In my freshman year of college, I stumbled upon the Dharma while in search of a community. I happened to go to the first and only college in the United States with a co-ed, Buddhist fraternity, and I had met a few people who told me they thought I might find a home there. I attended my first ever meditation and Dharma discussion on a Wednesday evening in 2019, and all I really wanted at the time was to have a pleasant time to make some new friends. While I didn’t know much about Buddhism going in, I quickly realized that the community had much more to offer than just companionship. I began attending meditations and Dharma discussions regularly, and it felt like I was experiencing new revelations every time.
Being introduced to Buddhist wisdom alongside a community of young Westerners who were figuring out how these teachings applied to our own lives was eye-opening. I began to recognize both new ways of navigating the world and some of the flaws in the way I had been navigating it myself.
I didn’t grow up Buddhist. I didn’t have a Buddhist family or a longstanding relationship with any temple or Buddhist group. My journey into Dharma began almost unintentionally, as I was not particularly seeking it out. Nevertheless, it didn’t take long at all for me to realize that Buddhism was something I wanted to really explore on a deeper level.
Over the next four years, I became increasingly involved, eventually leading the group as an upper-classman. I became the person leading meditations, preparing Dharma discussions, and conducting outreach to local temples and monasteries for the group to go on visits and attend retreats. Buddhism moved from something I knew nothing about, to an interest, and then eventually something that I practiced. After graduating college, I even began working at the Buddhist temple run by the same person who founded the college group.
My experience was unique, and I also believe I was quite lucky in terms of time and place, as my own path into Dharma was shaped by the particular circumstances of being a college student with access to an on-campus Buddhist community. But what about someone who doesn’t happen to have that opportunity?
For this special issue focused on young people and the future of the Dharma, I wanted to look beyond my own experience. Where can young people actually go when they want to explore Buddhism? What does “starting a Buddhist practice” look like today? Buddhist wisdom has changed my life, and while I have introduced it to many of my own friends and family, I feel passionately that on a larger scale, the Dharma and corresponding practices have the potential to truly transform the lives of young Westerners. In a world where not everybody is stumbling upon a beginner-friendly Buddhist community as conveniently as I did, I am compelled to explore what other kinds of communities are making room for a new generation of young practitioners.
Before exploring specific Buddhist communities, places, and opportunities, I first want to share why the Dharma might speak to and improve the lives of young, Western people. And although I speak of the youth quite broadly, I understand that “young people” aren’t a monolith. In the West especially, young people come from a wide variety of backgrounds, upbringings, traditions, and experiences.
The fact of the matter is, no matter what our individual histories are, the foundational teachings of the Buddha offer ideas that many of us can find relevant to our lives, the first of which being the Four Noble Truths. The first of the Four Noble Truths is the truth of dukkha, often translated as “suffering,” though the concept is more nuanced than the English word suggests. Duhkha encompasses all suffering, dissatisfaction, discomfort, and unease that are inherent to the human experience.
And this is where I think the Dharma can become particularly relevant to young people. Young adulthood is riddled with dukkha, whether it be uncertainty about the future, career and financial pressure, relationship uncertainty, loneliness, comparison, and an ever-persistent pressure to “figure things out.” We are constantly encouraged to believe that once all of these things are straightened out, happiness is waiting just around the corner, if only we can get our lives into the right shape.
But duhkha isn’t unique to young people, nor is it something we can simply grow out of. As long as we are human, we will inevitably experience dissatisfaction, loss, uncertainty, disappointment, and change. No amount of success or happiness can permanently protect us from those things.
I don’t think this is necessarily a pessimistic way of looking at life. If dissatisfaction is a universal part of being human, perhaps we don’t need to interpret every difficult feeling as evidence that something has gone wrong. Instead, as the Buddha suggested, we can become curious about our suffering and begin to understand where it comes from and how we might relate to it differently. As a young person experiencing all of the struggles I listed (and more), the concept of relating to my suffering differently has absolutely transformed not only my outlook on life but the ways in which I respond to those struggles through my thoughts, words, and actions in the face of adversity.
In the remainder of the Four Noble Truths, the Buddha explored the causes of duhkha, taught that freedom from it is possible, and offered a path for cultivating that freedom. While there is far more to these teachings than I could possibly cover here, even beginning to explore them has the potential to change the way we understand our own experiences. For young people navigating an often uncertain and rapidly changing stage of life, I think there is something especially valuable in simply becoming curious about these teachings and seeing what they might reveal about the way we experience the world.
One of the teachings that has most shaped the way I understand that world is the Buddhist concept of impermanence. The Buddhist teaching of impermanence is the recognition that all things are constantly changing and that nothing remains exactly as it is forever. This applies to everything from our circumstances and relationships to our thoughts, emotions, bodies, and identities. Young adulthood in particular is full of things that don’t stay still: friendships change, relationships begin and end, people move, careers shift, identities and interests evolve, and the person you once thought you would become may not actually come to fruition.
