Logistics

Life at the Monastic Academy is radically simple and orderly. Many find the clarity of the daily schedule to be an enormous relief.

Location

The Monastic Academy is located in Lowell, VT. The property includes breath-taking views of the Green Mountains, hundreds of acres of forest and field to explore, three ponds, a large garden, and a sauna.

Read more about the location…

Food

There are two meals a day. Meals are typically vegan and gluten free, with some vegetarian or dairy products if they are donated. However, residents are welcome to buy their own meat or dairy products. We buy local and organic food whenever possible. This is greatly facilitated by Vermont’s thriving local/organic food system. We are happy to make any reasonable dietary accommodations.

Read more about meals at the Monastic Academy…

Lodging

Residents receive a bed and storage in a shared living space. Conditions are comfortable and spartan.

Trial Periods & Training Fees

There are two trial periods before one is invited to become a full-time resident of the Monastic Academy. As a trial resident, our main goal is to make sure you are a good fit for the training, and that the training is a good fit for you.

The first step towards residency is a one-week trial period that costs $400.00. At the end of this trial period, we will do a check-in to see how things are going and offer feedback about your participation in the community. If you’re invited to stay, we ask for a $600.00 payment for the second trial period of two more weeks.

After those two weeks (total three weeks), we will have another check-in with you. If you’re invited to stay at this time, we will ask you for a $6000.00 payment to become a full-time resident, for which need-based financial aid is available.

The payments for the three week trial residency and residency are required before each respective period and are non-refundable.

Room and board is included. We offer monthly living stipends to full-time residents beginning their second month in the training.

Vacation

Residents can take four free days a month, twenty days of vacation per year, and one retreat off. Free and vacation days can be scheduled at essentially any time (provided that the resident’s responsibilities are taken care of, and the vacation does not substantially inconvenience the organization). Additionally, each year, residents may do one meditation retreat at another center, for up to seven days.

Stipend

Residents receive a monthly stipend of at least $250.