Winter Retreat

The monastery entered the annual three-month winter retreat on January 3, 2026. Our Abbot, Ajahn Nyaniko, will be in Thailand until early March and on solitary retreat for most of March with the exception of Magha Puja on March 3. We are pleased to welcome back Luang Por Pasanno from his year-long stay at Amaravati Monastery in England as well as Ajahn Karunadhammo from England. Both Ajahns will be at Abhayagiri for the duration of the winter retreat. During the three months of our winter retreat, the resident community takes time to engage in more formal meditation practice following a changing schedule of group and individual practice. We will resume the normal routines the first week of April.

During the winter retreat there will be no overnight guests. To schedule overnight visits please contact us on or after April 1st. Day visitors are still welcome to visit the monastery to participate in the meal offering or bring offerings of requisites at the meal time or attend the evening Dhamma talks on Saturday night. There will not be a Dhamma talk on the lunar observance days. Please note that the community is practicing noble silence. Thus, conversations with the monastics and retreat crew are very limited.

On Saturday evenings the meditation and Dhamma talks will begin at 7pm. You may view a livestream of the Saturday night programs via the Abhayagiri YouTube channel. The general public is welcome to attend the Saturday evening meditation and Dhamma talk. New Dhamma talks and readings will be posted regularly throughout the retreat.

Abhayagiri Monastery 2026 Calendar

The 2026 30th Anniversary of Abhayagiri Monastery calendar is available online as a pdf. The calendar includes many photos from the history of Abhayagiri and may be of interest for anyone who has been around since the beginning, or those who are interested in the development of the monastery over the last 30 years. We hope you enjoy!

Abhayagiri 2025 Photobook

The 2025 Abhayagiri photobook is now available to view in the monastery’s online gallery. This collection offers glimpses into the community’s regular rhythms—from alms rounds and construction projects to ordinations and the Kathina ceremony. Highlights include visits from elders such as Luang Por Liem, Luang Por Jundee, Luang Por Khoon, and Luang Por Damrong, as well as other unique events like D…

Memorial for Thanit Klangprapan

Saturday, Nov 1, 2025 10:30 am We lost our friend and longtime supporter, Thanit Klangprapan, on Sunday, Oct 12. On Saturday, Nov 1, we will celebrate Nit’s life and passing with her family. Please feel free to join us for this occasion. We will start with the traditional meal offering for the monastic community, followed by a ceremony honoring Nit’s life.

Abhayagiri Kathina 2025

You are welcome to join the Abhayagiri sangha for this year’s Kathina ceremony on Sunday, October 12. Everyone is warmly welcome. The schedule for the day is: 9:30am - Arrive at the Monastery 10:30am - Meal Offering 1:00pm - Kathina Ceremony and Dhamma Talk Each year since the time of the Buddha, at the end of the three‑month Rains Retreat, the lay community around Buddhist monasteries have gather…

Updated Version of Ajahn Pasanno Archive Now Available

The Ajahn Pasanno Archive collects and organizes over 150 hours of recorded Q&A sessions and topic-themed events. It splits the recordings into individual questions, stories, quotes, and teachings. Only the questions and summaries of teachings asked are transcribed into text; Ajahn Pasanno’s answers and detailed teachings are readily accessible in audio form. Subject tags are applied to each audio…

Luang Por Khoon and Luang Por Damrong to Visit Abhayagiri

Dear Dhamma Friends, We are honored that two senior disciples of Luang Por Chah - Luang Por Khoon and Luang Por Damrong, will be visiting Abhayagiri from June 21-30. This will be their first trip to America, and we will have the opportunity to meet them and benefit from their teachings. They plan to spend a couple nights at Pacific Hermitage (June 30, July 1) after which they will head up to the S…

First Tuesday Programs in Berkeley Resume on May 6, both online and in-person

On May 6, the Abhayagiri’s First Tuesday programs in Berkeley will feature three sessions, including an online-only Q&A with Ajahn Nyaniko. The online-only Q&A will be available to all but primarily intended for those living out of the area or unable to travel to Berkeley. It will be followed by in-person sessions led by Ajahn Kaccana. The programs in Berkeley will not be available for online part…

Luang Por Liem to Visit Abhayagiri

Dear Dhamma Friends, This year we are honored to plan to host Luang Por Liem, Luang Por Jundee and other senior monks from Thailand on May 17-21. Luang Por Liem is 83 years old and has been a bhikkhu for 63 years. He is currently the abbot of Wat Nong Pah Pong in Thailand and is considered to be Luang Por Chah’s Dhamma heir. The last time Luang Por Liem visited was 2018, during the grand opening o…

Songkran, Thai New Year, at Abhayagiri on Sunday, April 13

On Sunday, April 13, the Abhayagiri community will be celebrating the traditional Thai New Year known as Songkran. Schedule: 10:30 am - Gather for alms round in the monastery. 10:40 am - Bhikkhus receive food on the buffet tables. 10:45 am - Monastic community files out and ceremonially washes the Green Buddha, then receives pindapata alms food. Monastic community gives blessing outside. 11:00 am…