NWDA Executive Director George Draffan with his partner, former NWDA President Julene Schlack.

We’ve just kicked off our spring drive to broaden engagement in Northwest Dharma Association. Our goal is to broaden the association to more fully include the hundreds of Buddhist temples, organizations, and sitting groups across the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada.

NWDA currently has 110 member groups… Will you help us double this number?

Each group has a unique history, its own way of practicing, and a complementary perspective on the dharma. Our region’s diversity contributes to the Mahasangha, or great community, of all sanghas and practitioners.

Over the next few months I and others, NWDA staff, board members and volunteers, will be reaching out to connect and reconnect with sanghas near and far. You can help!

Everyone reading this can support our initiative by talking with teachers and groups that might be interested in participating in the association. Ask them to visit NorthwestDharma.org or to give us a call. We’ll be happy to discuss the benefits of NWDA group membership, just a few of which include:

• Each member group having its own profile in NWDA’s online directory https://northwestdharma.org/member-group-directory/
• Member groups posting their events in our online calendar https://northwestdharma.org/events/
• Receiving invitations to teachers’ meetings and other gatherings of Buddhists from multiple traditions.

Northwest Dharma Association member groups receive these and other benefits of membership. But the benefits of participation go much deeper.

Member groups are invited to host those teachers and mahasangha gatherings. Whether you have a large temple or a cozy living room, NWDA is ready to help you organize and facilitate a gathering.

Buddhist groups also are organizing a growing variety of social services. Membership in NWDA is a great way to hear about, and contribute, to these worthy projects.

As an association of sanghas, we’re interested in broadening and deepening our relationships with Buddhists from different traditions, and with the larger community around us. Our own practice and lives are enriched, and it opens opportunities to learn about and be of service to others.

In a world where it’s easy to become isolated and defensive, let’s join together to awaken our understanding and compassion for the sake of all beings.

Please help Northwest Dharma Association support a larger, more inclusive Mahasangha.

Encourage Buddhist organizations to become group members of NWDA.

Attend a Mahasangha event.

Join us on Facebook, Twitter, and MeetUp.

And support the association with a recurring contribution of any size.

Thank you!
George Draffan
NWDA executive director