About The Center
The Guhyasamaja Center is a community of spiritual friends in the Washington DC metro area dedicated to the practice of Tibetan Buddhism. The center was established in 1994 under the spiritual direction of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche as part of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), an international non-profit organization founded in 1975 by Lama Thubten Yeshe, a Tibetan Buddhist monk.
Much has changed since those early days! FPMT has grown considerably. Today, our center is one of more than 160 FPMT centers worldwide! And did you know, what's known today as The Guhyasamaja Center actually started as a small FPMT study group consisting of just a handful of members? For many years, classes were held in private homes and small rented spaces. After a while it became clear — the center needed a larger, more permanent location for its growing base of devoted students and members. With the support of generous benefactors, the center managed to secure a mortgage on its first meditation hall in Fairfax, VA, in 2013.
For more about Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, FPMT and Lama Yeshe, please visit: fpmt.org and lamayeshe.com.
What We Do
The Guhyasamaja Center is committed to helping all beings fulfill their highest potential — boundless wisdom and compassion inspired by an attitude of universal responsibility. Our primary focus is the exploration of the mind — how to understand and work with our mind to overcome inner causes of suffering and dissatisfaction (such as hatred, greed, and ignorance) while cultivating inner causes of happiness (such as love, compassion, patience, and wisdom).
Whether you are new to Buddhism or a long-time practitioner, the center provides classes from FPMT's carefully designed curriculum and other opportunities to learn and practice, suitable for all levels of interest and experience. Please visit our Classes & Events page for details.
Our Lineage and Teachers
The center follows the Tibetan Gelug tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa, the same lineage as His Holiness The Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso. All center classes are taught by qualified instructors with diverse backgrounds and years of experience, including a former abbot of a tantric college, a clinical psychologist and Buddhist practioner of more than 25 years, and several other dedicated members of the monastic and lay Buddhist community. For more information about our lineage and teachers, please visit our Teachers page.
Who We Are
The center's class participants, members, and volunteers are people just like you — searching for happiness and freedom from suffering. All our welcome!
The Guhyasamaja Center is guided by a Board of Directors who volunteer their time to help ensure that all our activities are in harmony with our Spiritual Director Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche's vision for the center. Day-to-day operations are run by a Management Committee, also volunteers. You can find details about our Board and Management Committee members on our Contact page.
Supporting the Center
The center offers its classes, services, and most other events free of charge and is run entirely by volunteers and with donations. For details on how you can support the center and flourish the Buddha's teachings of love, compassion and wisdom in our community and around the world, please visit our Practicing Generosity pages.
Contact Information
The center's contact information is listed at the bottom of each page of this website. You can also visit our Contact page for more information, including accessibility details, directions, parking information, information about our Board and Management Committee members, and more. Click the link for our Contact page.