Monastic Academy

05/02/2025

It was a joy to have you here, Venerable SooSeong. Thank you for taking the time to practice with us and offer your clarity to the community. We look forward to our next time together.

10/06/2024

Seeking teachings on Buddhism, spirituality, and the path to enlightenment? Wondering what this might have to do with complex issues of artificial intelligence and civilizational renewal?

Check out our YouTube channel where we've begun posting pithy videos from our lecture series, Buddhism for AI, as well as dialogues featuring Head Teacher Soryu Forall.

Soryu was recently hosted by Daniel Kazandjian's Metagame Podcast. The dialogue looks at why more intelligence won't solve our problems, the religions running our world and the dire need for a trustworthy one, and how we might scale wisdom and compassion in the digital age.

Conversations featuring Monastic Academy Founder and Head Teacher Soryu Forall.

09/26/2024

We love this MAPLE tale. It is part of a new series of writings by residents at MAPLE, about the training here, and about real teachings that we've received from our head teacher.

"As we reached the peak of the heart sutra chant, which had grown quite fast and vigorous by that point, many in the group lost the chant, didn’t keep up, and grew quiet as they listened for where they were supposed to be. But this was not what we had practiced for. Soryu was in front of the altar leading the chant loudly at the top of his lungs, his whole body pulsing back and forth as though each syllable was a cry that needed every part of him to project as far as he could. He heard the group falter and finally yelled, nearly screamed at us as the chant continued: “DON’T STOP! KEEP GOING!! THIS IS REAL!!!”

In the first few months of 2024, we held several funeral services at MAPLE during our morning chanting. We always chant in the mornings, the same chants every day in various languages, some with drumming and some without, taking about 40 minutes in total. But on some days this is extended due to off...

09/15/2024

There are still spots available for the Vision Quest with Darren Silver and residents of the Monastic Academy this September 24th-October 2nd.

One way to summarize Right View in Buddhism is: there is the sacred. The Vision Quest is a time of connection to the sacred; this beautiful Earth, all beings. We offer this opportunity as a ritual of initiation in a time of desperate need for a path forward.

Answer the call to connect directly with the land and invite a vision for living in harmony with this Great Earth.

Details: https://www.monasticacademy.org/visionquest

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/vision-quest-with-darren-silver-september-24th-october-2nd-tickets-971267165237

Join Darren Silver at the Monastic Academy for a journey through the rhythms of nature, personal insight, reflection and healing.