Great group of people and great instruction. For those interested in learning more from a…read morequalified teacher look no further.

The center is an authentic place in the Tibetan Buddhist lineage. The classes were really helpful…read moreand it has a very peaceful and sincere environment in the middle of the city. The teacher is very genuine and was available to answer all my questions. A great place if you want to learn meditation in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. I definitely recommend going to a class here!

You are home here. Meditate, center, enjoy the beauty of the monastery and the grounds.read more

Very beautiful and serene palace perfect for quiet walk. Even for a non Buddhist like myself one…read morecan find something to appreciate in this place. We came on a rainy overcast day & not even that can take the beauty from this place. There are religious sculpture lining the entrance, a big buddha on the main hall, free books on buddhism, & vegetarian lunch on the weekends you can have for a minimal price. Love, love this place. Will come back on the fall to bring the rest of my family.

Sometimes you must get away from the chaos to hear the sound of your soul…read more 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."

I'm a NYC resident and BCM has become my home away from home where I go to unplug and visit myself…read more Words can't describe the experience of living even for a short time among people (the sisters and brothers) who are 100% committed to their belief in the practices of mindfulness, meditation and veganism and living it 365 days a year. "Healing," "transformational" come to mind. It's an oasis of sanity where the monastic residents (and many of the visitors) "walk the talk."

Admission at the Peace Pagoda is free and I believe it is open until dusk…read more After parking, there is a decent little hike to get to the grounds. The path is not paved and is not stroller friendly so keep that in mind if you have young kids or mobility concerns. For handicapped individuals, you can carefully drive all the way up to the temple. There is no official parking there but there is room to park. Once you arrive, you'll find a Buddhist peace pagoda, a temple, a pond, a zen garden, and other peaceful areas to explore. The pagoda was built in 1985 and expanded over the years. You can spend 20 minutes here or hours depending on your state of mind. I've been coming here for over 20 years and it's still one of my favorite places to slow down. The koi pond with the lily pads and frogs is always a highlight. I brought my 6 year old son and he was in awe of the temple, the monk drumming, and the quiet nature of the area. He kept talking about it afterward and said it was one of his favorite places he has been to in a while. The pond area almost has a maze like quality to it and the trees behind the grounds feel like a forest waiting to be explored so he especially loved exploring the grounds. Visitors can go inside the temple but keep in mind there are prayer times and other events happening. This is an active spiritual place so people should be quiet and respectful while visiting. There is no food available and I am not sure about public bathrooms. Expect little to no cell service, not just here but in Leverett in general.

A lovely pastoral setting to reflect, and meditate, the Peace Pagoda has lovely rock garden, and…read morethe temple is beautiful. The atmosphere around the compound, shrines, and ponds is one of complete serenity. Prayer ceremonies take place in the early morning, and the evening. It was great learning that there was this lovely Buddhist temple located in the area that we were traveling. Your GPS is your friend to find this wonderful serine location, it is difficult to find without...

The Hai An Pagoda is my favorite place to be! The meditation hall is spacious and beautiful,…read moredecorated with Oriental carpets, paper lanterns, beautiful statues, and flowers. More importantly, the people are wonderful! A service is held in English every Thursday evening, from 6:30-8:30, and I never miss it! They host an evening of chanting, sitting meditation, walking meditation, a tea ceremony, and a dharma discussion. The Buddhist precepts are reviewed on a monthly basis, and the sangha meets for dinner at the temple before services, on that evening. In addition to the Thursday evening English services, the Hai An Pagoda also holds Sunday services in Vietnamese at 10:30 am. While this is a Vietnamese Zen/Pure Land temple, I would encourage anyone with an interest in any school of Buddhism, and/or in meditation to check it out. It's a wonderful place to practice, and you will be in very good company! :)

The monastery was founded by Venerable Lama Norhla under the direction of Kalu Rinpoche and the…read moreKarmapa. I was one of his first students and an early trustee, when the building you see now was just a two space garage waiting to be developed. The buildings were developed mostly by Lama Norhla, his students and practitioners. This monastery was the first in the US, back in 1980 or so, to carry through the authentic three year retreat of Tibetan Buddhism by which a person can become a Lama. A number of Lamas now well known went through the first three year retreat here. You will find the authentic holders of Tibetan Buddhism here. You can not find a more complete monastery, anywhere. This is well worth all efforts to visit and to do a retreat. You will discover the roots of what is now called mindfulness, began here in this tradition. And there is as well so much more...... Mindfulness and Compassion.

Welcoming, Peaceful, a respite from the clanging of the world... love the little shrine room down…read moreby the river especially...

Classes, discussions, and retreats on Buddhism and meditation as a path of mindfulness and…read moreenlightenment. Website has upcoming events and schedules.

Ample parking, well-kept and well-marked trails with lovely views. The walking trails are open to…read morethe public, although some are restricted to residents only.

This is such a beautiful tranquil place to be. I had a wonderful experience at the four days…read moreretreat led by my teacher Andrew Tanner. I met all the ministers and ppl who devoted their lives there as to serve others, learn and study Korean Taoism and WON Buddhism. I love everyone I have encountered and not to mentioned their yummy nutritious meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner). I love the mindful eating virtue every morning. It was silent breakfast. We greeted each other with a nod, a bow and a smile. The minsters and staffs are welcoming and friendly! Everything is mindfulness practice. From closing the door gently to peeling the egg. I observed and I learned from them. I have always loved the Korean or Asian culture and foods! After the retreat l, I got inspired to recreate the vegetarian dishes at home. I kept reminding myself to get in touch with nature more and the simplicity of life. I would love to study more of the Buddhism, meditation and more with the ministers and my teacher! Definitely it's a see you later, until next retreat! An nyeonghi gyseyo!!! Daehanhee gamsahamnida! (Thank you very much) peace peace peace

Great place to meditate and meet others who are interested in a contemplative lifestyle. Beautiful…read morespace right near Haymarket and across from Thorne's

This center has been around the Northampton/Amherst area since about 1977, I hear. If I had known…read morehow much they offer, I'd have explored it much earlierthan I did. Although I've just been exploring for a short time now, this is my take: Warm, empowering, and deeply penetrating approach to meditation, and its affect on society, one's individual life, and the arts. Free (!?!) meditation instruction is available, both beginning and ongoing, if requested. I attended an open house, which seems to be a monthly thing. I meet with a meditation instructor that I clicked with, about once a month, to talk about my practice experience. Their web site shows the diversity and accessibility of their program offerings. Well worth the effort to check it out.

This Buddhist center is a wonderful place of learning, meditation and community. Unlike stated in…read morean earlier review it is not Zen. The center is Tendai, a Japanese Buddhist school that Zen developed from. Everybody is made welcome at the center. The sangha (community) has been a source of comfort and support to me in times of loss.​​

This is a really beautiful Zen center, with a very lovely evening meditation service (usually…read moreWednesday evenings) followed by a potluck dinner. They have special events, too. It is very low-key and welcoming, and the meditations are held in a beautiful converted old barn. Very nice atmosphere and beautiful Japanese-style ritual.