Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery, Buddhist monastery in British Columbia, Canada
Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery is situated on 80 acres of forest land at about 4,000 feet elevation and contains a guesthouse, meditation hall, library, and individual cabins for monks. The facility operates using solar power and well water, and offers meditation retreats throughout the year to guests and practitioners.
The monastery was founded in 1994 by Bhikkhu Sona and Bhikkhu Piyadhammo, starting as a small two-room structure near Pemberton. The community later moved to its present location near Kamloops, where it gradually expanded its facilities.
The monastery follows the Thai Forest Tradition, where resident monks live under strict disciplines and rely on the surrounding community for daily meals without handling money themselves.
Visitors should know that the monastery is located in a remote forest setting and is best reached by car. It is advisable to plan in advance and inquire about conditions for meditation retreats, as the facility is situated away from urban areas.
In 2003, the monastery hosted the first ordination ceremony for Canadian-born Buddhist monks, which marked an important milestone for Buddhism in North America. This event showed how deep Buddhist traditions could take root in Western countries.
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