Aryaloka Buddhist Center

08/25/2026

Meditate like a Buddha — Beginning Kindness; Oct 18, 10-3

Whether you’re looking to de-stress and find some stillness in your life, to feel at home in your body, or to explore the nature of awareness, this workshop is a great way to begin!

The Buddhist approach to meditation can be understood in the simple image of the Buddha seated at the foot of the Bodhi Tree, hands folded and with a peaceful expression on his face.

Access 2600 years of simple meditation teaching and technique on this introductory workshop. Participants will learn everything they need to begin a regular and effective meditation practice. This workshop is suitable for complete beginners, or those looking for a refresher. You do not need to be a Buddhist to benefit from these practices.

Meditation, kindness and mindfulness practice:
— Helps us to develop a sense of contentment and peace
— Fosters a sense of internal wholeness and integration
— Brings clarity and focus
— De-stresses and relaxes
— Deepens our capacity for body awareness
— Cultivates awareness of what we think and how we feel
— Fosters appreciation
— Deepens our capacity for kindness
— Helps us feel more connected
— Helps to free us from hatred and resentment

In this introductory meditation workshop we will explore the Buddha’s teaching of kindness or metta, generally as a living principle, and more specifically as a meditation practice. Participants will learn the Metta Bhavana, or Cultivation of Loving-Kindness, a meditation that has been practiced for thousands of years. Described as ‘divine abiding’, the practice of loving kindness meditation opens new dimensions and depths of positive emotion within the heart. We will learn how to be with difficult emotion in a creative space, rather than a reactive cycle. We will explore the core Buddhist ethical principle of non-harm and its practical application in daily life, drawing out the rewards and challenges of a life lived with empathy and kindness. Link in the bio on Instagram and on web events at Aryaloka.org

08/21/2026

Listen to the sound of water
In the clefts and in the gullies:
The tiny streams gurgle loudly—
Mighty waters flow in silence.
From the Nalaka Sutta

Noble Silence Meditation Intensive | Nov 14, 6pm to Nov 21, 2pm

This Noble Silence retreat is for intermediate and experienced meditators who would like to explore the practice of a silent meditation intensive.

This retreat provides a safe and supportive space to practice meditation in an atmosphere of deep silence. Aryaloka’s spacious facility and forested grounds provide a contemplative landscape in which to go deeper in your practice. You’ll be supported by a community of fellow practitioners and facilitators, all invested in creating the conditions in which meditation practice can flourish.

This retreat is for experienced meditators only. There is no meditation instruction provided, and all practice sessions are unguided. After the first day of introductions and discussions to get participants settled, Noble Silence will be maintained until the morning of the final day. There will be optional opportunities for individual conversations with retreat leaders.

Participants will have private bedrooms. Work responsibilities are kept to a minimum so that participants can focus on their practice. There will be some light clean-up duties.

While meditation is considered safe for most people, there are some for whom caution is advised. If this is your first time on an intensive meditation retreat, and you are dealing with emotional issues such as depression, trauma, grief, or a psychological diagnosis, please contact the office to discuss whether this retreat is right for you. Link in the bio on Instagram and on web events at Aryaloka.org

Excerpt from the Nalaka Sutta trans. by Olendzki

Led By Advayasri and Shraddhavani

08/18/2026

Day Retreat with Dhammarati: The Seed of Enlightenment, October 4, 10-4

Aryaloka’s President, Dhammarati, visits us from Adhisthana and will be leading a day retreat for our sangha.

‘…Each individual human being has an affinity for the truth, or an affinity for Enlightenment, or even - to use more poetic language which mustn’t be pressed too literally - has the seed of Enlightenment in himself or herself. … It’s because you’ve got that possibility of Enlightenment in you that you’re drawn and attracted to Enlightenment when you see it represented or embodied before you. In the technical language of the Mahayana, this seed of Enlightenment is called the Tathāgata-dhatu… Sangharaksh*ta, The Threefold Refuge seminar.

