Organizations
A guide to spiritual communities, monasteries, temples, and non-profits that foster connection, learning, and service on the path to deeper faith and self-discovery.
The Omega Institute
The Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, founded in 1977, is a renowned retreat center and educational hub dedicated to personal transformation and social change. Situated in Rhinebeck, New York, Omega serves as a gathering place for leading thinkers, spiritual teachers, and creatives, offering workshops and programs that integrate wellness, mindfulness, and global consciousness. Rooted in the vision of unity and evolution, inspired by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s “Omega Point,” the institute has grown into one of the most trusted centers for lifelong learning. Each year, Omega welcomes thousands of participants, fostering personal growth, holistic health, and a deeper connection to the world.
The Garrison Institute
The Garrison Institute’s mission is to apply the skills and wisdom cultivated through contemplative practice, together with the insights emerging from science, to today’s urgent social and environmental challenges, leveraging transformational change and helping build a more compassionate, resilient future.
Et. Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace
Destroyed by an IRA bomb in 1993, resurrected as a centre for reconciliation and peace in 2002, St Ethelburga's is a symbol of hope from the ashes.
They offer events, training, leadership programmes and multimedia content which equip and inspire people to
become peacemakers in their own contexts. The centre is also home to the annual Spiritual Ecology Festival
Center For Action and Contemplation
The Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) is an educational nonprofit introducing seekers to the contemplative Christian path of transformation. The centre's mission: Transformed people working together for a more just and connected world.
Society of Saint John the Evangelist
The Society of Saint John the Evangelist (SSJE), located just beside Harvard’s campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of the most welcoming and contemplative monastic communities in the Anglican tradition. Their retreats provide a rare opportunity to step away from the constant noise of modern life and listen more deeply—both to oneself and to the divine. For those seeking to explore contemplation seriously, SSJE offers a deeply rooted, inclusive space to experience the transformative power of stillness.
The Mountains and Rivers Order
The Mountains and Rivers Order (MRO) is one of the most renowned places to study Zen in the Americas, offering a rigorous and authentic training program that integrates both Soto and Rinzai traditions. Founded by John Daido Loori Roshi, a dharma heir of Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi Roshi, the MRO is centred at Zen Mountain Monastery, where traditional Zen practice, monastic training, and creative expression come together to provide a uniquely comprehensive and deeply rooted approach to awakening.
Plum Village
Plum Village, nestled in the French countryside near Bordeaux, is the largest Buddhist monastery in Europe and the heart of the international Plum Village tradition founded by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. More than just a retreat center, it is a living experiment in mindful community, where daily life—from eating to working to walking—is infused with mindfulness practice. With over 200 resident monks and nuns, Plum Village welcomes thousands of visitors each year, offering retreats that cultivate presence, simplicity, and joy. Known for its deep silence, mindful work, and legendary walking meditation trails, it remains a profound sanctuary for those seeking to integrate mindfulness into everyday life.