Open House & Meditation 101

Open House

Tara Mandala is open to the public several times each year. You are welcome to join us for a guided tour of our beautiful Retreat Center and Tara Temple, which includes a brief introduction to meditation with time for Q&A and a vegetarian buffet lunch. Please plan to arrive by 9:30am. All visitors must sign in at the office. The tour starts promptly at 10am and ends by 1pm, followed by lunch. Our Tara Mandala Store will be open during your visit. We look forward to welcoming you to Tara Mandala!

Visiting at other times is by appointment. 

9:30AM – Check-in

10:00AM – 1:00PM : Open House Guided Tour   

1:00 – 1:45PM – Lunch

We invite you to spend the day with us and attend the Meditation 101 class that follows lunch.  

There is no charge but online registration is required. See below for registration options.

Meditation 101

Classes will be taught by Lama Tsultrim Allione or a Tara Mandala Authorized Teacher.  This class will take place after the Tara Mandala Open House Tour and lunch. We encourage you to make a day of it by coming to the morning Open House as well.

Meditation has been scientifically proven to boost the immune system, lower blood pressure, relieve depression, increase productivity, and induce creative thinking. Mindfulness, which has its roots in the teachings of the Buddha, has hit the mainstream: An NBC announcer has just written a book about it and teachers are gradually introducing it into our nation’s school systems. Now seems like a good time to check it out, right?

Through sitting and walking meditations, short talks, and time for sharing and discussion, this afternoon class will introduce you to the basics of Buddhist meditation.

You do not need to be a Buddhist to attend or to derive great benefit from meditation. This course is suitable for all levels, from complete beginners to experienced practitioners.

Please plan to arrive by 2:30pm. All visitors must sign in at the office. The class will start promptly at 3pm and ends at 5:30pm.

There is no charge but online registration is required. See below for registration options.

This class is free but if you’d like to offer the teacher a donation (dana), you may do so with cash or check (made payable to the teacher). 

Optional suggested dana is a sliding scale of $5 – $20.

Note on dana: Dana is the Pali word for generosity. The teachers in our programs donate their time in service to the Dharma and only receive what retreatants offer at the end of each course. There will be an opportunity to make a dana offering at the end of class, but please know it is not required.