Visiting Mahāvana Forest Monastery

Mahāvana Forest Monastery welcomes people who wish to practice in a forest monastic environment, for a few days or longer. Visitors are expected to follow the daily schedule of the monastery and participate fully in all activities, helping maintain the community and supporting their own practice.

Staying at the Monastery

Visitors may stay for a few days or longer, according to availability.

Longer stays provide a chance to:

• Learn about the monastic routine and experience forest monastic life firsthand.
• Deepen mindfulness and meditation practice.

Eight Precepts

These precepts are based on renunciation, the foundation of monastic life. They help cultivate simplicity, mindfulness, and meditation, allowing visitors to experience life in a forest monastery fully. All visitors are required to take and observe the Eight Precepts during their stay.

• Refrain from killing or harming living beings – cultivate harmlessness and compassion.
• Refrain from taking what is not given – practice honesty and respect for others property.
• Refrain from all sexual activity – abstain to keep the focus on inner awareness.
• Refrain from false speech – speak truthfully with mindfulness.
• Refrain from intoxicants (alcohol and drugs) – keep the mind clear and aware.
• Refrain from eating after midday – one meal a day supports renunciation and simplicity.
• Refrain from entertainment, music, dancing and beautifying the body – avoid distractions and maintain simplicity.
• Avoid using luxurious or high beds and seats – refrain from indulging in too much sleep.

Daily Routine

Visitors join the monks in the traditional rhythm of monastery life:

• Chanting and meditation, followed by the alms round (piṇḍapāta).
• Meal shared by the whole community after the monks return from alms round.
• Simple chores such as cleaning, sweeping paths, caring for the forest, maintenance, etc., done together mindfully.
• After the chores period, some drinks are usually available.
• Chanting and meditation in the evening, occasionally a Dhamma talk.

Participation in all activities is required of all visitors and forms part of the monastery experience.