DharmaNet's USA Guide to
Theravadin Dhamma Centers
and Meditation Practice Groups
This resource was first created, and diligently maintained, by John
Bullitt at Access to Insight.
In February 1998, DharmaNet International agreed to take over the
maintenance of these directories. Our gratitude extends to John for his
excellent work in making Dhamma readily available over the Internet.
The listings below may be helpful in your search for a meditation group or
a teacher in your area. These listings include only groups that teach and
practice primarily Theravada forms of meditation.
If you're interested in practices and teachings from other schools of Buddhism,
take a look at DharmaNet's USA Guide to Dharma
Centers or World Guide to Dharma Centers, which
have extensive listings from many traditions. See also: DharmaNet's Buddhist
InfoWeb for quick links to online Buddhist resources.
The listings here are grouped into two categories:
- Meditation practice groups -- groups of people who get together
occasionally or regularly, formally or informally, at an institution or in
someone's living room, to practice meditation. Included are both
established groups that have been meeting for many years, as well as
individuals looking for others in their neighborhood with whom to
practice.
- Dhamma centers -- institutions established primarily to offer
instruction in Theravada Buddhist meditation practices. For example, a
Thai or Sri Lankan forest monastery, an urban lay vipassana meditation
center, or a retreat center with an express commitment to the Theravada
teachings would be counted here as "Dhamma Centers". Not
counted are such things as: meditation centers, retreat centers, or
monasteries whose primary teachings come from other Buddhist traditions
(e.g., Zen, Ch'an, Tibetan, Son, Nichiren, etc.); an adult-ed school that
occasionally offers classes in vipassana meditation; a study group that
hosts scholarly lectures on Buddhism; a gathering place (church, temple,
ashram, etc.) that offers primarily non-Theravada Buddhist forms of
meditation; and so on.
I'm counting on visitors to DharmaNet's Gateways to Buddhism to
help me keep this list up to date. To submit updates or corrections to
this list, you may either use this handy
form, or you may simply drop
me a note. If at all possible, please include a reference to the
page/document you want me to update; this helps me tremendously.
Can't find a meditation group nearby? Here are some tips:
- Explore your local universities or community colleges. Do they have
any Buddhist groups or clubs? Visit the student lounges, cafeterias, libraries,
campus bookstore, etc. -- anywhere where you might find bulletin boards with
annnouncements of
- Look for flyers posted at local "New Age" bookstores or natural food
stores.
- Check the Yellow Pages, and look under "Churches" (Thai or Vietnamese
temples?) or "Meditation". If you don't find exactly what you're looking for,
you may at least be able to contact someone who can give you better leads.
- Ask around!
- Post a "want-ad" online. Over the years, many people have happily
discovered practice groups just a few blocks from home using these Internet
listings. Just send me the particulars either via e-mail
, or
Disclaimer
By including a Dhamma center or group in these listings DharmaNet
International is in no way endorsing their teachers, teachings, policies,
politics, or activities. They are included here simply as useful starting
points in your quest for good teachings from the Theravada traditions. The
final judgment is yours alone.
Dhamma centers and meditation groups:
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reserved.
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