Empty Cloud Monastery

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Empty Cloud Monastery
View from the main gate of Empty Cloud in winter
Religion
Affiliation	Buddhism
Leadership	Ayyā Somā & Bhante Suddhāso (Co-Abbots)
Location
Location	Empty Cloud Monastery 29 Ridgeway Ave West Orange, NJ 07052, United States
Country	United States
Website
http://www.emptycloud.org/

Empty Cloud Monastery is a gender-inclusive, non-sectarian Buddhist monastery in West Orange, New Jersey, USA.^[1]

Origins[]

Buddha statue at Empty Cloud

Empty Cloud Monastery was co-founded in 2019 by Buddhist monks Ayyā Somā and Bhante Suddhāso, supported by their non-profit organization Buddhist Insights. The monastics were initially based out of a meditation center in Rockaway Queens, New York City, but after a number of donations, the organization was able to secure the three-acre, century-old property, which was formerly a Catholic monastery.^[2]

Lifestyle[]

Bhante Suddhāso, Ayyā Somā, and another monk heading out for the weekly alms-round in West Orange, NJ on August 15, 2020

Empty Cloud Monastery is a gender-inclusive monastery, therefore all of its residents, monastic and lay, practice alongside each other in a community setting, while residing in separate living quarters.^[2] The core focus of the monastery is to practice traditional Buddhist teachings while making them available free-of-charge to all those interested, and the monastery regularly hosts retreats and residencies open to the public.^[3] Guest monastic teachers are routinely invited to teach, and previous teachers include Bhikkhu Bodhi, Khenmo Drolma, Ajahn Brahm, and other monastics of all genders from various traditions and lineages.^[4]

The daily schedule includes Morning puja begins at 5:30 am and lasts an hour and a half. It includes chanting in both Pali and English, then an hour of silent meditation. This is followed by a short chore period and breakfast. At 8 am, there is sutta study, then a two-hour work period, followed by the day's final meal at 11 am.^[5] All lay residents follow the Eight Precepts The afternoon is then reserved for personal practice. At 5 pm, tea is served, followed by a Dhamma talk and evening puja at 7:30 pm.

Community programs[]

Meditation at Empty Cloud

Various free meditation programs and retreats are offered at the monastery, both on-site at the monastery, and at various locations nearby.

References[]

^ Kiefer, Eric (January 14, 2020). "Dharma In West Orange: Buddhist Retreat Center Moves To Town". West Orange, New Jersey. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Our Story". Buddhist Insights.
^ Joah McGee (December 8, 2020). "Coronavirus Pandemic: Dealing with Disruption". Insight Myanmar (Podcast). Event occurs at 51:20. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
^ "Teachers". Buddhist Insights.
^ "Residency Guidelines". Buddhist Insights.

External links[]

Coordinates: 39°21′39″N 123°14′00″W / 39.36083°N 123.23333°W / 39.36083; -123.23333

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Empty Cloud Monastery

Contents

Origins[]

Lifestyle[]

Community programs[]

See also[]

References[]

External links[]