When I was first introduced to the concept of impermanence, I was actively resisting all of the big changes going on in my life because I was uncomfortable with them. All changes, even those deemed “good,” come with some sort of loss, and that was especially scary for me. Beginning college meant not only leaving my community behind, but adopting an entirely new schedule, lifestyle, and routine based around my education, environment, and new shared living space. I struggled to let go of the life I had known, even as I was excited to begin a new one. I wanted to embrace everything that college had to offer without having to lose anything that came before it. This constant grasping ultimately led to feelings of anxiety, frustration, and a constant sense that I was missing something.
Learning about impermanence gave me a different way of understanding that tension. Change didn’t mean that something had gone wrong, nor did moving forward require me to diminish the importance of what I was leaving behind. I could appreciate a chapter of my life while accepting that it was a chapter, rather than trying to hold onto it indefinitely. Throughout every step of my journey with the Dharma since then, somehow I am always brought back to the law of impermanence, and it has transformed from something that was once terrifying to an incredibly grounding reminder of the freedom and lightness that comes from accepting change.
Another Buddhist teaching that has profoundly changed the way I understand my own life is the concept of the three poisons: greed, aversion, and ignorance. As outlined in the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths, these are described as three root causes of suffering, or the mental habits that keep us caught in cycles of duhkha. While the terminology can sound heavy, the basic idea is surprisingly relatable: we tend to grasp at the things we want, push away the things we don’t want, and fail to see things clearly as they actually are. Greed, sometimes described as attachment or craving, is our tendency to cling to what we find pleasurable or desirable. Aversion is the opposite impulse, and our desire to escape or push away whatever makes us uncomfortable. And ignorance, or delusion, is our tendency to misunderstand reality, particularly by failing to recognize impermanence and the ways our own perceptions shape our experience.
Once I learned about the three poisons, I started noticing them everywhere. I began recognizing my own tendency to chase certain experiences while resisting others, or to become frustrated when reality didn’t match the way I thought it should. Rather than judging myself for these reactions, the teaching gave me a framework for becoming curious about them. In that way, I think these questions can be particularly powerful for young people. We are constantly being told what we should want, what we should avoid, and what our lives are supposed to look like. Buddhist wisdom encourages us to view these impulses not as personal failures, but as patterns we can learn to recognize and understand.
These are only a few of the many Buddhist teachings that have shaped my own journey, but they offer a glimpse into why I believe the Dharma can be so meaningful for young people. What has been so transformational in my journey is how naturally these lessons can be transformed into practice and action. Contrary to popular belief, Buddhism is way more than a collection of philosophical ideas. The teachings simply provide us a foundation for practice, such as meditation, mindfulness, compassion, generosity, right speech, and much more.
You don’t need to have grown up Buddhist, understand every Buddhist concept, or know exactly what you believe before beginning to explore and practice it. Sometimes, all it takes is a little curiosity—and knowing where to look. For many young people, college can be one of the easiest places to encounter Buddhism. Universities often provide opportunities to explore religion and spirituality outside of any particular family or cultural background, and Buddhist student organizations can offer a community of peers who are also figuring things out.
These groups can look very different from one another. Some are centered around meditation, while others focus more heavily on Buddhist philosophy, cultural traditions, service, or simply creating community. At the University of Pennsylvania, for example, and much like the student organization I was in at San Diego State University, the Penn Meditation and Buddhism Club offers sitting meditation, mindfulness practice, Buddhist text discussion, deep listening, and compassion meditation.
A university can also provide opportunities to study Buddhism academically. Many colleges offer undergraduate courses in Buddhist Studies, with coursework spanning Buddhist history, literature, philosophy, and visual culture. UCLA’s Center for Buddhist Studies also offers public programming and undergraduate opportunities for students interested in studying Buddhism more deeply.
And these opportunities don’t necessarily require someone to already identify as Buddhist. At Texas A&M, for example, the newly established Zen Buddhist Student Association describes itself as a welcoming space for students to learn about Zen philosophy, meditation, and mindful living, with weekly meditation and beginner-friendly study groups. It seems as though college groups such as these are becoming increasingly popular. So, for a college student who is curious but doesn’t know where to begin, I would first recommend checking their university’s student organization directory, religious life office, or Asian studies department as a surprisingly good first step.
Of course, not everyone discovers Buddhism during college, and graduating doesn’t mean the search for a mindful community has to end. Across the country, Buddhist centers and meditation communities are creating spaces specifically for young adults, often recognizing that the experience of practicing alongside people in a similar stage of life can be different from attending a general community.
In major cities across the US, local Zen Centers host a regular Young Adult Sangha for people roughly ages 18–30. Previous experience with meditation or Buddhism is rarely required, and gatherings often include meditation instruction, Dharma discussion, and time to build community. For those who do not have a local Zen or Meditation center in their town, many larger Buddhist youth groups have a global online presence, livestreaming meditation practice and hosting virtual meeting spaces.
