A Joy Journal

A hospice worker, Lynn McDougal attended the course/retreat, “Preparing for Death, Caring for the Dying,” at the Abbey in May, 2010. She sent us this message a week or so after the retreat. I have to thank you once more for such stellar teachings about, and...
From Grumpiness to Goodness

From Grumpiness to Goodness

Wendy Garner discovers the joy in making offerings On the last day of a week-long retreat at Sravasti Abbey, I commented to a friend that I’d enjoyed every aspect of the retreat. However, it didn’t start out that way… On the first day of the retreat,...
Thoughts on a One-Week Retreat

Thoughts on a One-Week Retreat

After attending teachings, visiting the Abbey for short retreats, and practicing for a couple of years, John Meienhofer from Boise did his first week-long retreat with Venerable Chodron at Cloud Mountain Retreat Center. He offers these reflections. by John Meienhofer...
Medicine that Heals

Medicine that Heals

Mary Grace Lentz is a long-time student of Venerable Chodron and a good friend of Sravasti Abbey. She left this note after a recent visit: Finding words to express my gratitude is challenging. If I could show you the change in my heart and mind, even though brief, you...
A Weekend Retreat

A Weekend Retreat

Frederick Browne finds one good way to deepen practice: Last week, I was looking forward to having Venerable Tarpa arrive at Dharma Friendship Foundation for a weekend retreat. I was also a bit nervous because I have yet to master the art of sitting still when I...
240 Acres of Heart

240 Acres of Heart

Inspiring the spread of kindness By Joanne Dahla “…240 acres of heart…” This is something I said during our breakfast session on the last day of my first visit to Sravasti Abbey. I was attempting to describe what I had experienced here. The...
Touched by the Sacredness of Sravasti Abbey

Touched by the Sacredness of Sravasti Abbey

A friend of mine suggested I write about my trip to Western Tibet, and I found on the back of this scrap paper I happened to have with me something I wrote several years ago: “Overcome by the glory of a sacred place, Mt. Kailas, holiest of mountains and...

My Visit to Sravasti Abbey

Sravasti Abbey through the eyes of eleven-year-old Kristen Garner: My visit to the Abbey. Hmmm. Well, let’s just say that I loved it. There is just a feeling that I get when I come here that makes me want to hug everyone in sight. Some of the nicest people I...