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About Shasta Abbey

Shasta Abbey provides opportunities for Zen Buddhist meditation, spiritual training, and mindfulness practice at introductory and advanced levels in both lay and monastic training. Established in 1970 by late Reverend Master Jiyu-Kennett, Shasta Abbey is a Buddhist monastery in the Serene Reflection Meditation (Soto Zen) tradition and is a temple in the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives.

The heart of the Order is the life and practice of Serene Reflection Meditation, adherence to the Buddhist Precepts, mindfulness in daily life, and studying the Dharma.

The monastic schedule provides a balance of formal meditation, working meditation, and ceremonial, which allows the mind of meditation to be cultivated throughout all aspects of daily life.

Lay trainees at the Abbey follow a schedule that adheres closely to that of the monastic community. In addition, we have a large non-resident lay community, which includes not only local friends, but also trainees from around the world.
The monastery conducts a year-round schedule of retreats, Buddhist ceremonial festivals, and Dharma Talks. See our Guest Information page for more detail on lay retreats and residencies, weekly meditation instruction, Dharma talks, Sunday services, and tours by appointment.

No price can be put on the Dharma, and we do not charge fees. We maintain and strengthen the fabric of the monastery through Dana, the ancient Buddhist tradition of mutual giving and receiving; mutual gratitude, compassion, and generosity of spirit.

The kind donation of food, clothing, medicine and shelter (the four requisites for monks) and the means to provide them to the community, allow us to continue to offer our practice and the Dharma.


The Abbey is located on 16 acres of forested land in the mountains of northern California at an elevation of 4000 feet.

The original stone buildings on the grounds of the Abbey were built as a motor hotel in the 1930's by Italian stone-masons. Additional buildings and cloister have been constructed by the Abbey monks and congregation.

 
 
Home Monastery Meditation Dharma Retreats, Visits Giving Photos Contact

A Serene Reflection (Soto Zen) Meditation monastery, Order of Buddhist Contemplatives temple, Shasta Abbey offers monastic and lay retreats, Zen Buddhist meditation, spiritual training, and mindfulness practice; central principles are Refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, Buddhist Precepts and Bodhisattva vow.