A Dharma Centre (Sanskrit) or Dhamma Centre (Pali) is a non-monastic
Buddhist
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and ...
centre in a community.
According to the
Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition
The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) was founded in 1975 by Lamas Thubten Yeshe and Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, who began teaching Mahayana Buddhism to Western students in Nepal. The FPMT has grown to encompass over ...
, the function of these centres is to preserve and spread the teachings of Buddhism. Many of the larger centres have lay residents. According to the
New Kadampa Tradition
The New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT—IKBU) is a global Buddhist new religious movement founded by Kelsang Gyatso in England in 1991. In 2003 the words "International Kadampa Buddhist Union" (IKBU) were a ...
, dharma centres provide the focus of a local Buddhist community and provide facilities for study, practice and living by moral precepts.
References
Buddhist communities
Buddhist organizations
Buddhist education
Buddhism and society
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