January 2026 Day of Mindfulness (Sundays)

Day of Mindfulness description for Eventbrite 2026

Welcome to Magnolia Grove Monastery!

Nestled among Southern Magnolias, we are a mindful community and welcome all to come enjoy meditation with us.

Days of Mindfulness at the Monastery

Most Sundays we open our monastery to the public for anyone who is interested in practicing meditation with us for the day.

We invite all newcomers to visit us on Sunday so you can receive an introduction to the basic practices of mindfulness.

See below for an example program of our Day of Mindfulness. Please note that the schedule is subject to change if the Sunday falls at the end of any of our themed retreats. Please check our calendar of events for dates of themed retreats throughout the year.

We welcome you to join us in enhancing our daily lives with the practice of mindfulness, to come back home to the present moment, and learn to take care of ourselves. No prior experience is required and anyone can benefit from even one day of mindfulness. Other activities include a Dharma talk, walking meditation, silent mindful meal, and a group discussion of the Dharma Talk du jour.

Dharma talks will either be a live Dharma talk offered by one of our resident Dharma teachers or a recorded teaching by Thay, our meditation teacher, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.

Walking meditation is an invitation to practice mindfulness as we walk, uniting our breaths and steps to create a steady rhythm which anchors us in the present moment which can help nourish ourselves with the wonders of life all around us: the skies, the trees, the birds, the windchimes, the grass, and our friends all around us.

Dharma Sharing is a group conversation where we exchange our lived experiences concerning our understanding and practice of the Dharma. Often we may think we are the only ones struggling with challenges and it may be quite eye opening and reassuring to discover others also encountering similar experiences! We can share our joys and sorrows as well inspire each other with different ways of incorporating deep looking and meditation in our daily lives and transforming our challenges and suffering into deep understanding and healing in a safe and respectful environment. This is great opportunity to embody deep listening and loving speech.

A silent mindful meal, prepared by our very own monastics, is an opportunity for us to eat together, to look deeply at where our food came from to give rise to gratitude, and to enjoy the miracle of life.

Tentative schedule for a Sunday:

You are most welcome to join us for the morning sitting meditation (which starts at 5:30 am) if it fits your schedule. Otherwise, we are happy to welcome you later.

8:30 am – Walking Meditation Please meet in front of the Big Meditation Hall

9:45 am – Dharma Talk

11:30 am – Mindfulness Trainings Recitation * 1st Sunday – The Five Mindfulness Trainings* 3rd Sunday – The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings

* 2nd, 4th, 5th Sundays – Dharma Sharing

12:45 pm – Lunch

After Lunch – Mindfulness Day Ends

Donations
There is no set fee for taking part in a Day of Mindfulness, but please note that a donation is required in order to receive a ticket online when you register. With your donation is included a vegan lunch, DoM program activities, and use of facilities.

Donations are our main source of support, so every offering is greatly appreciated. Your contribution can help us to keep the monastery open all year.

Individual Needs

Magnolia Grove is deeply committed to inclusiveness. If you have any particular need for assistance, please contact us at office@magnoliagrovemonastery.org so we can offer you as much support as possible. All meals are vegan. There is generally a variety of options available at mealtime, but feel free to bring supplementary food for yourself if you have a particular dietary need.

What to Wear/Bring

Please wear casual and modest clothing that is comfortable for sitting (i.e. long sleeve shirt (shirt covering shoulders), long pants (below the knees), loose fitting clothes…). Please wear or bring weather-appropriate clothing and shoes suitable for walking on nature trails so you can fully enjoy the outdoor walking meditation with the community. Please avoid wearing perfumes or other products that may affect those who are sensitive or allergic to scents.

You may like to bring a water bottle, especially during hotter months.

Where should I go when I arrive?

You are invited to visit the dining hall to check the schedule on the white board or enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the tea room while waiting for the activity to start. From the parking lot, you may follow the path past the bell tower, you'll find the big building which is the dining hall.

Please plan to arrive at the monastery at least 15 minutes in advance in preparation for the walking meditation at 8:30 am. We ask that you park your car in the parking lot and gather in front of our Big Meditation Hall.

Ticks

In the spring, summer, and fall, Magnolia Grove is home to deer ticks which do carry Lyme Disease. It is easy to protect yourself if you take a few simple precautions–most importantly, thoroughly checking yourself and your children for ticks each day.