Ajahn Chah "lineage" monasteries in North America

[ccharles]

I'm interested in possibly traveling to a monastery in North America, apart of the Ajahn Chah lineage, such as Abhayagiri, to learn the Dhamma and meditation. Are any of these monasteries available for me to stay overnight for a good amount of time, in the upcoming weeks, in order to do this?

[appicchato]

http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/country.php?country_id=2

Loads to choose from...many having websites...contact them with your queries...

[James the Giant]

Contact them weeks in advance... They are really full and demand for guest layperson beds is high. I had to take a tent the last time I visited a monastery.

[LonesomeYogurt]

Abhayagiri is always open to guests, but as others have said, it takes a while to get a reservation. I recently returned from a stay there and it was very nice.

[Cittasanto]

Ajahn Chah related monasteries are about to go into winter retreat so they are not very likely to allow visitors.

[ccharles]

Can lay people join these winter retreats in order to learn and practice dhamma and meditation, or are they strictly for monastics?

[James the Giant]

Can lay people join these winter retreats in order to learn and practice dhamma and meditation, or are they strictly for monastics?

Laypeople are usually welcome. But you have to be known as a reliable person and pretty committed. And it's usual that you have stayed for some time at that monastery before, and get on with some of the monks.
I visited for two weeks before the rains, they saw I was serious and reliable, and when I asked to stay for the 3 month rains they said sure. It was gooood.

[Cittasanto]

Can lay people join these winter retreats in order to learn and practice dhamma and meditation, or are they strictly for monastics?

The Lay support team are there to support the community there so there is work but there is time for personal/group practice. however this isn't a lay teaching period and it is a time for the community to practice and retreat away from interaction (although there maybe some interaction and teaching for lay people on certain occasions it is not like a retreat for the lay support crew in the same way a retreat is a retreat.

Joining is through approval and a previous stay is needed, although exceptions for people known to community members may happen, each monastery may have its own policy here.

This period is not for any stop over guests and the support team is chosen months in advance in some instances although last minuet changes happen you are not likely to be accepted at this stage.