained monks and nuns can live while cultivating Sila (morality), Samadhi (concentration) and Panna (wisdom)

To provide training to suitable lay candidates who are seeking ordination and to ordain those candidates at the end of the training period.

To provide opportunities for monks and nuns to become future Dhamma and meditation teachers.

To offer organized meditation retreats on a regular basis to members of the society and to the general public.

To provide space for a limited number of lay people, who will assist in the running of the center, to live as long-term residents.

To provide facilities for a limited number of lay people to undergo private long-term retreats.

The retreats and monastic training will be determined and run by the senior monastic residents. The Board of Directors’ function is to assist and support the monastery and monastics in the continued realization of our vision.

Formalized in July 1988