Name: Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery
Item: Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery
Rating: 5
Author: S Fuller

Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery (‘Sitavana’) is a Canadian Theravada Buddhist monastery following the Thai forest tradition of Ajahn Chah. In 1994, Canadian-born Abbot Ajahn Sona established the first Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery (‘Birken’), a primitive shack monastery nestled in the coast mountains near Pemberton, British Columbia. As the community of monastics and lay supporters grew, Birken was reborn in its second, larger location near Princeton, B.C. In 2001, Birken expanded yet again, relocating to its current and final resting place near Kamloops, B.C. The monastery is also known by its Pali name ‘Sitavana’, translated as ‘cool forest grove’.

A visit to Birken is a valuable experience for anyone interested in spiritual matters. A journey through the magnificent mountains and valleys of British Columbia brings you to this quiet place. Once here you will spend your time with people dedicated to a peaceful and virtuous life. A monastery is a place supportive of personal spiritual development for sincere people of all backgrounds and religions. In the language of the Buddha, monastics are simply referred to as “good friends.” They are people who are dedicated full-time to following the path the Buddha set for achieving ultimate freedom from suffering, or enlightenment. Monastics can give you interesting perspectives on your own spiritual experiences, help you to understand Buddhism, and share useful ideas for making your mind bright and peaceful.

The Birken residence (vihara) provides nearly 11,000 sq.ft. of comfortable, green living space, including a spectacular meditation hall overlooking the surrounding forest, marsh and bird sanctuary. Due to its isolated location, Birken operates entirely off-grid, with solar panels supplying power for most of the year. Over the years, many improvements have been made to bring the monastery to a very high level of energy efficiency and a model of simple, green living. The main building has a walking meditation hall as well as a library and eating area in the basement, a large kitchen, guest rooms, and four shared bathrooms. Depending on demand, guest rooms may be private or shared. Monastics and steward residents live in individual cabins (kutis). During some periods, a kuti may be available for guest use. These have propane heaters, but no electricity, water, or toilet facilities; and are a short walk from the main building.

While here, all that is expected is that you practice the rules of virtue (expressed in the Eight Precepts) as well as Birken’s Guest Guidelines. Together, they are important and useful strategies to support mental cultivation and the development of wisdom. The Precepts support harmonious community living and are in keeping with the precepts undertaken by resident monastics. Our Guest Guidelines detail appropriate procedures and etiquette for visiting a Buddhist monastery, and are provided to all guests online prior to registering for a visit and also in each guest room. Everyone’s individual requirements at the monastery are diverse, but these differences are met with kindness, intelligence, patience and gentle humor.

For over 2500 years, the monastic tradition has survived only through the support of the lay community. Theravada monks and nuns must refrain from growing or cooking their own food, and handling money. To this day, the lay community in countries around the world continues to generously provide monastics with the basic requisites of food, clothing, lodging and medicine. Birken is supported entirely by donations. All teaching, accommodation, and food are offered freely, without suggested fee. It is left to the good will and discretion of visitors and well-wishers to decide how they might support the work of the monastery.

We look forward to welcoming you to the monastery for a visit sometime soon!

Sort By

S Fuller
Overall Experience

Peace, Wisdom , & Friendliness in stunning & elevated — in all senses of the word — surroundings, goes a long way to describing Birken Forest Monastery but this special place transcends even this inspiring description.
Under the virtuous & wise leadership of its Abbot, Ajahn Sona, who founded it some 27 years ago, the resident monastics & stewards in this mountain Theravada monastery — just outside Kamloops, BC —,practicing in the Thai Forest Tradition, provide a life changing environment & a place very worthy of a visit. It is currently closed for physical visits due to Covid but happily now offers talks & Q&A sessions via YouTube & streaming.
5 years ago

You must be logged in to post a comment.

We provide a variety of simple, nutritious, mostly vegetarian meals appropriate to a forest monastery. Food donations are warmly
welcomed, but please understand that they will not necessarily be served during your visit. We are not in a position to prepare special meals for individuals, nor are guests permitted to prepare their own meals. Please do not pester the stewards or monastics with health food or hygiene theories and do not ask them to accommodate your particular food sensitivities, allergies or preferences. Please be content with what is served and do not go into the kitchen or cold room to help yourself or add items to the table during
mealtimes or at any other time. The spirit of the monastery is to let go of personal preferences, views and opinions, and receive whatever is offered with contentment and gratitude.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding our food policies, please address them to the Abbot. Do not raise them with the stewards at any time.

Please Note: Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery ('Sitavana') is no longer ordaining or training any monastics or anagarikas. Those interested in ordination may wish to contact other monasteries.

