Sravasti Abbey
About this place
Sravasti Abbey: Who We Are
Sravasti Abbey is among the first of its kind—an American Buddhist monastic community where nuns and monks and lay students learn, practice, and live the Buddha’s teachings.Founded in 2003 by author, teacher, and fully ordained nun Venerable Thubten Chodron, we practice Tibetan Buddhism in the tradition of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.While monastic training is the focus, lay guests are also welcome to experience community life, offer service, and experience the kindness of others.The Abbey’s network is much wider than our 370-acre property in rural Washington State. Through the web, we are interconnected with friends around the world.
Mission
Sravasti Abbey supports a flourishing monastic community where learning and practicing Buddha’s teachings on ethics, non-violence, compassion, and wisdom—then sharing them widely—cultivates peace in the hearts of individuals and the world.We seek to preserve Buddha’s teachings, to root them deeply in Western soil, to share them with others, to build an enduring sangha, and to serve sentient beings for as long as space remains.
History Highlights
Ven. Thubten Chodron, a Buddhist nun since 1977, dreamed of creating a monastic community in the US for many years. With the blessing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the advice of many of her teachers and senior monastics of several Buddhist traditions, she founded Sravasti Abbey in 2003.The Abbey ordained our first novice nun in 2006, who went on to become our first fully ordained nun (bhikshuni) in 2008.By 2011, our community included five ordained nuns, surpassing the requisite number that allowed us to begin our bi-monthly posadha confession and restoration of monastic precepts, which has continued ever since. In 2014, we instituted our first annual varsa (rains retreat) and pravarana ceremony to end the retreat, thus fulfilling all the monastic rites that the Buddha prescribed for a fully functioning sangha community. Learn more about the monastic rites here. Today, with a resident community of 23 monastics and Buddha Hall construction well underway, Sravasti Abbey continues to fulfill its mission in countless ways to create peace in a chaotic world. You can see photos of the Abbey’s development since 2003 in our Photo Gallery archive.
Gallery
Programmes/Activities
- Meditation, study, service — this is the heart of what we do. Guests are welcome to share in our daily life and practices. Anyone can learn to meditate and study Buddhist teachings — the Dharma. Meditation is about training the mind towards more positive emotions and attitudes. Through meditation, we become kinder, more realistic, and happier people. This is how we “create peace in a chaotic world.” The Abbey offers formal programs for both beginners and long time practitioners All teachings are offered freely. Check out the offerings to find what’s best for you: https://sravastiabbey.org/events/
