Questions
When can I visit KPC?
The KPC Maryland Prayer Room is open daily from 8am-8pm.
The grounds in Maryland are open daily sunrise to sunset, both on the temple side and the Stupa Peace Park across the street.
The Amitabha Stupa in Sedona, Arizona is also open daily sunrise to sunset.
More Frequent Questions
All are welcome. Jetsunma’s vision is for Kunzang Palyul Choling (KPC) to be a place of refuge for all. Families are welcome; young children should be accompanied by an adult; pets must be on a leash at all times.
No. Meditation is not a prerequisite for any of the activities. If you would like to learn about meditation, you are most welcome to participate in the meditation instruction class, Stabilizing the Mind, that is offered on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10am. You can come for the class in person in the Prayer Room or join us on YouTube.
You are welcome to visit in casual or dressy clothing. Since the Temple has a large monastic community of monks and nuns with vows of celibacy, we ask that visitors do not wear clothing that is unreasonably revealing. If you plan to spend time sitting in the Prayer Room or meditating, you may want to consider wearing clothing that is comfortable rather than too restrictive. While in the Prayer Room or other Teaching Room, we ask that you remove your shoes.
On weekends more of our community is available to answer questions. Otherwise, questions can be sent to kpc@tara.org.
Yes, absolutely. We welcome people of all ages. However, we do not have a child-care program and young children must be supervised by the adults who bring them to the Temple.
Although we don’t restrict you from bringing a dog to the Temple, we also don’t encourage it. Dogs must stay outdoors and cannot be left unattended on the grounds at any time. Dogs must be on a leash at all times, regardless of how well trained or behaved. If you wish to have your dog accompany you on the walking trails in the 65-acre Peace Park, you are welcome to do so, also on a leash. If you do bring your dog, we encourage you to take a walk around the sacred stupas, so your dog, as well as you, may benefit from the blessing. We also ask that you pick up after your dog.
Group visits are welcome in Maryland. We host many youth groups from other religious traditions, as well as school groups. Please schedule the visit in advance by contacting kpc@tara.org.
There is not a restaurant at KPC. There are restaurants in Poolesville and Darnestown.
KPC Maryland does not have lodging or dining on-site. For out-of-town visitors, the nearest options are 20-30 minutes away. No public transportation reaches the temple.
Yes. Although KPC is a Buddhist Temple, dedicated to offering traditional Vajrayana Buddhist teaching and a place of traditional spiritual practice, we welcome guests to take photos of the Stupas and Temple, enjoy the 3 1/2 miles of walking trails and birdwatching in the Peace Park. You are welcome to visit our beautiful crystal collection in the Prayer Room, and also our library where reading material relative to Buddhism and a spiritual path is available to browse through.
To find out about upcoming programs, activities, classes, and special events, please visit our calendar. To subscribe to our newsletter, click here.
