Welcome to The Blue Lotus Dharma Center (BLDC)
We are a small volunteer driven nonsectarian Buddhist temple in the Dutchtown Neighborhood of St. Louis, MO. We offer Bodhisattva Yana (Mahayana) Buddhist service and classes in English that all are welcome to attend. We offer these services without charge to the community, however, donations are accepted and appreciated. Please join us if you are looking for a spiritual community or if you are just curious to learn more about Buddhism.
Current BLDC Events:
Ngakmo Jamyang Drolma will come to St. Louis on Sunday, July 4th to provide Buddhist Refuge for anyone who is interested. The event will be broadcast live on Zoom at 10:00 am using our Sunday Service link!
WE ARE OPEN!: People can visit BLDC Sunday mornings during service OR continue using our LIVE online services. Please feel free to join us for our Sunday 10:00 am - 11:30 am services at the BLDC or using Zoom. Thank You!
Mission: Do Your Best. Speak The Truth.
The Blue Lotus Dharma Center (BLDC) is the headquarters of the Center for American Buddhist Practice. The BLDC approaches the Teachings of the Buddha in a two-fold way: First is to present the teachings in a very pragmatic way specifically for the American community without abandoning traditional Buddhist ceremonies; Secondly, by offering traditional ceremonies that are free from any one specific culture and still strongly promote the true essence, proper conduct and requirements of those ceremonies.
The BLDC supports all reasonable Buddhist traditions and offers an environment where practitioners from any tradition/lineage can come and practice. This is not meant to be a replacement for those that are members of specific lineages or orders, but rather a “home away from home” for those that may not have a center or temple near by. For others, due to the approach to the Buddhadharma that the BLDC offers, this is home. Either way, everyone is welcome.
One of the ways the BLDC looks to support all Buddhist traditions and the community of practitioners as a whole is by seeking to invite as many qualified teachers from the various schools and traditions to come and give teachings, empowerments or talks. The intent is to not only provide insight and education but to also promote a sense of unity between the various traditions, developing insight, knowledge, and deeper awareness within a safe and open-minded community.
The BLDC supports all reasonable Buddhist traditions and offers an environment where practitioners from any tradition/lineage can come and practice. This is not meant to be a replacement for those that are members of specific lineages or orders, but rather a “home away from home” for those that may not have a center or temple near by. For others, due to the approach to the Buddhadharma that the BLDC offers, this is home. Either way, everyone is welcome.
One of the ways the BLDC looks to support all Buddhist traditions and the community of practitioners as a whole is by seeking to invite as many qualified teachers from the various schools and traditions to come and give teachings, empowerments or talks. The intent is to not only provide insight and education but to also promote a sense of unity between the various traditions, developing insight, knowledge, and deeper awareness within a safe and open-minded community.
New Visitor Information
Please join us every Sunday 10:00am - 11:30am for our Nonsectarian Buddhist Service! Sunday services are held at 3463 Itaska Street, St. Louis, Missouri, in the Dutchtown Neighborhood. The primary teacher and Spiritual Director of BLDC is Lama Chokyi Lodu, who leads Sunday service online and visits for special events. If you are visiting the Blue Lotus Dharma Center for the first time, we are glad you are coming to join us! Our space is set up to be welcoming and conducive to visitors including: services conducted in English, binders that outline all service activities, both cushion and chair seating. Unfortunately, we do not have wheel chair access. We are currently working on this problem and hope to have a solution sometime soon. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Even if you want to visit because you are working on project, religious studies or world religions class we welcome you and any questions! There will be a Sangha member here to great you and make you feel comfortable. Visitors may wear whatever you like. Just please make sure that what you wear will not distract others from the service. We also ask that people take off their shoes when they enter, and maintain a respectful atmosphere inside the temple. For more specific information click the links below:
Even if you want to visit because you are working on project, religious studies or world religions class we welcome you and any questions! There will be a Sangha member here to great you and make you feel comfortable. Visitors may wear whatever you like. Just please make sure that what you wear will not distract others from the service. We also ask that people take off their shoes when they enter, and maintain a respectful atmosphere inside the temple. For more specific information click the links below:
Dharma Talk Considerations & Basic Temple Etiquette
Local Emergency Contacts
St. Louis Area Resource Directory
Local Emergency Contacts
St. Louis Area Resource Directory