Empty Cloud Monastery, Buddhist monastery in West Orange, United States.
Empty Cloud Monastery is a Buddhist center sitting on about three acres with meditation halls, residential spaces, and gardens for spiritual practice. The grounds contain buildings and outdoor areas designed for individual and group meditation as well as study.
The property started as a Catholic monastery and became a Buddhist center in 2019 when monks established the Buddhist Insights organization on the grounds. This transformation marked a shift in how the location would serve spiritual practitioners.
The monastery gathers Buddhist teachers from multiple traditions, creating a meeting place where different meditation practices and teachings coexist under one roof. Visitors experience a community that draws wisdom from diverse spiritual lineages.
The center welcomes visitors to participate in daily activities, with early mornings reserved for meditation and shared mealtimes for community moments. It helps to check ahead about which times work for visitors and what areas are accessible to guests.
The monastery stands out for welcoming people across genders, with male and female monastics and lay practitioners sharing spaces while keeping residential areas separate. This approach reflects a contemporary way of organizing monastic life.
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