For example, Wake Up is a global community of young mindfulness practitioners ages 18–35 inspired by the teachings of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Its groups meet both in person and online for sitting and walking meditation, Dharma teachings, deep listening, and discussion, with groups located around the world. These kinds of groups can be particularly useful for someone who wants more than a one-time meditation class. A young-adult sangha can provide the opportunity to repeatedly return to the same community, develop friendships, ask questions, and see how other people are incorporating Buddhist practice into their everyday lives. For someone ready to take their practice a little further, a retreat can offer a deeper experience. Rather than attending a brief meditation session, retreats create an environment where meditation, silence, teachings, and community become the structure of daily life.
There are retreats specifically designed with young adults in mind. For example, both Insight Meditation Society in Massachusetts and Spirit Rock Meditation Center in California offer a Young Adult Insight Meditation Retreat for ages 18–32, combining silent and guided meditation with movement, Dharma talks, and meetings with teachers. For those interested in other Buddhist traditions, Sravasti Abbey in Washington offers a week-long “Young Adults Explore Buddhism” program for ages 18–29. Many of these opportunities are designed to welcome beginners, and some offer scholarships, sliding-scale fees, or donation-based participation so that finances don’t prevent someone from attending. Retreats aren’t necessarily a first step, and some longer retreats require previous experience. But for someone who has already begun meditating and wants to experience what deeper practice can look like, they can provide an opportunity to more fully step away from the noise of everyday life and immerse yourself in the Dharma.
As mentioned, the internet can actually be a very valuable place to start when searching for sangha, both for young people who don’t live near a Buddhist center, or those who simply don’t feel ready to walk through the doors of one. Buddhist teachings are more accessible online than ever, from recorded Dharma talks and podcasts to live meditation groups, virtual courses, and online sanghas. The internet obviously can’t replicate every aspect of practicing with people in person, but it can remove a significant barrier to entry. For someone who feels intimidated by the idea of physically entering a Buddhist space, attending a Zoom meditation or listening to a Dharma talk from home can be a much gentler first step.
Amidst all the modern ways Buddhism can be accessed today, there is still something important about simply walking into a Buddhist temple or center. And for someone new to Buddhism in the West, it can be easy to assume that the most accessible version of Buddhism will always be the most secular or Westernized one. It doesn’t have to be. There are Buddhist communities throughout the United States representing many different traditions, including Zen, Theravada, Tibetan Buddhism, and traditions rooted in countries throughout Asia. These communities may include meditation and Dharma talks, but they can also include chanting, ceremonies, festivals, devotional practices, community meals, volunteer opportunities, and other aspects of Buddhist life that someone might never encounter through an introductory meditation class.
For a young person who is curious, visiting a local Buddhist community can be as simple as checking its website, looking through a variety of offerings, and showing up with an open mind. Of course, finding a doorway is only the beginning. There is a difference between learning about Buddhism and actually developing a Buddhist practice, and the latter takes time. It can be tempting to consume endless books, podcasts, videos, and Dharma talks while never actually sitting down to practice, but Buddhist practice is experiential. Meditation, mindfulness, compassion, generosity, ethical conduct, and the other practices of the Dharma become meaningful through repetition and application in our everyday lives.
This is why I believe community is important. You don’t necessarily need to attend a Buddhist center every week or find the perfect Sangha immediately, but practicing alongside other people can provide encouragement, perspective, and accountability. Nevertheless, there is no single timeline for becoming a Buddhist practitioner, and there is no need to rush. A practice can begin with 10 minutes of meditation, one conversation, one book, or one visit to a temple. What matters is what happens when we continue coming back.
Looking back, it is almost funny to me that my journey into the Dharma began because I was simply looking for somewhere to make friends. I wasn’t searching for religion, nor was I looking for a philosophy that would change the way I understood my life, and I certainly wasn’t looking for a lifelong practice. I just happened to walk through a particular door, and I am so grateful I did. And if you haven’t stumbled on your door yet, I highly encourage you to seek one out! You might use one of the entry points previously mentioned, or simply follow your curiosity wherever it leads you. There are countless places where a young person might first encounter Buddhism, and each of our journeys are beautifully unique.
Perhaps that is one of the most important things to remember when we talk about the future of the Dharma and young people. There is no single kind of young person, and there is no single path into Buddhism. What matters is that there are enough doors open for people to find one that speaks to them.
Related features from BDG
No Robes Required: How Buddhist Studies Is Thriving on College Campuses
Ambedkar’s Vision Reimagined: Rahul Dongre on the Buddhist Influencer’s Mission
The Dharma and Young People
Related special issue from BDG
The Future of the Dharma and Younger Generations
