General Information

Welcome to Land of Medicine Buddha

A 108-acre sanctuary, nestled amidst the redwoods and close to the ocean, Land of Medicine Buddha is a beautiful venue to visit for the day, overnight stays, and retreats. Visitors are welcome to participate in our programs, enjoy our Dharma Wonderland with many precious holy objects, browse in our bookstore, or simply enjoy the peace and tranquility of our holy land. For first-time visitors, we welcome you to pop into our Reception Office to say hello! You can enquire about the sacred sites of interest to visit. A map of our land is also available.

5800 Prescott Road, Soquel CA 95073 • (831) 462-8383

Gate Opening Hours

Our property is accessible from 9 am to 5 pm daily. Outside of these hours, our gates will be locked.

If you walk into Land of Medicine Buddha through the front gate, please be sure to leave the land before the gate closes at 5 pm.

The gate automatically opens for vehicles leaving the property, but not for pedestrians.

There is no walking or hiking after dark!

Reception Office / Gift Shop & Bookstore Opening Hours

Our bookstore hours are as follows:

Sunday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Monday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Tuesday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Wednesday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Thursday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Friday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Saturday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Getting here

Prescott Road is a narrow, winding road which we share with numerous neighbors. On your drive in, please turn on your headlights, go slowly, and be prepared to pull over to the side when you meet oncoming traffic.

Take your time as you drive up the entrance road to our property to slow down and leave the busyness and distractions of your daily life behind. We invite you to become aware of the stillness and beauty of the forest as you arrive into our sanctuary.

Parking is very limited at Land of Medicine Buddha, and parking spaces are prioritized for overnight guests and those attending classes and retreats. We have approximately 45 parking spots on-site. Here are a few important details for parking at Land of Medicine Buddha:

  • Weekends, holidays, and sunny days are our busiest times; so if you are coming during these times, we recommend coming early to get a parking spot.
  • As a Green Certified Center, we do our best to limit the impact of cars on the environment. Please carpool or ride a bike if possible.
  • If there is no more parking on-site, please speak to a staff member or come back another day.

YOU MUST NOT PARK ON PRESCOTT ROAD

There is NO parking on Prescott Road. This is a safety hazard for our neighbors and everyone at Land of Medicine Buddha. Prescott Road is an emergency access road and needs to be accessible by fire trucks and ambulances should the need arise. The pullout spaces on the road are for people to pass, not for parking. If your car is impeding the flow of traffic, it may be towed!

In order to develop the practice of compassion and loving kindness towards our fellow sentient beings, and to preserve the positive energy of this sacred land, we ask our guests to abide by the following guidelines of conduct during your entire stay at LMB:

  • Avoid killing any living being, including any insect.
  • Avoid taking what is not freely given.
  • Avoid sexual misconduct.
  • Avoid deliberately lying to anyone.
  • Avoid intoxicants such as alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drugs (including marijuana).

We welcome all sentient beings! Dogs are very welcome at Land of Medicine Buddha! This property is a refuge for many wild animals (such as turkeys, deer, squirrels, and so on); so please help us protect the wildlife by keeping dogs on leashes at all times—from the parking lot, to the trails, and back. Please also make sure to pick up any droppings.

Essential Information for Hikers and Bikers

  • Poison oak is quite prevalent here. We also share the land with ticks, mountain lions, and other wildlife. Please be aware of our co-habitants. If you have questions about any of these, feel free to ask in our office.

  • Our longer trails can be confusing if you are not a confident hiker— please prepare by downloading a map, bringing your hiking essentials, and never hiking after dark

  • Dogs are allowed, but must be on a leash at all times. Please also pick up after your dog.

  • We welcome encourage biking to our land for a visit. However, Mountain biking is not permitted on any trails at Land of Medicine Buddha.

  • Please note that we are NOT an entrance to the Nisene Marks State Forest trails.

  • Fires are not permitted at any time (nor are candles, incense, etc). As a heavily forested area in California, this is self-explanatory. Please help us care for the land and prevent risk to our organization and all our surrounding neighbors.