Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery

What is Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery?

Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery, also known by its Pali name Sītavana, meaning "Cool Forest," is a Theravada Buddhist monastery situated near Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. It is a part of the highly respected Thai Forest Tradition and serves a dual purpose: as a dedicated training center for Buddhist monastics and as a retreat facility for lay practitioners seeking spiritual development. The monastery's spiritual head and founder is Venerable Ajahn Soṇa.

History and Development

The establishment of Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery occurred in three distinct phases, reflecting its growth and evolution. It began in 1994 when Bhikkhu Soṇa and Bhikkhu Piyadhammo founded the first iteration of the monastery in a modest two-room shack in the mountains near Pemberton, British Columbia, along the Birkenhead River. This marked a significant milestone as the first monastery of the Thai Forest Tradition to be established in Canada. The second phase saw the monastery relocate to a new site northeast of Princeton, BC, where facilities were enhanced to include running water, electricity, and essential amenities, though it remained austere. The third and current phase commenced in 2001 when the monastery moved to its present property south of Kamloops. Here, the resident community completed the main building and has since continued to expand and improve the infrastructure, including adding cabins and enhancing road access. In 2007, "Sītavana" was officially adopted as an alternate Pali name for the monastery.

Abbot and Culture

The founder and abbot of Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery is Venerable Ajahn Soṇa. Born in Canada in 1954, Ajahn Soṇa's early life was dedicated to classical guitar performance before embarking on a spiritual journey that led him to become a lay hermit. He was ordained as a Theravada monk in 1989 and underwent further intensive training in Thailand under the guidance of monasteries following Ajahn Chah, particularly Wat Pah Nanachat. Upon his return to Canada in 1994, he was instrumental in founding the original Birken Forest Monastery and has guided its development through each stage.

The monks at Birken adhere to the strict discipline of the Thai Forest Tradition, which includes the prohibition of handling money. Consequently, they depend on the generosity of the community for their sustenance and other necessities. The monastery also relies heavily on resident lay stewards who volunteer their services and live on-site, observing the eight precepts of Buddhism during their tenure. These stewards play a crucial role in supporting the monks, who are not permitted to ask for assistance directly.

Location and Facilities

The current monastery occupies an 80-acre property, enveloped by forest, at an elevation of 4,000 feet. Located approximately 40 km south of Kamloops, the site is a natural habitat for various wildlife. The main guesthouse building encompasses nearly 10,000 square feet of living space, featuring a prominent meditation hall with expansive views of the surrounding forest and bird sanctuary. This facility also includes a walking meditation hall, a library, an eating area, a large kitchen, guest rooms, and shared bathrooms. Monastics reside in individual, small cabins known as kutis, some of which may be made available for guest use. These kutis are equipped with propane heaters but do not have electricity, running water, or toilet facilities, requiring a short walk to the main building.

Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery operates entirely off-the-grid. Power is supplied by 16 solar panels, with a backup diesel generator used during extended periods of cloudy weather, particularly in winter. Internet access is provided via a satellite connection, which also supports the monastery's VoIP phone service, and water is sourced from a well.

Services and Retreats

All services provided at Birken Forest Buddhist Monastery are offered freely, supported entirely by voluntary donations. The monastery hosts numerous scheduled retreats annually, catering to various experience levels, from "Absolute Beginner" weekend retreats to longer, silent retreats of 5 to 10 days for more advanced practitioners. For most of the year, the monastery welcomes guests for stays ranging from overnight to several days, and day-visits are also permitted, with the exception of scheduled retreat periods. Daily opportunities are available for guests to engage in individual conversations with the abbot or one of the resident monks. A significant annual event is the three-month Winter Retreat, typically from January through March, during which the resident community focuses on silent practice, and guest reservations are limited.

Online Dhamma Teachings

In recent years, Ajahn Soṇa has expanded his outreach by offering extensive online Dhamma teachings through his YouTube channel, as he no longer travels for teaching engagements.