Teaching Schedule

Spokane’s Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture hosts Sravasti Abbey
Buddhist Monastics in the Inland Northwest

10:30am-12pm: Public talk with Venerable Thubten Chodron
12pm-1:30pm: Lunch
1:30pm-3 pm: Guided meditation workshop by Venerable Thubten Chonyi

While Spokane has a long tradition of Catholic monastics in service to the community, Buddhist monasticism is fairly new to the region. However, since its founding in 2003, Sravasti Abbey Buddhist monastery north of Spokane has quickly woven into the fabric of Inland Northwest culture. The Abbey is the first and only Tibetan Buddhist monastery for Westerners in the U.S.

“Buddhist Monastics in the Inland Northwest” introduces the Sravasti Abbey to Spokane. Founder and abbess Venerable Thubten Chodron will share how Buddhism has come to the West, its value to Western culture, and talk about life at Sravasti Abbey. This event also introduces her new book, The Foundation of Buddhist Practice, co-authored with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

The afternoon session, conducted by Sravasti Abbey’s Venerable Thubten Chonyi, is an introduction to meditation, helping newcomers and old-timers cultivate inner peace.

The day includes an exhibition of images by Gen Heywood Photography to illustrate the rich cultrual experience of Tibetan Buddhist monastic life that has now found a home in the Inland Northwest.

The MAC Cafe will be open for lunch. Join us for a relaxing day of learning!