A Reader Wrote:
Over the last week or so, I’ve been listening to the Daily Buddhism podcase. I started with 0, and now I’ve made it to 23. The Four Noble Truths, 8-fold Path and 5-Precepts helped me tremendously to determine what is basic.
This morning, I reached out to a local Buddhist community I found online; I plan to attempt a teaching session in a few days. I confess, I was a little taken aback by the chanting videos I saw on their web site.
Also this morning, I made it to episode 20 in your podcast teaching. You discussed that Tibetian Buddists chant in the Tibetian language. This was revealing.
I live in the Dayton, Ohio area as well. Is it still true that the only local community is Tibetian? I realize I’m listening to content from 2008. (Your story about the wind storm and subsequent power loss took me on a trip down memory lane.)
I’m hoping to hear another more ‘Zen-type’ group has surfaced in the last 5 years.
My Response:
I’ve included below a list of the groups/organizations I know of in the area. Be sure to note that I’ve not been to any of these, except Gar Drolma, and that was several years ago. I’m not recommending or endorsing any of these. There are probably others in the area that I don’t know about. If I’ve missed one, please post details in the comment section.
Also consider the Internet. There are many other great websites and podcasts out there pertaining to Buddhism and Meditation. Books, magazines, and videos are also available. Do not be afraid to “Go it alone” if your community doesn’t have what you want. Don’t ever feel that you need to go to some group that believes things that you don’t. Having a good Sangha (Community) is important, but in modern times, a Sangha doesn’t have to be local. It’s my opinion that there are many modern, and completely legitimate) substitutes for “Going to church on Sundays.”
But anyway, to answer your question:
The Dayton Area has a few Buddhist places now that weren’t around when I posted all that. Here’s an updated list:
Gar Drolma (Tibetan)
1329 Creighton Ave. Dayton, OH 45420 | (937) 252-2220
http://www.gardrolma.org
Soka Gakkai International (Soka Gakkai)
4700 Wilmington Pike, Kettering, OH. 45440 | 937.433.0097
http://sgi-usa.org/sgilocations/results_list.php?showonly=US&tab=US&distance=20&state=WV
Dharma Center of Dayton (Ekayana)
425 Patterson Road, Dayton, Ohio 45419 | 937-750-5416
http://www.rkina-dayton.com
Zen Fellowship of Dayton (Zen)
8690 Yankee Street, Dayton, Ohio 45458
http://www.cincinnatizencenter.org/zfd.html