ITEMS TO BRING:
After your booking has been confirmed by the Birken Office, please review this list of things to bring with you on your visit:

Loose, modest, "quiet" clothing (and, even in summer, a fleece coat or sweater) - see Dress Code in Guest Guide above
Heavy socks for indoors
Bath towel
Toiletries
Alarm Clock
Flashlight
Earplugs (if sharing, your roommate may snore)
Outdoor footwear (snow boots in winter season)
Rain gear (as appropriate)
Sunscreen & bug repellent (in spring/summer months)
The monastery has a good supply of meditation mats, cushions and benches for guests. However, please feel free to bring personal "sitting gear" from home if you would prefer.
You may wish to bring a shawl or blanket for warmth while meditating in the sala
You do not need to bring bedding; we have plenty of sheets, pillowcases and duvets for your use while you are here
PLEASE NO hairdryers or other heavy users of electricity; please help us maintain a green monastery
PLEASE NO computers or other devices - guests are not permitted to use the internet while here

Birken Upāsikā Program
Overview:

Birken Upāsikā Program: The term "upāsikā" means “one who sits close by”; it has come to refer to dedicated lay Buddhist practitioners who join with monastics in the practice of the Dhamma and who commit to follow the Three Refuges and Five Precepts. Building on the model established at other Western monasteries in the Ajahn Chah Thai Forest Tradition lineage, Birken Forest Monastery ('Sitavana') is now establishing its own Birken Upāsikā Program to provide a formal structure for lay people to practice and study together, in close relation to the monastery. The program will be coordinated entirely by the laity (participants will be involved in the coordination through various volunteer tasks), and spiritual guidance will be provided by Ajahn Sona, both at the designated Upāsikā gatherings as well as virtually through monthly recorded Dhamma talks and occasional online Skype interviews. Regular Upāsikā Days will be held at Birken each year, where upāsikās (female) and upāsakas (male) will be able to renew their commitment to the Three Refuges and Five Precepts, learn the various forms and conventions of the Thai Forest Tradition, participate in study sessions focused on specific Dhamma topics, practice meditation, and share experiences, all under the spiritual guidance of Ajahn Sona. Over the course of the year, sessions will cover the broad themes of meditation, sutta study, devotion and ritual, daily life practice and Dhamma in the broader world. The theme of the first year will be a systematic study and practice of "The Noble Eightfold Path", with monthly audio talks and assigned readings. Participants must make a formal commitment to the program (committing to attend all designated Upāsikā Days and to take part in monthly study/practice assignments). Upāsikās will be encouraged to stay connected to fellow dedicated lay practitioners throughout the year, by way of visits to the monastery, local group gatherings and an online virtual community.

Purpose:

To provide dedicated lay practitioners with a formal spiritual training structure that will aid in the deepening of individual practice and self-discipline
To deepen lay practitioners' intellectual and experiential understanding of the Teachings of the Buddha, as well as the forms and conventions of the Theravada Thai Forest Tradition
To foster a supportive community of ‘kalyanamittas’ (spiritual friends) for like-minded lay people affiliated with Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery
To strengthen the symbiotic relationship between Birken's ordained Sangha (monastics) and affiliated lay practitioners (upāsikās) - lay people providing monastics with their material needs and monastics providing lay people with spiritual guidance and example

Guidelines:

By committing to the Birken Upāsikā Program, participants will aspire to:

Take the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts as the foundation of their spiritual life (see below)
Take the Theravada Thai Forest Tradition as the focus of their Buddhist practice
Commit to integrate Ajahn Sona's Upāsikā Program teachings and modes of practice into their daily practice life
Attend the scheduled Upāsikā gatherings at Birken Forest Monastery (see below)
Commit to practice meditation daily
Designate one ‘Day of Observance’ per week, on which a heightened importance is given to their spiritual practice (e.g. following the Eight Precepts and making more time for meditation on the weekly lunar days)
Find some time each year to go on a long retreat of at least 7 days, which could be one of the designated weeks at Birken (see below)
Cultivate a basic working knowledge of the Teachings of the Buddha through sutta study, audio Dhamma talks, etc.
Provide support to the Sangha, according to their means and abilities
Keep to the training for at least one year after having made the formal commitment

The Three Refuges & Five Precepts

Three Refuges:

1. To the Buddha, I go for refuge.
2. To the Dhamma, I go for refuge.
3. To the Sangha, I go for refuge.

Five Precepts:

1. I undertake the precept to refrain from taking the life of any living being.
2. I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given.
3. I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.
4. I undertake the precept to refrain from false and harmful speech.
5. I undertake the precept to refrain from consuming intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.

Verified Listing

Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery

Welcome back

Sign up for Review My Retreat