All are welcome to our entire schedule. If you are new to Tibetan Buddhism (or to the Drikung Kagyu lineage)  we host a "Beginner's Night" on Tuesdays at 7pm. We cover a variety of meditation methods and explain some of the other practices that we hold during the week. We also discuss the Dharma and answer questions. "Sunday Morning Dharma" at 10am is also a great entry point. We are a community of spiritual practitioners here to help each other.  You are welcome to let us know what you wish to accomplish. 

In addition to our regular schedule, we hold special practices during the month such as Phowa,  Milarepa Tsok, and Guru Rinpoche Activity Ritual and we host a variety of visiting teachers throughout the year.  Subscribing to our Email Newsletter is the best way to stay informed. Emails are sent approximately once a week with a couple more on occasionally busy weeks. 

The center was founded by Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen Rinpoche in the
early 1980s. Since then, it has existed continuously first in Boston on
Commonwealth Avenue, then in Newton, we then moved to Somerville.
In 2007 the center moved to Arlington, MA our current location.

Everyone is welcome to come to the center. We are here to serve the community and to bring the happiness and joy of Buddhism to everyone who is interested. Click here for directions. Please call or email us with any questions you may have.

We are a branch of Tibet's Katsel monastery, and are the home of the U.S. Drikung Jowo Rinpoche statue, an emanation replica of the Jowo Rinpoche statue in Lhasa, Tibet.  Standing 8 feet tall, this is the only statue of its kind in the United States. Saturdays from 1pm - 5pm the center is open to visitors.  You can view the statue,  have a cup of tea, meditate, or shop in the Dharma Shop. Check the calendar before you come to insure that we are open. 

Katsel Monastery, one of the oldest monasteries in Tibet, was built by Dharma King Songsten Gampo in the 7th century in an effort to control a local demonic force that was interfering with establishing the Dharma in Tibet. This force was seen as a great ogress, and a system of twelve temples were built to control her. The Jo Khang nails down her heart, and Katsel binds her right leg. The Nyingma, Gelug, and Kagyu lineages of Tibetan Buddhism all have shared in Katsel’s rich history. In the 16th century, Rinchen Puntsok, the 17th Drikung lineage holder, gave Yangzab teachings at Katsel, and from that point on, Katsel became Drikung Kagyu.

A historical highlight: Dhagpa monastery has a close connection with Katsel, and they have helped each other in the past, and are still helping each other today. During the Mongolian invasion of Tibet, Dhagpa monastery, a Gelug institution, gave Katsel tea cups with the Gelug insignia on them. Tagtdu Rinpoche showed the Mongolian leader these cups, and Katsel was spared from the fate of being burned. The other monasteries in the area were not so fortunate. During the recent Cultural Revolution, Katsel was completely destroyed. The picture is of the result of the recent effort to rebuild Katsel.