After wandering 27 years, Tibetan Buddhists find N. Philly home [View all]

FEBRUARY 26, 2017 — 7:20 PM EST
by Dan Geringer, Staff Writer

Ending 27 years of wandering in the desert of urban rental spaces, former monk Losang Samten tossed a handful of rice into the cold breeze blowing down Marshall Street just south of Girard. He gave the ring-finger-to-thumb sign of compassion, and welcomed his diverse Tibetan Buddhist Center of Philadelphia worshipers to the first home they’ve ever owned, a lovingly renovated former market.

Samten led a Sunday service of prayers, chants, silent meditations and his faith’s all-inclusive, all-embracing, bedrock messages of loving compassion for everyone. “No one is asked what his background is, what his belief is, whether you are Buddhist or non-Buddhist,” Samten said.

He told a favorite story about meeting for decades above an old firehouse in Powelton Village, in artists’ lofts at Ninth and Spring Garden until a fire caused the building to be condemned and, when all else failed, in each other’s homes.

“During a visit to Philadelphia in 2008, the Dalai Lama looked at his watch and said, ‘Oh, we have a little time. I’d like to visit your center.’

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/After-27-year-search-Tibetan-Buddhists-find-N-Philly-home.html