Tame your mind. Open your heart. ​Serve the world.
​Awaken.
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Join us and explore ancient Buddhist wisdom and the bodhisattva path in contemporary life.
​We integrate both traditional Buddhist methods of study, self-reflection, inquiry and meditation with secular, empirically-based practices of mindfulness, altruism and self-compassion. 
Everyone is welcome!
All that's required is your wise and open heart.

For as long as space endures, and for as long as living beings remain, may I too abide to dispel the miseries of the world.
—Shantideva

Practices & Dharma Talks now online

Our welcoming center of spiritual refuge for all has temporarily moved online.

We're grateful to be working in partnership with the Church on re-opening plans for our Dharma Center. We will resume in-person practices, once it's safe and sensible for visitors, sangha members and volunteers. With palms together we look forward to your presence on Zoom until we can be together at the center.

This summer, join us for weekly Wednesday and twice monthly Saturday practices and Dharma talks, now held through Zoom.

Wednesdays, from 7:00-800 pm or Saturdays from 10:00-11:30 am.

Join a Zoom Practice

Get more details. • Get meeting ID/Password to call in by phone • Learn to use Zoom or request support from us. • Get a link to cut and paste if the link above doesn't work.

We are continually adding guest teachers and speakers to our Wednesday evening practices online. We do encourage you to sign up for our newsletter and check out our practice calendar, Facebook and Meetup for new announcements.

Upcoming Special Events
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           Practice in the Park   

​Please join us on Wednesday August 4 from 7:00-8:00 p.m.

We will be practicing outdoors at Highland Park, following NYS and CDC public health and safety guidelines. 

Remember to bring a chair or blanket.
We will be meeting on the south side of Robinson Drive, near the corner of Mt Hope Avenue and Robinson Drive.

Parking is available on Robinson Drive.

You can access a map of the meeting location by going to the calendar page on our website.

Click on the attachment in the upper right hand corner for a map of our meeting place.
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If the weather does not look good, notifications will go out mid-afternoon by email, Facebook, and Meetup to let you know that we will holding our regular online Zoom practice.

Stay current by signing up for our weekly newsletter. 
            Mindfulness in Motion:
Dharma Talk with Sue Kochan and Gentle Movement Practice with
Ali Bartell

Join us for Mindfulness in Motion which will combine a  Dharma talk with Sue Kochan and gentle movement practice with yoga instructor and sangha member Ali Bartell RYT-200.

Sue will offer guided meditation practice followed by a talk on embodied awareness.

Our evening will close with a gentle guided yoga practice with Ali, designed to support sitting practice and finding ease in the body.

The next for Mindfulness in Motion is: No previous yoga or meditation experience is required.
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Participation will not require the use of any yoga props, although you’re welcome to use a mat if you have one on hand.
Summer Schedule for Saturday Morning Meditation Practices 

We are following the lead of other centers and spiritual communities by adopting a lighter summer schedule for our practices.

Saturday practices will continue to remain on Zoom but will be reduced to twice a month. 
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Our typical Saturday practice consists of two 40 minute sittings with a 10 minute break in between.
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This practice is followed by an optional half-hour of open practice discussions where we talk about concerns and insights from our meditation practice.

Below are the Saturday Practice Dates:
  • ​​August 14
  • August 28
All are welcome to join.

Dharma Refuge
Capacity-Building Capital Campaign

Dharma Refuge is in the midst of its first ever Capacity-Building Capital Campaign. 

Our goal is to shift from being an all-volunteer organization to supporting a half-time Meditation Center Administrator. Beginning in 2021 we also hope to begin paying a salary to our teacher, who has served on a voluntary basis since 2008.

Recent Dharma Talk
Get to know our local teacher, Sue Kochan, through a recent Dharma Teaching offered on March 31, 2021 — Why We Take Vows

Untitled essay read during talk was written by Lise Kunkle.

"So Green" lyrics read from song written by Zach Kochan, recorded by Great Red. Listen on streaming services. Apple Music - SO GREEN • Spotify Link

For access to a video archive of teachings by Sue, consider becoming a Sustaining Member of Dharma Refuge.

Mission, Vision, Membership

Our Teachers

​We study and practice under the guidance of teacher and spiritual director Sue Kochan and our root teacher Anam Thubten Rinpoche, whose lineage and vision inspired the founding of our community.  We also invite guest teachers for special dharma talks and retreats. 
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Buddhist Resources

Check out our recommended Dharma books, publications, affiliated centers and online resources for Dharma as well as secular mindfulness and mindful self-compassion.

A welcoming space

Our practices, classes and retreats welcome everyone into a safe, non-dogmatic sacred space to explore the teachings of the Buddha and to experience the refuge within, our own awakened nature.

​Thanks to our sangha photographers who have so generously contributed their time, talents and photographs to Dharma Refuge! Bowing to: Carole Diamond, Michael Guida, Dave King, Sue Kochan, Judy Lombard of Bits and Peaces Photography, Ivan Ramos, Deb Pierce, Julie Gelfand and Steve Piper of GelfandPiper Photography
Sign up to receive our monthly practice and program announcements and to learn about special study and retreat opportunities. ​

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