Nestled in Central Massachusetts, the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies (BCBS) is a “non-profit educational organization dedicated to exploring Buddhist thought and practice as a living tradition faithful to its origins, yet adaptable to the current world.” Founded by Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg in 1991, BCBS has granted access to Buddhist teachings for nearly 25 years. With the goal of offering individuals intellectual and experiential understandings of (early) Buddhism, the center’s programs include conscious investigation of the teachings and silent meditation practice alike.

The courses offered at BCBS are highly diverse, ranging from “The Dharma of Aging: Appreciative Joy in the Good fortune of One’s life” to “Rethinking fulfillment: Buddhist Alternatives to Consumerism.” Programs typically last between two and five days, with costs ranging from and $118 to $750. Attendees are afforded a variety of accommodation options, and prices vary accordingly. In addition, the center offers a self-study program for individuals aspiring to delve into disparate aspects of Buddhist texts in a peaceful setting. For a two+ week period, most self-study participants enjoy private accommodations and access to resident Buddhist scholars at the price of $40/ night. Moreover, some programs award continuing education credits to psychologists and social workers, and scholarships are available for the vast majority of course offerings.

In keeping with the Buddhist tradition of freely offered teachings, BCBS only reimburses teachers for basic costs such as travel. Therefore, program participants have the option of giving Dāna (donations) to their teachers. Overall, the center is fairly easy to locate with the use of GPS. All contact information is listed on the organization’s main webpage: https://www.bcbsdharma.org.