Sarasota Forest Monastery | Buddhist Monastery in Englewood, Florida | Sarasota Forest Monastery, a Buddhist Monastery in the Thai Forest Tradition

Weekly Progam on Sundays

10:00 - 10:50 am Morning chanting / meditation

11:00 - 11:20 am Meal offering to the monks

12:30 - 01:20 pm Afternoon group meditation

(This schedule is effective from January 12, 2025, and the afternoon group meditation will take place in the forest, weather permitting.)

Following the meal offering to the monks, you can join a potluck on the patio or around the kitchen before participating in the afternoon group meditation session.

Visitors may attend any portion of our weekly program that interests them and fits into their schedule. Beginners are warmly welcome. No prior meditation experience is required to join the program.

A Morning Meetup on Tuesdays

10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Morning chanting / meditation

News and Upcoming Events

Due to the abundant rains this year, the soil at SFM is saturated, making it prone to flooding even with moderate rain. Visitors may need to park on soaked grounds at times. If you opt to park at the edges of the gravel driveway, please ensure that your car does not block traffic flow, as illustrated in the figure.

(updated on September 30).

Ajaan Chichung will attend the annual meeting of the Dhammayut Order in the U.S.A. in Dallas, Texas, from May 8 to May 13. The weekly program scheduled for May 12 (Sunday) and the meetup scheduled for May 13 (Monday) will be canceled accordingly.

The resident monks' retreat will end on December 31, 2024, and the Weekly Sunday Program will resume starting January 2025. The schedule for the first Sunday in 2025, January 5, is as follows:

10:00 -10:50 a.m. Morning chanting and meditation.

10:50 - 11:00 a.m. The monk has his alms-round outside the main building

11:00 -11:20 a.m. Meal offering to the monk inside the main building.

12:30 - 01:10 p.m. Sitting meditation (in the forest, weather permitting)

Sunday, January 12, 2025 only:

Before the afternoon group meditation session, additional instructions will be given (from 12:20 to 12:30 p.m.) to people who are new to sitting meditation in the forest.

Whether meditators would benefit from sitting in the forest depends on their mental and physical preparations, which will be explained in the instructions.