Over the last 5 years, the Bodhisara Dharma Community has drawn together people in the Amherst-Northampton area of western Massachusetts not only to learn the teachings and practices of the Buddha, but to embody them in a supportive and inclusive spiritual “home." We teach insight meditation and other practices from the Theravadin Buddhist tradition. We are non-sectarian in spirit, open to all, and have members who also practice in other traditions, Buddhist as well as Jewish and Christian.

             The name Bodhisàra is in the Pali language from the time of the Buddha.  It represents the aspiration to make an awakened and compassionate understanding-- bodhi--be the core or heartwood--sàra --around which our lives grow and a source of strength against the vicissitudes of life.  

            It started in the Fall of 1997 with insight meditation classes led by Mark Hart in Amherst. These have continued one night per week since that time and have been well attended.  The Community Gatherings, originally called "Householder Practice Groups," started in January 1998.  These offer something quite rare among western Buddhist practitioners: the chance to practice in a setting where young people can also participate. One-day retreats also began spring 1998. Originally these classes and events were sponsored by Mark and Kate, but in the spring of 1999, as the community and its administrative work began to grow, they appealed to volunteers to create a non-profit organization to share the many jobs that make up this work.  At that time the Dharma Study Group was created and the Community Gatherings moved to Mt. Toby Friends Meeting. Starting this January Bodhisàra will now sponsor Mark's Tuesday evening classes in Amherst .

            All who support our mission to bring the Dharma to this area and establish it in our culture are encouraged to join as members, but all Bodhisàra events are open to non-members.  There is no charge for membership, though members are asked to contribute toward the operating expenses of the community and the support of the teacher's livelihood. To become a member or to find out more about Bodhisàra Dharma Community, contact Mark Hart at (413) 259-2145.  

            Bodhisara board of directors includes Andy Curtis, Steve Braun, Mark and Kate Hart, Amy Kahn, Lee Paddy, Michael and Joyce Silverstone, Lori Tanner, Susan and Rene Theberge.  

On Building Community    

 This is the first issue of the Bodhisara Dharma Community newsletter and our first time online.  We took the time to create this web site because we see this as a way for our community to flourish--for everyone to know what is happening, to become excited about what is happening, to think about important issues related to our practice, to provide a forum for response, and to feel the support and connection of a larger community, no matter in which activities one happens to participate.         

               Though we do not have a building to call our own, this website can bring us together to share information about what we are doing and what is happening in our lives. We want our site, as well as our community to include a diversity of voices and contributions. In closing, we invite you to consider this partial list of ways you can take an active role in sharing the work of our community:

• Contribute to our quarterly newsletter, sent to our email and mailing list and posted on the website.  We're looking for articles, poems, pictures from our events, community news, and questions on meditation or Buddha Dharma for the upcoming "Ask Mark" column

• Support or contribute to fundraising efforts

• Register for events and classes

• Talk about our community to friends who might be interested 

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