World Religions in Greater Boston: Home

History

In 1989, the Tibetan-US Resettlement Project (TUSRP), a coalition of Tibetans-in-exile and their American supporters, persuaded the United States Congress to provide one thousand visas for Tibetans as a part of the Immigration Act of 1990. The Tibetan immigrants were resettled in 18 cluster areas throughout the United States. Judith Chaskes, a resident of Brockton, Massachusetts and the director of the Bodhicitta Center, played an active role in this movement. Presently, Chaskes continues to be personally invested in facilitating the development and success of two resettlement sites in Cambridge/Somerville and Amherst, Massachusetts. Through her activism in support of the Immigration Act of 1990, Chaskes was contacted when one of the first groups of Tibetan monks came to the west in order to raise desperately needed funds for the refugee communities in India and Nepal. For decades she has welcomed Tibetan monks and nuns into her residence, providing a living space and a venue for teaching Buddhism.

Supporters continuously encouraged Chaskes to start an official organization, which resulted in the 1998 establishment of the Bodhicitta Center. The Bodhicitta Center coordinates extensive visits and tours for the monks to the Greater Boston area, including college and secondary school teachings, and residential stays. These are educational experiences for all parties involved, as the monks are introduced to everything from Boston Duck Boat Tours, to television appearances, to the proper loading and unloading of dishwashing machines. Most of the monastics who visit the Bodhicitta Center come from Ganden Monastary in Mungod, South India.

In addition to gathering at Chaskes’s residence, the Bodhicitta Center utilizes Tregelly’s Fiber Farm in Hawley, Massachusetts for retreats and gatherings. The farm is open to the public as is the site of a stupa built and dedicated in 2002 to commemorate the victims of 9/11 and to those who have died for freedom globally. This western Massachusetts location also serves as a compassionate final home for a number of lame or abandoned animals, as well as a habitat for alpacas and yaks that are raised for their hair.

Description

In a sky-lit room, a large sectional couch faces a mantel displaying Tibetan Buddha figures, prayer flags, and images of various Bodhisattvas and serves as the main altar. The couch, which has conveniently served as beds for visiting monks, is easily pushed aside for sitting space and meditation cushions. The wood paneling throughout the room is decorated with thangkas (sacred Tibetan paintings) and tapestries of dharma wheels draped with katas (blessing scarves). Many of these have been gifts of the Ganden Monastery and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Outside there is a stone terrace used during outdoor lectures, along with ample space for walking meditation.

Activities and Schedule

The Bodhicitta Center’s regular meditation and chanting group has been inactive for several years, although its organizers hope to reconvene in the coming months. However, during this time Tibetan scholars and religious leaders have made visits throughout the year, where they offer lectures and teachings on an intermittent schedule. Affiliated with the Bodhicitta Center, Tregelly’s Fiber Farm serves as a space for retreats and gatherings.

Demographics

The Bodhicitta Center has a longstanding member-base of local Tibetan activists and western Buddhists. Those who wish for a more regular schedule of sittings and training in Tibetan Buddhism have been referred to the Kurukalla Center in Medford. For large events featuring visiting Tibetan scholars, the Bodhicitta Center advertises locally to gain community support.