A First Step Through the Gate: Open Day Welcomes the Community Into Monastic Life

On June 28, 2026, Kongshan Monastery held its monthly Open Day, welcoming 15 participants. Many were new friends who had first encountered the Dharma at this year's Buddha's Birthday Bathing Ceremony; others had just begun attending Buddhist study classes and hoped that this visit would give them a deeper sense of the monastery, the monastic community, and what a life of Buddhist practice actually looks like.

The event began with Venerable Yuándào leading an introduction to the founding story and vision of Kongshan Monastery. Delivered entirely in English, the presentation made the content accessible to participants from a wide range of backgrounds — and reflected Kongshan's ongoing commitment to engaging with the local community and welcoming all who find their way here.

The group then moved into the Buddha Hall for a short guided meditation.

Just a few minutes — no complicated techniques — simply a quiet space in which to gently bring attention back to the breath and the body. For many participants, this was the highlight of the day.

"Life moves so fast," one person said. "I rarely get a chance to be this still."

Others expressed hope that future programs might offer more meditation sessions, so that those living busy lives could find a regular moment to settle and restore themselves.

Afterward, the group strolled through the monastery grounds, taking in the mountain and forest scenery, and writing their wishes on prayer boards.

Some wrote wishes for the health and safety of their families; others for smooth progress in their work. Some extended their wishes outward to the world — hoping that more people might be free from suffering and find peace in their lives. Each prayer board held a small offering of goodwill — toward oneself, toward loved ones, toward the wider world — and gave the visit a quiet warmth.

Throughout the afternoon, participants also had the chance to learn more about monastic life up close: how the monastics dwell and practice in this mountain forest, and how they carry the Dharma into the world. For many who were entering a monastery for the first time, Buddhism began to feel less like a distant religious institution and more like a place where one could genuinely slow down, take stock, and find some ease.

After the event, Tommy — who had helped invite many of the participants — shared:

"Everyone loved the atmosphere here. People found it comfortable, natural, and very peaceful. A lot of them said they'd love to come back for future meditation programs."

Open Day, held once a month, is one of the ways Kongshan Monastery opens its doors to the broader community. Regardless of background or familiarity with Buddhism, anyone is welcome to experience the monastery through a guided tour, a moment of meditation, and the natural surroundings of the Hudson Valley.

For many people, walking into Kongshan Monastery is not simply a visit — it is the beginning of a quieter pace; a moment of pause in which, perhaps, a small seed of kindness and steadiness is planted in one's life.

Kongshan Monastery's Open Day takes place every month. First-time visitors are especially welcome — to step inside, try a moment of meditation, and spend some time in the natural setting of the Hudson Valley, letting body and mind come to rest.