Empty Cloud Monastery

Empty Cloud Monastery is a gender-inclusive, non-sectarian Buddhist monastery in West Orange, New Jersey, United States. It was co-founded by monks Ayyā Somā and Bhante Suddhāso through their non-profit, Buddhist Insights. Originally rooted in New York City, the monastery acquired a historic property, previously a Catholic monastery, to provide a communal space where residents of all genders, both monastic and lay practitioners, engage in traditional Buddhist practices while maintaining separate living arrangements. Open to the public, the monastery hosts free retreats, residencies, and events featuring guest monastic teachers from diverse Buddhist traditions. Their daily routine includes chanting, meditation, work, study, and personal practice.

Origins
Empty Cloud Monastery was co-founded in 2019 by Buddhist monks Ayyā Somā and Bhante Suddhāso, supported by their non-profit organization Buddhist Insights. The monastics were initially based out of a meditation center in Rockaway Queens, New York City, but after a number of donations, the organization was able to secure the three-acre, century-old property, which was formerly a Catholic monastery.

Lifestyle
Empty Cloud Monastery is a gender-inclusive monastery, therefore all of its residents, monastic and lay, practice alongside each other in a community setting, while residing in separate living quarters. The core focus of the monastery is to practice traditional Buddhist teachings while making them available free of charge to all those interested, and the monastery regularly hosts retreats and residencies open to the public. Guest monastic teachers are routinely invited to teach, and previous teachers include Bhikkhu Bodhi, Khenmo Drolma, Ajahn Brahm, and other monastics of all genders from various traditions and lineages.

The daily schedule includes morning puja at 5:30 am for an hour and a half, with chanting in Pali and English, followed by an hour of silent meditation. This is followed by a short chore period and breakfast. At 8 am, there is sutta study, then a two-hour work period, followed by the day's final meal at 11 am. All lay residents follow the Eight Precepts. The afternoon is reserved for personal practice. At 5 pm, tea is served, followed by a Dhamma talk and evening puja at 7:30 pm.