Founded in the mid-1970s in Woodstock, New York, the monastery was built to answer the “sincere supplication of students in the West who yearned for an authentic Tibetan Buddhist monastery for the study and practice of the Buddha's teachings." Along with others like it in the US, it seeks to spread the teachings of the faith through classes, retreats and meditation.
As is the case with many religions, Buddhism morphed and evolved as it moved around the world. Tibetan Buddhism, with its intricate decorations and complex liturgy, is just one of a number of different subdivisions of the religion. For example, Zen Buddhism is austere and silent; Theradva Buddhism places an emphasis on studying ancient texts; and Pure Land Buddhism eschews long rituals in favor of focusing on virtues.
Buddhism in the US looks slightly different, too. Its teachings are shorter and practitioners are encouraged to ask questions.
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