Profile
Sravasti Abbey is among the first of its kind—an American Buddhist monastic community where nuns, monks, and lay students learn, practice, and live the Buddha’s teachings. The Abbey aims to create peace in a chaotic world. While monastic training is the focus, lay guests are also welcome to experience community life, offer service, and experience the kindness of others.
Where and Who we are
Sravasti Abbey sits amid nearly 320 acres of forest and meadows in rural eastern Washington State, about an hour north of Spokane. Wildlife abounds. The grounds are beautiful, accommodations are simple and comfortable, and the community is friendly, all of which contribute to excellent conditions for Dharma practice teachers.
Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron is Sravasti Abbey's founder and abbess. A Buddhist nun for over 40 years, she has studied extensively with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tsenzhap Serkong Rinpoche, and Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche among others. Ven. Chodron teaches worldwide and is known for her practical (and humorous!) explanations of how to apply Buddhist teachings in daily life. She has also published 30 books on Buddhist philosophy and meditation.
Programs, Events, and Resources
Sravasti Abbey offers meditation retreats and courses with Ven. Chodron, exceptional guest teachers, and Abbey residents throughout the year. Recent guest teachers include Geshe Yeshe Thabkhe, Geshe Dadul Namgyal, Ven. Sangye Khadro, and Dr. Jan Willis. Annual events include Young Adults Explore Buddhism (aged 18 to 29) in June, Exploring Monastic Life in August, a week-long deity retreat, and a month-long silent winter retreat.
One Sunday a month the Abbey also offers a monthly Sharing the Dharma Day, a daylong program of guided meditation, Dharma talk, vegetarian potluck, and facilitated discussion. In addition, Abbey monastics teach the Dharma locally, and Ven. Chodron and other nuns teach internationally.
All programs are offered freely at Sravasti Abbey, including an extensive library of video teachings on the Abbey YouTube Channel. Two courses are Livestreamed weekly—a Course in Buddhist Reasoning and Debate on Thursdays and a Lamrim series of teaching on Fridays.
The Sravasti Abbey Friends Education (SAFE) online distance-learning program offers facilitated Dharma study as well. There's also an online library of Ven. Chodron's teachings at ThubtenChodron.org.
Sravasti Abbey is both traditional and innovative in rooting Buddha’s teachings firmly in the West. The Abbey embraces gender equality. Social service is a key element of community life, and the Abbey is involved in prison outreach, interfaith dialogue, and support for homeless teens. Prayers and practices are mostly done in English.
When Visiting
Guests are welcomed into the community and immediately become a part of the monastery activities. All guests follow the monastic schedule and offer service to the community each day. This is the framework within which residents and guests practice to create peace in a chaotic world.
