Birken Monastery Closed Until Further Notice

Updated September 21, 2021

Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery remains closed to all visitors for the foreseeable future. All 2021 onsite Scheduled Retreats, Personal Retreats, Dana Meals and Day Visits are cancelled. All 2022 visits are also suspended at this time.

When our Abbot, Ajahn Sona, deems it safe to re-open the monastery, the information will be posted here, announced in our e-newsletter (subscribe below), and displayed prominently on our website main page.

Please see message below from Ajahn Sona:

“Birken is unable to receive visitors during this pandemic. When we will open is simply unknown, as is the course of this epidemic. We prefer not to set any dates and will only consider opening when it is safe for all residents and guests.” ~ Ajahn Sona

Please share this information with your friends and family, and we invite you to subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed when the monastery re-opens. Also you may re-visit this webpage for the most up to date information.

All of us at Birken are holding each of you in our daily meditation practices, radiating metta (loving-kindness) and compassion to all beings.

If you would like to continue to support the monastery during this time, please see our Donations page for more information.

We look forward to welcoming you to Birken again very soon.

May you be well, happy and peaceful.