Below are some things you might want to consider when choosing a program at Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Please feel free to reach out to us at contact@buddhistinquiry.org if you have any questions.
Location
Our programs take place both in person and online, so you can access our Buddhist study and practice community from anywhere in the world. Residential programs take place on our peaceful, wooded campus located in Barre, Massachusetts. Online programs take place through video conferencing and have brought together participants from over 70 countries. A small number of Path programs incorporate both residential and online components. As you select a program, consider what travel and technical arrangements you will need to make to participate.
Experience Level
Each program’s information page indicates whether it is suitable for beginning, intermediate, and/or advanced practitioners. While the majority of our programs are open to beginning and experienced practitioners alike, some programs, such as our Path programs, are geared toward more advanced practitioners and have prerequisites and/or applications to ensure participants are well-suited to what is being offered. When selecting a program, consider how your exposure to Buddhist study and practice might shape your engagement.
Program
Length
Our programs range in length from a single day to over a year. Online programs can be as short as a single day or as long as several weeks. Residential programs often take place over four or five days, but can be anywhere from two days to two weeks long. Path programs can include both online and residential components and last from several months to over a year. Consider how much time you have available for study and practice and how much time you’re willing to dedicate to a particular program.
Program
Type
We offer a variety of programs, including residential, online, and Path programs, which include a combination of online and/or residential components. Some of our programs feel more like a meditation retreat. Others involve more study – including presentations and small and large group discussions – and collaborative exercises. Consider which type of program is most suitable for your preferences.
Program
Topic
We are interested in the ways in which Buddhist teachings and practice are adapted to different cultures, contexts, and individuals and our programs – spanning a wide range of topics and traditions – reflect this. Some of our programs are more focused on particular texts and practices in classical Buddhist traditions; others are more oriented toward developments in contemporary Buddhism or themes raised by practice in the contemporary world. Consider which topics are of most interest to you and which will help you meet your personal study and practice goals.