Through study, reflection and meditation, we’ll explore this ’seed of enlightenment’ in our own practice. Link in the bio on Instagram and on web events at Aryaloka.org

08/18/2026

A Buddhist Retreat for the Greater LGBTQ+ Community
November 6, 6pm to Nov 8, 12:30pm. Link in the bio.


This weekend retreat will be led by and is for people identifying as LGBTQ+. In the beautiful surroundings of Aryaloka Retreat Center in Newmarket, New Hampshire, we’ll explore the relevance of Buddhist practices in our lives. This will include meditation, talks, discussion groups, and ritual with a focus on inclusivity and building friendships. This retreat is for all LGBTQ+ persons of all experience levels who are curious about learning more about Buddhist practice.

08/17/2026

THIS WEEKEND! Join Śuddhāyu and Singhaśūrī for their last yoga retreat this year! We will be exploring somatic movement techniques drawing from a lifetime of yoga and meditation practices; dive into breath and movement, long-life exercises, stillness, and deep rest. Each practice period is designed for this beautiful time of transition from the highs of summer to the deepening that can happen in fall. We welcome you to the beautiful Aryaloka grounds that host gorgeous perennial gardens, walking trails, outdoor meditation spots, forest and river filled with wildlife and a monumental Stupa. We look forward to seeing you this weekend! Link at Aryaloka.org events tab.

Yoga and Meditation Weekend — Aug 21, 6pm to Aug 23, 2:30pm

With yoga and meditation we can cultivate a beautiful tranquility in the body and heart. We will explore how each practice enriches the other, contributing to a sustained calm that can change the way we live and our perception of the world around us.

We will explore ancient Buddhist meditation techniques that lead to stillness and calm, restorative yoga as well as the mindful movement of vinyasa. Vinyasa emphasizes the importance of breath with movement, and develops a strong foundation for any yoga practice.

No prior experience is necessary. Suitable for complete beginners or those with an established practice.

*Please bring a yoga mat. We have plenty of props, but If you prefer your own props like bolsters, straps, or cork or foam bricks, please feel free to bring. Participants may consider bringing a notebook with a pen, a water bottle, and warm socks or slippers. We provide meditation cushions and blankets, as well as meditation chairs and benches. Our onsite book and gift shop has many great titles on meditation and Buddhism. Link in the bio. ✨

Led by —

Dh. Singhasuri (FKA Lona Kovacs), Ordained Buddhist and certified yoga instructor, Singhasuri has been a yoga and meditation practitioner and teacher for 35 years. She combines her early practices of integrative, restorative and yoga nidra with over 20 years of Ashtanga Vinyasa training both in the United States and India. Her teaching style is intuitive, clear and nurturing. She draws from a lifetime of working closely with plant and earth-based education and knowledge along with her love of ritual magic and wisdom.

Dh. Suddhayu has been teaching meditation and Buddhism and leading retreats since 1998. He has a deep love of the processes of meditation practice, as well as poetry, myth and creative ritual. He currently works full-time for Dharma initiatives as Chair at the Portsmouth Buddhist Center and Chair/Manager of Aryaloka.

08/12/2026

Volunteer opportunity! We are looking for someone to help us maintain the lawn mowing on the Aryaloka grounds as needed. Riding lawnmower and string trimmer provided. Email our Volunteer Coordinator, Singhaśūrī at [email protected]

08/11/2026

A Buddhist Retreat for the Greater LGBTQ+ Community
November 6, 6pm to Nov 8, 12:30pm


This three-day weekend retreat will be led by and is for people identifying as LGBTQ+. In the beautiful surroundings of Aryaloka Retreat Center in Newmarket, New Hampshire, we’ll explore the relevance of Buddhist practices in our lives. This will include meditation, talks, discussion groups, and ritual with a focus on inclusivity and building friendships. This retreat is for all LGBTQ+ persons of all experience levels who are curious about learning more about Buddhist practice. Link in the bio on Instagram and at web events at Aryaloka.org

08/11/2026

Buddhist Recovery Day Retreat: Buddhist Practice as Resiliency in Sustaining Recovery: Oct 17, 10-4


Addiction creates a great deal of suffering in the lives of those it impacts. Buddhist practices offer a path that helps us confront and work with the challenges we face and the suffering it causes. In this retreat we will begin to explore how Buddhism can be applied to help supplement the recovery journey of those who struggle with addiction.

