Dharma Refuge
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About Our Sangha.


Our vision is a world of Bodhisattvas*
* Those whose path of awakening is through serving others.
​

Our mission is to be a welcoming center of spiritual refuge for all, where the ancient wisdom of the Buddha comes alive in modern life through teachings, inquiry, practice, and the warmth of community (sangha).

Our welcome
We warmly welcome everyone with a sincere interest in going beyond the limitations that create our shared experiences of sorrow and anxiety. Our path is the path of the Bodhisattva—one of learning to drop the burdens we knowingly and unknowingly carry, the burdens that keep our hearts asleep and our minds bound to a future and a past. As Bodhisattvas-in-Training, we aspire to awaken for the benefit of all beings.
Picture
“What can we gain by sailing to the moon if we are not able to cross the abyss that separates us from ourselves? This is the most important of all voyages of discovery, and without it, all the rest are not only useless, but disastrous.”
—Thomas Merton
​

“Follow then the shining ones, the wise, the awakened, the loving, for they know how to work and forbear.”
—The Buddha

We are a Buddhist Sangha operating as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation in Rochester, New York. 

​We incorporated in 2010 and practice under the spiritual guidance of Dharmata teacher Sue Kochan, and our root teacher, Anam Thubten Rinpoche, of Dharmata Foundation.


  • We practice within a Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
  • We honor the inner wisdom, journey, and experience of each person.
  • Our exploration of Buddhist wisdom is informed by a growing body of relevant science and research as well as best practices in secular meditation and compassion-based training.
  • We honor all spiritual traditions grounded in kindness, acceptance, and love.

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We'd love to keep in touch with you!
We'll keep you posted on programs, retreats, and all-around good stuff! :)


Our regular practices are held on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings. Zoom and in-person attendance options are available. Check our practice and program calendar for specifics.
​
Dharma Refuge is located at Covenant United Methodist Church (2nd Floor, parking in the rear lot behind the church. Elevator off the lobby at the rear door.) 1124 Culver Rd, Rochester, NY 14609​

Copyright 2025 Dharma Refuge; Dharma Refuge is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit corporation.
  • Home
  • Practices
    • Practice & Program Calendar
    • Practice in the Park
    • Participation Options and Info
    • Meals with the Sangha
    • Zoom Help
  • Programs
    • Chod Healing Retreats
    • Bodhisattva Training: Becoming Beings of Wisdom and Love >
      • Program Resources
      • Commitment to the Awakened Mind
      • Patience Resources
    • Walking the Path: Members' Lineage Training
    • Bodhisattvas Everywhere Talks
    • Practice Circles
  • Membership
    • Become a Member
    • Member Stories
    • Donor Account Management
    • Members' Dharma Library >
      • Dharma Talks
      • Programs & Retreats
      • Sangha Meetings
      • Lineage Training Library >
        • Welcome, Overview, General Resources
        • The Three Vehicles with Elizabeth Mattis Nyamgyel
        • Four Foundations of Mindfulness >
          • Mindfulness of Body
          • Mindfulness of Feelings
          • Mindfulness of Mind
          • Mindfulness of Dharmas
          • Four Foundations Resources
        • Additional Lineage Sessions
        • 37 Bodhisattva Practices
  • About
    • About Us
    • Teachers
    • Directors and Volunteers
  • Giving
    • Practicing Generosity
    • Give a One-Time Gift
  • Resources
    • Books, Prayers, Documentaries and Links
    • The Fourteen Precepts of Engaged Buddhism
    • Mindfulness and Self-Compassion
    • Racial Equity and Buddhist Practice
    • Member & Volunteer Docs
  • Contact
    • Email Sign-up
    • Member's Bulletin Board Sign-up