Ashokan Meditation Center - AMC

05/28/2026

https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/online-dharma-ashokan-meditation-center-in-new-york-to-host-free-daylong-vesak-retreat/

This Saturday, May 30, Ashokan Meditation Center will offer a free online Visākha Pūjā Daylong Retreat: Recollecting the Buddha — Devotion, Practice, and Liberation.

Visākha Pūjā commemorates the Buddha’s birth, Awakening, and final passing beyond all clinging. The day will include chanting, guided sitting and walking meditation, contemplation, and readings from the early Buddhist discourses.

Buddhistdoor Global has published a short article about the retreat here:

https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/online-dharma-ashokan-meditation-center-in-new-york-to-host-free-daylong-vesak-retreat/

Participants are welcome to attend the full day or whichever session fits their schedule.

Retreat details and Zoom information:
https://www.ashokanmeditationcenter.org/spring-meditation-series/daylong-retreat-for-visakha-puja

The Ashokan Meditation Center in New York has announced a free Visakha Puja Daylong Retreat to be held online on 30 May.

04/16/2026

Many thanks to Buddhistdoor Global for featuring our spring series. More details about the series and Zoom details to join can be found here: https://www.ashokanmeditationcenter.org/spring-meditation-series

Ashokan Meditation Center (AMC) in New York State’s Hudson Valley has announced the launch of a free live-streamed meditation program for spring.

02/24/2026

Many of us can sit still on the cushion — but what about in email, meetings, caregiving, or study?

This Thursday, in our Roots and Branches program, we’ll explore simple, grounded ways to bring mindfulness into the flow of work and daily routines — not as a performance, but as a way to live with more clarity, steadiness, and ease.

🗓 Thursday, Feb. 26
🕖 7:00–8:00 p.m. ET
🧘‍♂️ Online via Zoom · Free

We begin with a guided meditation, then a teaching, followed by time for questions.

Led by Ajahn Wade Bhuripanyo, an American-born Buddhist monk ordained in the Thai forest tradition (lineage of Ajahn Chah and Ajahn Anan).

Details & Zoom link: ashokanmeditationcenter.org/online-teachings

If this theme speaks to you, you’re warmly invited to join live and practice together.

02/19/2026

Ethical speech is one of the quickest ways to change how the heart feels.

This Thursday we’ll explore how simple commitments around honesty, kindness, and restraint—online and in daily life—train mindfulness, reduce inner conflict, and support a steadier, clearer mind.

For newcomers to meditation and those seeking new angles on their practice.

Roots & Branches: Foundations & Life Practice
Topic: Ethics, Speech & Emotional Clarity
Thursday, Feb. 19 • 7:00–8:00 p.m. Eastern
Free online via Zoom • All welcome

Led by Ajahn Wade Bhuripanyo, an American-born Theravāda monk in the Thai forest tradition (lineage of Ajahn Chah and Ajahn Anan).

Details and Zoom link: https://www.ashokanmeditationcenter.org/online-teachings
Click the "Register once for all winter programs" button near the top of the page.

If you’ve been feeling worn down by news, work, or online arguments, this evening is especially for you.

01/19/2026

https://www.buddhistdoor.net/news/online-dharma-ashokan-meditation-center-in-new-york-launches-free-live-streamed-practice-series/

The Ashokan Meditation Center in New York’s Hudson Valley has announced a series of online teachings titled “A Steady Heart: Calm, Insight & Loving Kindness in Difficult Times.”

12/25/2025

Dear friends,

As I continue offering online teachings, I’m taking care to plan them in ways that are both relevant and realistically accessible for those who wish to attend. To support that process, I’m inviting you to complete a short survey.

Your responses will help me understand which themes are most useful for your practice, and which times of day are most workable across different time zones. Please understand this as a planning aid rather than a promise of specific programs.

I've tried to keep the survey very brief and practical.

If you’d like to take part, you can find the survey here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe3ydvCIYIEhxtsCheWHpBDpqghCyCoxmQWJ6Gj10IRH0_WtA/viewform?usp=header

May our shared efforts support clarity, steadiness, and kindness in practice.

With best wishes,
Ajahn Wade
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Ajahn Wade Bhuripanyo, Director of Teaching
Ashokan Meditation Center

12/05/2025

11/20/2025

Celebrating Our First Vassa of Free Online Classes

As we have completed the first vassa of freely offered online meditation programs, our hearts turn naturally toward gratitude. The Ashokan Meditation Center exists because many people—-near and far—-believe that meditation should be shared as an act of generosity. This year has reminded us how powerful that vision can be when a community comes together with sincerity and goodwill.

Among those who have supported this vision most profoundly are Dr. Somsak and Ms. Preawphan Bhitiyakul, whose extraordinary gift made Ashokan Meditation Center possible. In May of this year, they offered their six-acre property in Olivebridge along with its buildings to the Center for one dollar, fulfilling a wish to create a sanctuary where people could learn meditation and the Buddha’s teachings for generations to come.

Their lives reflect a deep commitment to healing, service, and faith. From Dr. Bhitiyakul’s decades of medical leadership—-bringing life-saving dialysis care to Ulster County, New York—-to Ms. Bhitiyakul’s lifetime of community work and devotion, both have spent their lives helping others. Their generosity continues today along with their Buddhist practice as they support the Center’s programs, care for the grounds, and perform worship rites.

As we look back on this first vassa, we do so with appreciation for everyone who has given their time, energy, and resources to support our shared mission. But today we wish to highlight the Bhitiyakuls in particular. Their kindness is a reminder of something simple yet profound: when we recognize the goodness others have done for us, the heart naturally softens, brightens, and becomes more peaceful.

May this season of gratitude deepen our sense of connection with one another and strengthen our commitment to living with kindness, clarity, and compassion.

✨ May everyone be safe and well, and may our practice be of benefit to all beings.

10/06/2025

✨Free pamphlet of stretches for sitting meditation✨

🌈Hello Everyone,

Sitting in meditation can be such a wonderfully blissful experience.

And it can also be remarkably painful! 😬

When we feel pain, we can try to be mindful of it and grow wiser in the process. But we can also prepare ourselves by limbering up, strengthening the body, and sitting intelligently.

🧘‍♂️An illustrated pamphlet called "The Art of Sitting" by Ajahn Kalyano can help us with the latter. Drawing on his experience as a physiotherapist in lay life, the Ajahn offers practical guidance on sitting posture. He also includes simple exercises and stretches to help the body feel comfortable.

🔗Here’s the link to it on the Amaravati web site: https://media.amaravati.org/en/dhamma-books/the-art-of-sitting

🌿Best wishes everyone,
Ajahn Wade
____________________________________
Ajahn Wade, Director of Teaching
Ashokan Meditation Center

10/02/2025

🌿Free 22-Minute Guided Meditation on the Breath with Breathwork

I’ve recorded a 22-minute guided meditation that includes the physiological sigh, mindfulness of breathing, and other techniques that help us develop calm and clarity. You can stream or download it here:

🔗 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vOQsf5t3Dx0Eu1-pVzww6ybHQd7nf81R/view?usp=drive_link

And to experience the support of meditating in community and the benefit of extending your practice, I hope you also will join us this weekend for one or more of the meditation and Dhamma sessions.

🌿May your breath bring you ease, and your heart open to peace.

Warm regards,
Ajahn Wade
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Ajahn Wade Bhuripanyo, Director of Teaching
Ashokan Meditation Center

NOTE: This meditation was sent to the Ashokan Meditation Center e-mail list on October 1, 2025.

Photo by Mike Gabriel