Blue Cliff Monastery

This is a great place with lots of wonderful and lively people. It’s definitely my oasis from the city. I’ve made a lot of wonderful friends here and the folks that come to be here are very open. That’s not to mention the monks and nuns who run the place. They are exceptionally caring and loving. They listen to you! :-)

Sometimes you must get away from the chaos to hear the sound of your soul.
This monastery is in the tradition of the teachings of the famous Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh. I heard Thay speak almost ten years ago when I was in college on «mindful eating,» and his teachings reverberated loudly with my beliefs. Life got busy and only recently have I found my way back to his teachings.
I came here for a young adult Spring retreat and it has been one of the best experiences as of late. Despite having to wake up at 5:30 every morning for sitting meditation, I felt extremely rejuvenated and centered after spending a whole week here. If you spend time here (as in overnight), be prepared to eat vegan meals (which are very yummy and most of the dishes have an Vietnamese/​Asian twist) and to have modest dorm-​style accommodations. We were able to enjoy morning sitting meditations, dharma talks and discouses (Buddha’s teachings), walking meditation, dharma sharing and deep relaxation.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this retreat was «mindful eating.» All meals are eaten in silence and you get to really think about food. Because I wasn’t talking or distracted, I could truly taste my food and concentrate on it. I found myself eating less, but feeling more satisfied. Even though I didn’t exercise as much at the monastery, I managed to shed a few pounds and I attribute it to the «mindful eating.»
You may think this is all hoky poky, but the New York Times recently did an article on «mindful eating,» so there is some clout to what I am saying here.
The monastery is also open on Thursdays and Sundays for «A Day of Mindfulness.» So if the city and life is getting to you, this is a perfect getaway to get in touch with yourself and to feel more calm and relaxed.
I leave you with this beautiful quote by Thay and hope you get to experience Blue Cliff for yourself!
«Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.»