Treasure Valley Dharma Friends

Information about this center is no longer updated. This data was last updated on 17 March 2016.

Phone: 208-345-2088
Email: treasurevalleydharmafriends@gmail.com
Website: www.tvdf.blogspt.com
[flickr_set id="72157621939253896"] History The Treasure Valley Dharma Friends grew out of the Boise Dharma Center, which was founded in Boise, Idaho in the 1980s. As a Tibetan Buddhist group, Treasure Valley Dharma Friends follows the Mahayana vehicle to enlightenment. In 2000, the visit by Venerable Robina Courtin, a Buddhist nun from Australia, marked the first activity of the group. At that meeting, she was asked to be the Spiritual Director of the group. Dharma Friends has faced few challenges since its founding and is received positively by the Boise community. Demographics All the religious and social events of the Treasure Valley Dharma Friends are conducted in English, however, Sanskrit is occasionally included in the religious prayers, and Tibetan words are referred to in discussions. The group is predominately Caucasian. 20 to 40 people attend on a regular basis, although there are about 300 people on the mailing list. Most members are between 30 and 50 years of age. As of right now none of the members are youth, although they’re hoping that will grow. Activities and Schedule The Treasure Valley Dharma Friends holds prayers on Saturday at 10 am in the Vietnamese Temple. The prayers begin with a book study, which leads into prayers and meditation. The group then has another session of book study, and concludes with a discussion of the readings. Four times per year the group hosts visiting teachers to lead prayers and meditations. Additionally, Dharma Friends has one “Introduction to Buddhism” class per year, which lasts six weeks. The group also has specialty classes and special events on occasion, and they do one service project each year. Description The Treasure Valley Dharma Friends uses the facilities of the Vietnamese Buddhist Temple for weekly prayers. The Vietnamese Buddhist Temple is a small residential home that has been converted into a temple. It is located in an area of Boise that is both commercial and residential, about 10 minutes from downtown. Outside the temple are two shrines with Buddha statues and small, manicured gardens.