What we’re about
Welcome to Dharma Drink!
A great way to get Dharma connected in New York!
- Connect people to people
- Connect pople to Buddhist centers
We are doing both IN-PERSON and VIRTUAL events. Please check the meetup schedules.
- - - - - Prior to Rubin Museum’s closure of the physical space on 17th street - - - - -
Dharma Drink is now Self Service!
The table is always reserved in the same spot - just show up and see what happens - just like if you were hanging out meeting other Buddhists and travelers randomly in Kathamandu, India, Japan, Korea... And don't take the RSVP too seriously - people are coming now who don't RSVP. The word is getting out....
Everyone is invited! Dharma Drink is all about building community amongst the Buddhist and like minded crowd in New York City. Greg, the founder, was inspired to start Dharma Drink by hanging out with all of the great students of all of the different lamas in Kathmandu - Kagyu, Nyingma, Sakya, Gelug - totally Rimey (also Zen, Thai, Theravadan, yoga travelers, and the curious - just about everyone!). Everyone became great friends and learned from each other. We're there every Friday night - see you there.
Motivation: To make the Rubin Museum Lounge on Friday night the Buddhist and like-minded hang-out spot in New York. If you like Buddhas or to meditate - then you'll love the Rubin!
Who: ALL ARE INVITED. Feel free to spread the word. The more, the merrier.
[ - - NOTE as of 2025: We are not meeting every Friday at Rubin as the physical museum has closed - - ]
Time: 6:30-?pm
Date: Every Friday - like clockwork
Place: Rubin Museum Lounge, 17th Street and 7th Avenue
How to find us: Look for a table with the small sign "Dharma Drink" + Lounge staff will know where we are.
www.dharmadrink.com
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Book Discussion: Platform Sutra (Zen Foundational Text) - Ven Master Hsuan HuaLink visible for attendees
Let's embark on another Dharma exploration and discuss The Sixth Patriarch's Dharma Jewel Platform Sutra (Zen/Chan foundational text) and the commentaries by late Venerable Master Hsuan Hua.. We will take our time to discuss this book and meet once every two to three weeks.
READING:
- Beginning through "A General Introduction"DESCRIPTION
Master Hui Neng of Tang Dynasty China (7th century) expounded the doctrine of no-thought and sudden enlightenment through meditation. This book covers such topics as ignorance and enlightenment, different levels of consciousness and ultimate reality.Hui Neng was the sixth Buddhist patriarch in China. He was a successor in the line of Bodhidharma, the first Chinese patriarch and 28th Indian patriarch from Shakyamuni Buddha.
The commentary in the book was provided by Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua, a former instructor at Nan Hua Monastery near Canton, China, the Bodhimanda of the Sixth Patriarch.
WHERE TO GET THE BOOK:
- Amazon Link (the third edition)
- Online Book Link Does not contain certain book specific preface, introductions, editor's note.
- Buddhist Text Link
NOTE: that we are here to read, exchange and help each other. We’re not here to expound. If you need deeper learning, please go visit a Buddhist teaching center. We will be adhering to the contents of the book. We will not have any inter-religious discussions. If you like to discuss any topics with anyone not pertaining to the book, we advise you to initiate a conversation with whomever on another zoom at another time, not during the book club discussion. Thank you for understanding.
- - - About the Commentator
Venerable Master Hsuan Hua established the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas (CTTB) in Ukiah, California, which serves as one of the first Chan Buddhist monasteries in America. He also founded the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, with its administrative headquarters in Burlingame, California.Per weblink - https://www.drba.org/our-founder.html
One of the most eminent Chinese Buddhist masters of the twentieth century, the Venerable Master Hsüan Hua (Xuanhua,1918-1995) was a monastic reformer and the first Chinese master to teach Buddhism to large numbers of Westerners. During his long career he emphasized the primacy of the monastic tradition, the essential role of moral education, the need for Buddhists to ground themselves in traditional spiritual practice and authentic scripture, and the importance of respect and understanding among religions. To attain these goals, he focused on clarifying the essential principles of the Buddha’s original teachings, on establishing a properly ordained monastic community, on organizing and supporting the translation of the Buddhist Canon into English and other languages, and on the establishment of schools, religious training programs, and programs of academic research and teaching. - NYC Vesak Celebration @ Columbia University (Multi-Sanghas - Thera, Maha, Vajra)James Chapel, New York, NY
Dear Dharma Drink friends,
Let's celebrate Vesak with various NYC Buddhist sanghas at Columbia University's Union Theological Seminary ("UTS").
Details:
12:40pm - Meet in front of James Chapel, UTS
1:00pm - Vesak Celebration
4:00pm - Mingle with fellow Buddhist friends and maybe head to dinner nearby.UTS: Join us in community as we gather to celebrate Vesak, a sacred day commemorating the birth, awakening, and Parinibbana of the Buddha. We welcome you to this special occasion—a time to cultivate wisdom, compassion, and peace in the heart of New York City.
UTS: Program Highlights:
- Bathing of the Buddha
- Offering Chants and Prayers
- Short Dharma Talks.
This celebration is co-sponsored by the Thích Nhất Hạnh Program for Engaged Buddhism, the Buddhist Council of New York, and the Columbia University Buddhist Association.
All are welcome. We look forward to celebrating with you!Please also RSVP with the sponsoring organization to help the organizer manage.
< - - - RSVP with Sponsors - - - >/|\
- - - VESAK - - -
Per UN: "'Vesak"' the Day of the Full Moon in the month of May, is the most sacred day to millions of Buddhists around the world. It was on the Day of Vesak two and a half millennia ago, in the year 623 B.C., that the Buddha was born. It was also on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha attained enlightenment, and it was on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha in his eightieth year passed away."
