Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center

This is a beautiful piece of land in Bloomington. It definitely makes you feel far from Indiana. I would highly recommend driving out to take a stroll and for some reflection on any nice day. A great little afternoon getaway!

What a lovely little paradise in the middle of Bloomington, Indiana! I had no idea this was here. It is such a serene and beautiful place. I instantly felt calmer just walking the grounds. I teetered between a four and five star review and went with five because it is just such an anomaly. In my 37 years on this earth and 34 years particularly in central Indiana, I had no idea about this little hidden gem. I would love to take advantage of their retreat space to just zen.
A few helpful tips:
— The «one-​way» signs on the paths are confusing, so drive slow and try not to hit anyone head on (or at all, really).
— Take off your shoes at the entryway of the cultural center. There is a «no shoes» sign, but you cannot see it if the doors are propped open.
— Bring your respect for others. Every guest we encountered was very quiet and calm, which really added to the serenity of the place.
— There’s a gift shop!

Delightful religious center located on the edge of Bloomington Indiana. The center includes a number of outdoor landmarks, a building with an altar where they hold daily services, a monastery building housing a number of monks, and a visitors center with gift shop and a number of meditation rooms. Billed as a peaceful location on 108 acres, visitors are welcome and encouraged to walk the property. This was a wonderful respite during the busy hubbub of the day. Give it a try when you are in the neighborhood.

There are just some places that a person connects with. The CC feels like an extension of land I’ve li/​o/​ved on for years nearby off and on. Surprising, significant, and well, scientifically unexplainable.
The staff /​volunteers here are just wonderful. I’ve always felt accepted and welcomed, no matter how naively well-​intentioned or utterly burnt crispy, as one should, whether or not you’re familiar with Buddhism in the abstract or its practices, or just truly open to learning about others.
The grounds are lovely and peaceful — a place to truly breathe. I spend more time here in mindfulness on the grounds than in the staffed areas, though those are lovely, as well.
Personally, I’ve never stayed overnight onsite, but friends describe the experience as similar to what you’d find at Meinrad Archabbey or less busy /​more simple /​low tech state parks.

During my visit, I continually asked myself, «We’re still in Indiana? In Bloomington, for that matter?» How lucky we are to have this interfaith cultural center in our own backyard.
The Tibetan influence is apparent in the pristine white and gold structures on the grounds along with multicolored archways and flags. I recommend parking your car and walking around and exploring by foot. Prayer wheels, insanely intricate Tibetan sand mandalas, and unique discoveries await.
My travel companions and I entered the main building and took off our shoes in the entry, as required. Monks from India were visiting and currently in prayer session, but we were allowed to join and watch. The greeter explained to us what was going on, and the monk leading the ceremony personally welcomed us, gave a brief tour of the shrine, explained the basics of the Buddhist faith, and gave us each a water and two pieces of fruit as offerings. I have never felt more welcomed in a foreign environment in my life.
TMBCC offers weekend retreats, meditation, and yoga. If you find yourself in Bloomington, this is absolutely worth the visit for a bit of peace, tranquility, and enlightenment. Continue your cultural exploration by stopping by one of the many Tibetan restaurants in Btown!

I am not buddhist, but have always found buddhism interesting. This vast cultural center is tucked away in Bloomington. There is a winding road that takes you through a 40 acre property with two buildings and many monuments/​sacred places to see.
The first building is a library and gift shop. We were there on a Saturday afternoon and the gift shop was not open. The second building is the Temple. We walked in and removed our shoes. Then a gentleman welcomed us and told us to look around and ask him any questions. The Temple was full of statues, shrines and candles. But on either side there were items from other religions (Quran, rosary beads, etc.). The gentleman was very friendly and gave us information about the grounds and temple. There is a free meditation class every Wed @ 6p that is open to the public. He said there are lots of events put on there and if u sign up for their newsletter, you will be notified of the events. He also said that the cultural center was built by the Dali Lama’s brother. He was in charge of it until he died and now it is run by a professor at IU.
It was very peaceful and quiet there. They are very open and welcoming to all.

What a memorable and peaceful experience.
We strolled onto the Cultural Center grounds (which are 40+ acres) not fully knowing what to expect. Our curious ways led us down a winding lane surrounded by Buddhas, prayer flags and statues. I can only imagine how much more mysterious and beautiful this place once the ground and trees are green with life. From the intricate sand art to the complete solitude, we loved every minute of our visit.
The whole experience was made extra-​special when we stumbled upon a Buddhist service with 8 – 10 monks who were visiting from India (seriously, you guys, this is a very important place in the Buddhist world tucked away in southern Indiana). We quietly seated ourselves at the back of the room and were graciously greeted by the leader at the end of the service. He explained the process, shared tangerine and plums and welcomed us with open arms. I really appreciated that their sanctuary had religious books from several other groups like Muslims, Christians and Jews as a sign of their openness and love for all.

This is a good place to go if you want to get out of the repetitive loop of what we know as home-​culture and dabble in something both refreshing and tranquil.

Beautiful place and energy. Worth the drive to Bloomington.

This destination was a great recommendation on TripAdvisor. It is a peaceful and welcoming interfaith cultural center. Take off your shoes and step through the door. It’s quiet and peaceful and a great break from reality.
They also support missions and help raise needed funds. We had the great joy of discovering a prayer «singing» bowl. This bowl sings louder and louder as you rub the edge with a felted baton. Pretty awesome.

Since my father’s best friend was the founder, I’ve been here many times. And, all I can say is five-​stars doesn’t do it justice. So peaceful and tranquil. My father passed away, as did the founder, but this was always one of his most favorite places.

Amazing cultural experience! This is a nice place to relax and experience peace. Trails to walk and sculptures surround the property. Inside you can light a candle and say a prayer or give an offering. There is also a small center for literature for purchase if you want to learn more.

What a wonderful place! I have been to many buddhist cultural centers and this meets the expectations! The area is secluded but not like out in nowhere. It is very quiet and peaceful and If’d you would like you can take a short hike around the property.
Will visit again and definitely recommend everyone!

Wow. Wowie wow wow wow. I can’t believe more people don’t know this is here. MY wife and I rented a yurt (one bedroom cottage) for $ 60 a night for a second honeymoon, and we had the most relaxing two days of our lives. The nature in the area is outstandingly gorgeous, and we spent two hours walking the meditation trail in silent awe. The feeling of beauty and respect is palpable; even the animals can feel it. We saw several baby deer and rabbits just wandering the paths, safe in the knowledge that they wouldn’t be harmed. The temple is a work of art, and a must see in the Bloomington area.
The cottage itself was refreshingly simple, a comfortable queen sized bed alongside a twin, opposite a small kitchenette with microwave, stove, sink, toaster, dishes, coffee maker, etc. My wife was relieved to see that there was in fact a bathroom and shower (she was not certain there would be.) Out the back door is an elevated deck where you can just stare into the woods for hours.
This was an amazing retreat, absolutely amazing, and we will definitely be back later when we have more time to indulge in yoga classes and meditation services. This truly is one of the best kept secrets in Indiana.

I found this place a few years ago and i love coming here. the place is so serene, inside the temple has great energy. i drive an hour from indy, just to soak in the energy for a few hours. they have classes and teachings. the regulars there are very nice. i haven’t been there in over a year, but i need to start going back. they are very welcoming to people who aren’t buddhist, so don’t let that keep you away!

interesting place :)