The Spiritual Director of the Center, Venerable Losang Samten, was born in Ribuce Chang, Tibet in 1953. He escaped to India in 1959, and in 1985 earned the degree of Master of Buddhist Sutra and Tantra Studies at Namgyal Monastery, the monastery of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Losang is the founder and Spiritual Director of Tibetan Buddhist Centers in Lake Tahoe, El Paso and Hartford, as well as Philadelphia. He is the first Tibetan Buddhist to have demonstrated the creation of the sand mandala in the United States. Losang resides in Philadelphia when he is not visiting the other Centers or creating mandalas in other cities.
Our educational focus is to teach basic principles of Buddhist thought and practice, but it is not necessary to be a Buddhist to participate in the Center's programs and activities. Our friends and members come to the Center for a variety of reasons, such as religious and philosophical interests, appreciation for traditional Tibetan culture and art forms, or the social enjoyment of our community. Many people especially appreciate our wonderful meditation room. The Center offers classes in Buddhist topics, meditation sessions, seasonal retreats, workshops in traditional arts such as ritual dance, and social gatherings. We also sponsor special events such as performances by monks on tour. Our activities are directed to participants on all levels of experience and knowledge, from introductory classes to advanced practices.
Our members and friends are quite diverse. Whether you wish to visit occasionally or become a committed member, we welcome you.
Everyone, members and non-members alike, are always welcome to participate in classes and special events at the Center, and on our seasonal retreats. We wish to be a resource for as large a community as possible. However, the Center's continuing existence is entirely dependent upon a core of dedicated members. Membership in the Center entitles you to have a voice in the operations and activities of the Center. Your participation can be as simple as attending classes, special events, and membership meetings. Or if you prefer a more active role, you can volunteer to work on one of the many committees, which are formed according to the needs and resources of the Center. We appreciate our members' donations of time and energy as much as we appreciate their financial support.
Monthly dues are necessary in order to provide a stipend for our resident teacher; provide honorariums for guest speakers and teachers; pay the monthly mortgage, utilities, phone bills, etc. to maintain the physical structure; and cover expenses necessary for supporting Center activities, such as photocopying, postage for mailings, advertising fees, etc. The Center is a non-profit organization, and as such dues are tax-deductible. Our tax I.D. number is 23-2593429.
Benefactor Members are life members who make a lump sum donation of $8,000 or more. Monthly dues are not required for benefactors.
Sponsor Members pay dues of $50 or more per month.
Supporting Members are those who cannot pay monthly dues of $50, but they can commit to giving a lesser amount. General members are encouraged to give as much as they can, but any monthly amount of $20 or more will entitle them to be a member.
Only you can decide at what level you can support the Center. The main difference between members and non-members is that members do not pay class fees for regular classes (the suggested donation is $10 per class for non-members). The biggest advantage of membership, though, is knowing that you are playing an important role in sustaining a spiritual resource for yourself and others.
If you are interested in being placed on our email list or becoming a member, please contact us at the below email address:
The Tibetan Buddhist Center, attn: Tresurer
14 Derwen Rd
Bala Cynwyd, Pa., 19004