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

Weekly Program on Sundays

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

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

12:40 - 01:30 pm Afternoon group meditation

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.

The small shed has many foam mats for your use when sitting and meditating in the forest. Please refer to the monastery map for the location of the small shed.

(The afternoon group meditation will take place in the forest, weather permitting. The location of the outdoor group meditation session will be announced before the mealtime.)

News and Upcoming Events

Due to the recent frequent rainfall, the soil at SFM has become saturated, making the grounds prone to flooding even with moderate rain. As a result, visitors may occasionally need to park on wet or softened ground.

If you choose to park along the edges of the gravel driveway or on the sides of Lewis Street, please ensure your vehicle does not block the flow of traffic, as illustrated in the accompanying diagram.

(updated on September 13, 2025)

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Phra Ajaan O and Ajaan Chichung will attend the annual meeting of the Dhammayut Order in the U.S.A. in Atlanta, Georgia, from June 6 to June 9. The weekly program scheduled for June 8 (Sunday) will be canceled accordingly.

Phra Ajaan O will continue his trips to Dallas and Los Angeles after the meeting, while Ajaan Chichung will return to the monastery on June 9.

Ajaan Chichung returned to the monastery on Friday night, March 6. The Sunday Weekly Program will resume on March 15, and the monastery is once again open for overnight guest visits.

Please note that the schedule for the afternoon of March 15 has been adjusted to accommodate the ceremony for enshrining the restored Buddha image in the forest.

(Updated: March 11, 2026)

You are warmly welcome to join us for a forest enshrinement ceremony as we celebrate the restoration of a Buddha image rescued from the side of Old Englewood Road in January 2026.

After a week of careful preservation by Ajaan Isaac, the abandoned Buddha image has been successfully restored and will be formally enshrined in its new wooden shelter within the forest. During this ceremony, we will dedicate the merit from this restoration to Luangpu Uthai, whose teachings inspire the wholesome deeds behind this work.

Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026

Time: Starting at 12:30 p.m.

Location: The main building of the monastery

Program Details:

Opening: A short account of the restoration story and a reflection on how Luangpu Uthai's teachings guided these wholesome actions.

Enshrinement: We will work together to relocate the Buddha image and its newly constructed shelter, which are currently in the main building, to their new home in the forest.

Meditation & Blessing: The enshrinement will be followed by a half-hour group meditation in the forest, concluding with final blessings and the dedication of merit.