Magnolia Grove Monastery is a residential monastery and is simultaneously, a Mindfulness Practice Center in the tradition of Plum Village. It was founded by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, who was nominated for a Noble Peace Prize by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in January of 1967. 

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Magnolia Grove Monastery is located in Batesville, Mississippi and is the realization of a dream held by a compassionate community intent on establishing a center for mindfulness in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.

There are three U.S. based monasteries practicing in the Plum Village tradition in three states: Deer Park Monastery in California, Blue Cliff Monastery in New York, and Magnolia Grove Monastery in Mississippi.

Over ten years ago Magnolia Grove was little more than 120 acres purchased by a group of committed individuals and families. With hard work, dedication, and coordinated effort, they built a large meditation hall with an adjoining commercial kitchen and a guesthouse to host 120 visiting guests.

 

The vision of the community that built this beautiful practice center was fully realized when Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh officially accepted Magnolia Grove Monastery as a mindfulness practice center in October 2005. Today, nearly forty monastics currently reside here.

 

Magnolia Grove Monastery is a place to practice engaged Buddhism in our everyday life as a mindful community. In this safe environment surrounded by trees, we can stop running from our suffering, heal, transform our pain, and discover inner peace with every mindful step and every mindful breath.