Sangha and the "Exhortation on the Entryway to Liberation (Ovāda Pāṭimokkha)"

Free online daylong meditation retreat on March 8, 2026, in honor of the holiday Magha Pūjā.

Magha Pūjā is a major Buddhist holy day that commemorates the spontaneous gathering of 1,250 enlightened disciples with the Buddha. On that occasion, the Buddha gave a teaching that has since been known as the Ovāda Pāṭimokkha, or the "Exhortation on the Entryway to Liberation.” The holiday is a time for remembering the power of Sangha, or accomplished disciples, renewing commitment to the path, and reflecting on the core principles of non-harming, simplicity, and wholehearted practice that the Buddha set forth.

For this special occasion,  we will have a three-part session spanning the day.

How to Join

(Description and schedule below)

To provide the Zoom link and stay in touch about any schedule updates, we ask everyone to register once for the season. The simple registration form is below the session descriptions/schedule, at the bottom of this page. 

All times are Eastern Time Zone (New York, USA). 

NOTE: We turn our clocks ahead one hour on March 8 when Daylight Savings Time ends. 

Description and Schedule

March 8, 2026

8:00 - 10:30 a.m.: Morning worship, precepts, and meditation

📖 We will use the Amaravati Chanting Book, Vol. 1, for both the morning and evening worship services.

1:00 - 5:00 p.m.: Afternoon sitting and walking practice, stories of the great disciples, and teachings from the Ovāda Pāṭimokkha

7:00 - 8:45 p.m.: A Magha-Pūjā-themed Lotus Path session with worship service in the evening

You may attend the full day or the parts your schedule allows. 

One registration on the web site is enough for all of Ashokan Meditation Center's online programs for the winter. You will receive a link that you can use for all of them. Registration is not a commitment to attend. All sessions are conducted on a drop-in basis. If you attend more sessions, you will have the opportunity to develop a routine, learn about multiple styles of meditation, and see how to apply meditation in different aspects of life.