Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery

Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery, also known by its ancient Pali name Sītavana meaning "cool forest grove," is a Canadian Theravada Buddhist monastery located in British Columbia's interior region. It follows the Thai Forest Tradition established by Ajahn Chah and serves as a serene retreat and training center for both monastics and lay practitioners seeking to deepen their understanding and practice of the Buddha's teachings[1][3][5].

History and Location

Founded in the 1990s near Pemberton, British Columbia, Birken has since relocated to a more secluded forest setting approximately 40 kilometers south of Kamloops. The monastery is situated in tranquil forest surroundings conducive to meditation and monastic life and operates entirely off-grid using environmentally friendly technologies, representing a model of green monasticism[3][5].

Spiritual Leadership

The monastery's founder and abbot is Venerable Ajahn Soṇa, a Canadian-born monk whose background includes classical guitar performance and an extensive spiritual journey from lay hermitage to Theravada ordination. Ajahn Soṇa trained under Venerable Gunaratana in the United States and furthered his monastic education in northeast Thailand at Wat Pah Nanachat and other monasteries within Ajahn Chah’s tradition. Returning to Canada in 1994, he has since led Birken through all stages of development and serves as the senior monastic teacher, combining traditional Buddhist wisdom with modern western perspectives in his instruction[2][3][5].

Monastic Tradition and Community Life

Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery strictly adheres to the Thai Forest Tradition's disciplined monastic code, including the prohibition on monks handling money, relying on the generosity or dāna of lay supporters for sustenance and resources. The monastery heavily depends on resident lay stewards who volunteer full-time, living according to the eight Buddhist precepts during their stay, often for periods extending at least three months. These stewards provide vital support and care for the monastic community, which itself maintains strict self-sufficiency in spiritual practice and daily living[2][5].

Activities and Offerings

The monastery offers teachings, accommodations, and meals free of charge to visitors and retreatants, sustained entirely through voluntary donations. It functions both as a spiritual training center for monastics and a retreat facility for laypersons interested in the Buddhist path. Birken’s programming revolves around the practice and study of the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path, emphasizing mindfulness, ethical conduct, and meditative concentration aimed at awakening and liberation[1][5].

Charitable Status

Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery is a registered Canadian charitable organization (Business Registration Number: 892635483RR0001). It receives support exclusively from donations and voluntary generosity of well-wishers and practitioners who value the preservation and propagation of the Thai Forest Tradition in North America[1][3].

This Buddhist monastery exemplifies a harmonious blend of ancient spiritual tradition and contemporary ecological awareness, serving as an important hub for Buddhist monasticism and lay practice in Canada.