Vision for the Awakening Heart Community (Bodhicitta Sangha)
To be a sanctuary for spiritual awakening, where dedicated practitioners live, practice, and serve together, creating an environment of liberation for all.
Core Identity
We envision a vibrant, supportive Sangha rooted in the timeless wisdom and compassionate practices of Buddha-Dharma. Our center is a home for those committed to the deep, transformative work of spiritual practice and an accessible retreat space for seekers from all walks of life.
Our Ultimate Goal
Our daily life is a continuous practice aimed at realizing the ultimate goal of awakening (liberation), for ourselves and for all beings. Through shared commitment and mutual encouragement, we strive to be awake and awaken others, embodying the principles of wisdom and compassion in every moment.
Our Practice
The heart of our community life is rigorous, daily practice, centered on profound Buddhist techniques. We cultivate Mindfulness and Compassion to manifest moment-to-moment Peace and Joy, and also engage in Seon Inquiry meditation to penetrate the deepest levels of the Absolute Truth. This communal practice is the foundation of our spiritual integrity.
Our Outreach
Beyond our residents, we serve as a dedicated Meditation Retreat Center, welcoming participants from around the world. We offer an authentic, structured environment where intensive practice can flourish, nurturing a global network of consciousness and compassion. By elevating the consciousness of every practitioner who enters our sanctuary, we aim to have a profound and lasting impact on society’s collective well-being.
Mission Statement
The Three Pillars of Awakening
Our mission is to achieve personal and collective liberation by living a life of spiritual practice, supported by community, and dedicated to compassionate service.
Three inseparable pillars govern the daily life of our intentional practitioner community:
Devotion to the Absolute Truth (Wisdom)
We commit our lives to the direct realization of the Absolute Truth (Dharma) as taught by the Buddha.
This devotion is upheld through rigorous, daily practice, including Mindfulness, Metta, and Seon Inquiry Meditations, under the consistent guidance of our teacher. This practice is the heart of our community.
In our devotion to Truth, the Right Intention is clarified, and spiritual life becomes real.
Communal Practice and Living (Interdependence)
No one can walk the spiritual life by self-will alone. We practice together daily, supporting each other in our commitment to the awakened path.
We function as a dedicated spiritual family; we support one another with shared practice, shared labor, and shared care.
We emphasize the selfless giving of time, energy, and resources to support the Sangha and its programs, reducing practical burdens and strengthening harmony and generosity.
Service to Awaken Others (Compassion)
We aspire to awaken and liberate others through offering retreat programs, providing an authentic and profound environment for seekers across the globe to engage in intensive practice.
The community becomes a living sanctuary through which others may also find peace, healing, devotion, and awakening.
Guided by compassion, we extend our practice to the neighborhood by offering accessible outreach programs (i.e., free workshops and classes) and by serving as a local charity to uplift those in need.