Buddhist Retreat Centers and Monasteries

California has retreat centers and monasteries representing several Buddhist traditions and approaches to meditation.

Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and inclusion does not constitute an endorsement. Details may change, so please confirm updated information directly with each monastery or center.

Northern California

• Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery — Redwood Valley, CA. A Theravada Buddhist monastery in the Thai Forest tradition where visitors can immerse themselves in monastic practice. https://www.abhayagiri.org/
• Big Springs Garden Retreat Center — Sierra City, CA. A center for contemplative practices in the Northern Sierra that hosts retreats from a variety of traditions and approaches. https://www.bigspringsretreat.org/
• City of Ten Thousand Buddhas/Dharma Realm Buddhist University Extension — Ukiah, CA. A Chinese Mahayana and Chan monastery that offers monastic training for men and women, as well as volunteer stays and retreat programs through Dharma Realm Buddhist University Extension. https://www.cttbusa.org/ or https://extension.drbu.edu/
• Insight Retreat Center — Santa Cruz, CA. Offers regular donation-based silent meditation retreats in the Insight Meditation tradition. https://www.insightretreatcenter.org/
• Redwood Vihara Buddhist Monastery — Boulder Creek, CA. A Chinese Mahayana Chan monastery offering retreats, daylongs, and monastic training for men. https://redwoodvihara.org/
• San Francisco Zen Center/Green Gulch/Tassajara Zen Mountain Center — San Francisco, Marin County, and the Big Sur area. Offers regular retreats and programs in the Japanese Zen tradition. https://www.sfzc.org/practice-centers
• Shasta Abbey Buddhist Monastery — Mt. Shasta, CA. A Buddhist monastery in the Serene Reflection Meditation (Soto Zen) tradition that offers retreats, ceremonies, teaching, and spiritual counseling, as well as the opportunity to train within a monastic schedule. https://shastaabbey.org/
• Spirit Rock Meditation Center — Woodacre, CA. Offers regular silent meditation retreats, classes, and programs primarily rooted in the Insight Meditation tradition. https://www.spiritrock.org/
• Vajrapani Institute — Boulder Creek, CA. With roots in Tibetan Buddhism, the institute offers group retreats, Tibetan Buddhism courses, and private retreats. https://vajrapani.org/Screenshot

Southern California

• Big Bear Retreat Center — Located in the San Bernardino Mountains, this center offers retreats from a variety of traditions and approaches. https://bigbearretreatcenter.org/
• Deer Park Monastery — Escondido, CA. A practice center in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. https://deerparkmonastery.org/
• Dharma Bums Temple — San Diego, CA. A center offering classes, workshops, and retreats that welcomes all approaches to Buddhism. https://www.thedharmabums.org/
• Dharma Drum Mountain Los Angeles Center — Los Angeles, CA. A Chan Buddhist center offering beginner classes, intensive retreats, and programs for children and families. https://www.ddmbala.org/index.php/en/
• Hsi Lai Temple — Los Angeles, CA. Affiliated with Fo Guang Shan in Taiwan, this Chinese Mahayana temple offers classes, retreats,` and family programs. https://hsilai.org/
• Insight LA — A meditation community offering mindfulness and meditation teachings online and in person in the Los Angeles area. https://insightla.org/
• Metta Forest Monastery — San Diego, CA. A meditation monastery in the lineage of the Thai Forest tradition, offering training for male monastics, as well as laypeople of all genders. https://www.watmetta.org/
• Wat Thai of Los Angeles — One of the first Thai Buddhist temples in the United States, it offers Buddhist classes, ceremonies, and Thai language and culture classes for all. https://www.watthailosangeles.com/
• Zen Center of Los Angeles — Los Angeles, CA. A Zen center offering community meditation, retreats, classes for practitioners of all levels, and ongoing study groups. https://zcla.org/

Universities and Buddhist Studies Programs

If you’re hoping to study and learn about Buddhism more systematically, a university program may be a better fit. California options include:

• Dharma Realm Buddhist University (DRBU) — Ukiah, CA. Offers a BA in Liberal Arts, an MA in Buddhist Classics, and a Graduate Certificate inBuddhistTranslation, integrating rigorous study of classical Buddhist texts with meditation practice. https://www.drbu.edu/
• Institute of Buddhist Studies — Berkeley, CA. Offers graduate-level study with specializations in academic Buddhiststudies, Buddhist ministry, and Buddhist chaplaincy. https://www.shin-ibs.edu/ 
• Stanford University — Stanford, CA. Offers Buddhist studies as a subfield of the Department of Religious Studies, with current faculty specializing in Indian, Tibetan, Chinese, and Japanese Buddhism. https://religiousstudies.stanford.edu/graduate/fields-study/buddhist-studies 
• University of the West — Rosemead, CA. A private university informed by Buddhist wisdom and humanistic values that offers undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs. https://www.uwest.edu/ 
• UC Berkeley — Berkeley, CA. Offers academic study of Buddhism through its Buddhist Studies program, with courses in Buddhist traditions, history, texts, and cultures. https://buddhiststudies.berkeley.edu/home 
• UCLA — Los Angeles, CA. The Center for Buddhist Studies trains scholars in the study of Buddhist religion and culture and aspires to cover all the major traditions within this world religion. https://www.international.ucla.edu/buddhist/ 

Finding the Right Fit

Want to try meditation or mindfulness practice? Visit a local center or monastery for an introductory retreat or class.

Want to immerse yourself in Buddhist practices? Consider a residential retreat center or monastery.

Want to study foundational Buddhist philosophy and texts in depth? Look into a university or Buddhist Studies program.

Want to combine academic study with contemplative practice? Explore a program designed to bring the two together, such as the programs at Dharma Realm Buddhist University (DRBU).