PLEASE NOTE: Birken Forest Monastery ('Sitavana') is currently closed for the winter.  There will be no day visits or personal retreat bookings until April 2012.

If you are interested in visiting the monastery, the best time to come for a Day Visit is about 4:00pm, Thursday - Sunday, when someone may be available to show you around the monastery building and grounds. Or you may explore on your own, but please keep to the main road and do not go down the small paths to the cabins, which are private for monks & residents.

Our informal tea-time is normally at 5:00pm daily.  Thursday - Sunday tea times provide an excellent chance to meet the monastics and residents. The Abbot is happy to answer questions regarding Buddhist ideas and practice during tea time on those days. (Note: Monday - Wednesday are now days of silence at Birken. There will be no interviews and no tea time talks on those days.)  Day Visitors are welcome to stay for the evening meditation at 7:00pm.

Note: Filling out and submitting a completed registration form is not required for Day Visits, however we do ask that you email us ahead of time, announcing your plans to visit, so that we can expect you.
We are closed to day visitors during retreat times, so we can let you know if your planned visit conflicts with a retreat.