Sacred Communities

Mendocino County is extraordinarily blessed to have a number of monastic and spiritual communities. For those who may be seeking opportunities to meditate and learn more about various spiritual traditions; a visit of a day, a week, a month or a lifetime will be richly rewarded. Below are a few centers that ordinarily have public programs, please visit their websites for more information on virtual offerings during COVID-19.

Abhayagiri Monastery
Located in Redwood Valley, about 15 miles north of Ukiah, Abhayagiri Monastery is a Theraveda Buddhist Monastery in the Thai Forest tradition. The monastery provides an environment in which individuals, families, guests and residents are given the opportunity to be in contact with the principles of the Buddha’s teachings and to cultivate those same qualities in their own lives. They welcome visitors to their beautiful rural settings to participate, contemplate or just quietly walk. For more information go to www.abhayagiri.org

City of 10,000 Buddhas
Just a few miles from Ukiah, the City of 10,000 Buddhas is one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in the western hemisphere. Founded by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua, the community of ordained monks and nuns follows the traditions of Chinese Mahayana Buddhism. In addition to the monastic community, the campus also houses Dharma Realm Buddhist University, an elementary and secondary school and a vegetarian restaurant. For a more information go to: www.cttbusa.org

Spirit House Center For Attitudinal Healing
Based in Fort Bragg, Spirit House Center For Attitudinal Healing” is non-profit, nonsecular organization dedicated to providing support within our community to re-member our true identities as Sacred beings connected with the Sacredness of Life. www.spirithousehealing.org

Mount Tabor Monastery
Also located in Redwood Valley, north of Ukiah, Mount Tabor is an Eastern Rite Catholic Men’s Monastery of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. They welcome guests to participate in their services, especially the Divine Liturgy on Sundays. They also welcome guests to stay to their retreat house and experience the beauty of liturgical life in the natural surroundings of the monastery. www.monksofmttabor.com

Gomde California – Center for the Study and Practice of Tibetan Buddhism
This remote retreat center in the mountains of Northern California offers new students and long-time practitioners both online and onsite opportunities to deepen their understanding of the Buddha’s teachings through study, contemplation, and meditation.
https://gomdeca.org/