Magnolia Grove Monastery

Magnolia Grove Monastery is a residential monastery and a Mindfulness Practice Center in the tradition of Plum Village. It was founded by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in 2005 in Batesville, Mississippi. Today, nearly forty monastic disciples of Thich Nhat Hanh are in residence at the center.

In January of 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. nominated Thich Nhat Hanh for a Nobel Peace Prize. Today, there are statues of both Dr. King and Thich Nhat Hanh on the grounds of Magnolia Grove Monastery. Our center is the realization of a dream held by a compassionate community. 

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.

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. It is where every breath we take reminds us of the wonders of life. A place to sit and relax. A place to walk and kiss the earth beneath our feet. It is a place to rest under a willow tree on an island in a lotus pond. A place to eat together and savor every bite.  A place to listen deeply to the sounds of life and the sound of our hearts. A place to work together to build a community of love and understanding.

Magnolia Grove is a place where we can stop running, and discover peace with every step we take. A place to remind each one of us that the present moment is a wonderful moment.