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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​.Wednesday Evening Meditation and Dharma talk by Jane Bleeg

Join us on Wednesday June 23 from 7:00-8:00 p.m.

After our meditation, senior practitioner Jane Bleeg will offer a talk entitled: "How can I Help?" - a Buddhist Perspective.

All are welcome. No previous meditation experience is required.

Stay current by signing up for our weekly newsletter. 
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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 during June, July, and August.  

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:
  • June 26
  • July 17
  • July 31
  • August 14
  • August 28
All are welcome to join.
            Practice in the Park

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

We will be meeting near the Highland Bowl on the north side of Robinson Drive, closer to Mt Hope Avenue than South Avenue. Parking is available on Robinson Drive. Parking is available on Robinson Drive.

Bring a chair or blanket.

Tentative dates for our Practice in the Park are: There is a map of Highland Park located in the top right hand corner of each calendar listing. 

​Please click on a date link to view our mask-wearing policy.

If the weather does not look good, notifications will go out mid-afternooon by email, Facebook, and Meetup to let you know that we will holding our regular online Zoom practice.

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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