Throughout the year our doors are open to receive guests.  We invite you to join us for Days of Mindfulness, a general stay or special retreats.

Days of Mindfulness: Twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays, we hold Days of Mindfulness. 

Example schedule for Days of Mindfulness:

05:00 am    Wake-up
05:30    Sitting Meditation and Chanting
07:00    Breakfast
08:30    Walking Meditation
10:00    Dharma Talk
11:30    Precepts Recitation (1st Sunday: The Five Mindfulness Trainings - 3rd Sunday: The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings) / Dharma Sharing (2nd and 4th Sundays)
1:00 pm    Silent / Formal Lunch
3:00pm  The day ends

Dharma talk will be given by one of our resident Dharma teachers or a recorded teaching on CD/DVD by Thầy. On the 1st Sunday of each month, we recite the 2 Promises and the 5 Mindfulness Trainings. On the 3rd Sunday of each month, we recite the 14 Mindfulness Trainings. We welcome day visitors. You are encouraged to join us for the whole day, if possible. There is no cost for the day participation, but dana or donation is greatly appreciated. Please notify us either by e-mail or phone when you plan to come. Every Monday is a Lazy Day, with no scheduled activities and on every Tuesday is No-Car Day, the practice to support reversing the process of global warming.

General Stay: Outside of special retreats, you can come and practice with us, following our daily schedule. Please be aware that Friday is our only arrival/departure day each week. Please arrive before 5:30pm, if possible. There will be an Orientation on Mindfulness Practice to newly arrived guests each Saturday morning, which is essential for you to attend in order to really benefit from and enjoy your stay.
For a deepening of the practice to occur and for mindful living to take root and become a vital part of your daily life, we recommend a minimum stay of one week. If you cannot stay for one week, you can participate in our weekend program, which starts on Friday evening and ends on Sunday afternoon.

If you wish to stay longer than two weeks, you will be asked to write a letter to the community to share what practices have helped you so far, and why you wish to extend your stay. The community will make the final decision only after your first two weeks at Magnolia Grove Monastery, based on your capacity to live in harmony with the Community, and your commitment to the practice. Extensions are usually for two weeks to one month at a time. Everyone is welcome to practice with us if they enjoy the practice and are motivated to continue their practice with us.


To register for a general stay, please click on Steps to Register or on the left navigation.

Please visit Events for more information about the special retreats.