Visiting monks and island communities cultivate mindfulness across Martha’s Vineyard

Visiting monastics and local meditation groups have been steadily weaving mindfulness practices into island life, bringing rituals, instruction, and community resources to Martha’s Vineyard residents.

“In early September, Tibetan monks carefully poured grains of colored sand onto a wooden table inside Slough Farm’s barn, transforming the space into a place of ritual, stillness, and attention.” The monks traveled from Gaden Shartse Monastic University in southern India to the Island for a week, engaging with Islanders and offering blessings centered on compassion, healing, and presence. The visit was initiated by local resident Rachel Elion Baird, and offered an unusually close encounter with a traditionally rare form of ritual practice.

The local gatherings sit alongside larger monastic movements that have captured public attention. “More than a month later, on Oct. 26, another group of monks, this time from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, set out on a 2,300-mile pilgrimage on foot from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., with the aim of promoting compassion and mindfulness across communities nationwide.” The pilgrims “have walked through freezing temperatures, attracting crowds of thousands along the route, many who join in for a few miles.” Following austere practice, “the monks eat only one meal per day, and sleep outdoors,” and organizers say they plan to deliver “a message of peace and renewal” as they near the capitol.

Island routines mirror monastic rhythms. “Each day begins at 5 am and consists of meditation, dharma talk, rice offering to the monks, and chanting.” “Every day follows the same rhythm, and for many visitors, it is spent almost entirely in silence.” “The vow of silence is not required, but many observe it.” Local instruction is often led by visiting Thai monks: “Meditation instruction and teachings on natural laws are provided by English-speaking Thai monks.” Luang Ta, a monk at the Thai forest monastery who has traveled widely across the United States, summed a itinerant approach: “I go many times to America,” Ta said, “Alaska, Atlanta, Chicago, California, New York. Always walking, always happy.”

Homegrown organizations are making practice widely accessible. “Island Insight Meditation Community, located on Martha’s Vineyard, is dedicated to developing mindfulness, wisdom, and compassion in ourselves and for the benefit of all beings. We offer regular meditation, teaching, study and discussion opportunities to support practice and skillful community service. Our community is rooted in the teachings of the Buddha, but there is no need to identify as a Buddhist and there is no formal membership. Anyone with an interest in meditation is welcome!” The group lists a monthly gathering: “OUR NEXT IIMC MONTHLY MEDITATION GATHERING IS JAN 17 @ 10 AM - 12 PM. In-person at the Unitarian Universalist Society of MV and on Zoom. The Zoom link will be posted HERE. Sign up on our mailing list HERE to receive reminders and program Zoom links.” Photo credit: Alan Brigish.

Practical offerings range from public classes to targeted recovery support. “Loving Kindness and Mindfulness Meditation: A 90-Minute Journey” was scheduled for Saturday, December 13, 2025, 10:30am to 12pm at 20 Stillpoint Meadows Road, West Tisbury, led by Thai monk Boonyod Nonthong (a.k.a. Monk Benny). “This class ... is designed for participants of all levels, from beginners to experienced meditators. It offers a blend of loving-kindness meditation, mindfulness practice, and shared experiences through personal reflection. Consider it a gentle workout for the mind, open to anyone seeking greater self-awareness and personal growth.” Participants were asked to “Please bring a notebook.” Monk Benny’s biography notes he began as a novice at age eleven, trained at Wat Pho Meditation Center in Bangkok, studied with Mahasi Sayadaw at age twenty-one, completed “approximately three years of intensive practice (18 hours daily)” under BhaddhantaWirosana, Ph.D., and has resided at Wat Nawamintararachutis (NMR Meditation Center) in Raynham, Massachusetts, “for the past three years.”

Community services are also tying mindfulness to recovery: “Refuge Recovery is a mindfulness-based addiction recovery community that practices and utilizes Buddhist philosophy as the foundation for the recovery process.” The program explains that “This model views addiction as cravings in the mind and body, and provides a path of meditative awareness to alleviate those desires and ease suffering.” For connection, contact Recovery Coach Services at 508-693-7900 x451; the agency is located at 111 Edgartown Road, Vineyard Haven, and can be reached at 508-693-7900.

An Instagram appeal underscored local stewardship: “✨ Protect the Meditation Garden Help us safeguard the crops and preserve this peaceful space for reflection and mindfulness. Support the Monks' Daily Needs”

For readers, the practical takeaway is direct: local classes, visiting teachers, and recovery groups offer multiple entry points, morning-style rhythms, short public sessions, and community-centered rituals. Call Recovery Coach Services to inquire about Refuge Recovery, sign up with Island Insight’s mailing list for the January gathering, and consider attending future sessions led by visiting monks to experience practices rooted in silence, compassion, and sustained attention.