The model of risk and resiliency factors have been a useful way to understand internal and external conditions that place us at risk for addiction and mental health challenges. Resiliency factors give us the tools to find and sustain recovery from addiction and improve our mental health. There are risk factors we cannot control, such as genetics and environmental conditions. We can also engage in behaviors that place us at risk for undermining our recovery. We can choose to increase resiliency factors, which offset the detrimental impact of risk factors.

Buddhism offers us wise teachings and practices that act as resiliency factors that bolster our confidence, faith and skillfulness in sustaining our recovery and ultimately lead to freedom from craving. In this one day Buddhist recovery retreat, we will explore risk and resiliency, learn about specific Buddhist teachings and practices that help us build our resiliency. We will talk about and practice meditation. We will look at ethics. We will explore the importance of connecting with spiritual community as a means to further support our recovery. We will look at the commonalities between traditional 12-step recovery and traditional Buddhist teachings.

This retreat is for those that are in recovery from addiction to alcohol and/or other drugs and are interested in how Buddhism can provide additional support to your recovery efforts. This will be a hybrid event, so you can participate in the retreat via Zoom.

The retreat will be facilitated by Dharmasukta, Joffree Barrnett, and Shanon Rule. All retreat facilitators are in recovery and have experience helping others in their recovery journeys. Dharmasukta Shanon Rule

08/09/2026

Women’s Wellness Day Aryaloka Fundraiser 2026 was a huge success, with 40 women in attendance and an extensive waitlist, we cannot wait to offer this program again! THANK YOU you to all of the exceptional practitioners who offered their beautiful services, Jo and Amala for the impeccable planning, all the attendees and volunteers who made the day so memorable and rejuvenating.

Details from the event:
This day was an offering of time and tenderness—a chance to step out of the momentum of daily life and into a retreat-like space of care. Rest, Receive, Renew invited women to slow down, soften, and reconnect with themselves and with one another in a supportive, welcoming community.

Through shared group practices such as meditation, yoga, and energy healing, participants were guided toward stillness, presence, and ease. Alongside these communal experiences, the attendees chose individual healing sessions—including massage, craniosacral therapy, and acupuncture—creating space to receive care attuned to their own needs.

Nourishment continued through a wholesome vegetarian lunch, served with simplicity and care, allowing time for quiet reflection and gentle conversation. The day was about remembering what becomes possible when we pause—when rest is honored, healing is received, and women gather in community to restore and renew.

Led by Dh. Amala and Dr. Jo Beltre and team practitioners:
Melinda Ferreira, DAc
Upright Acupuncture & Wellness
Gemini Bodywork
Ebb & Flow Rehabilitation | Portsmouth NH
Skin/Lashes/Massage/Energy Work
Studio108
River of Life Wellness
Jen Bonanno, Reiki Master
Megrette Fletcher

Thank you to our volunteers and chef: Dh. Singhaśūrī/ Chef, Dh. Dayapradipa, Joanne, Lois, Naomi and Alisha - what a team!
Amala Maeve Matthews Jo Gates Beltre

🙏🏼💙💛❤️💚🤍🌈☸️📿🪷

08/04/2026

Full Moon Puja — August 26, 7-8:30pm

This event is open to all.

It is a traditional Buddhist custom to gather on the full moon and practice together. On these magical evenings that are either on the full moon, or as close to the full moon as our schedule will allow, we gather in community to meditate and chant.

Puja (worship) is a devotional practice that includes recitations in english, mantras in sanskrit, verses in pali, and Dharma readings. Most of the puja is in call and response, so this is suitable for those who have never practiced puja before.

All are welcome and by donation! Please let us know if you’ve never been to Aryaloka before, or if you’ve never practiced puja before. Link in the bio on Instagram and on web events at Aryaloka.org

A Zoom option is available