Dharmalaya is an Indian charitable organisation devoted to education, service, and compassionate living, with a practical focus on sustainable village development and preservation of traditional wisdom.
Our mission is to develop and promote innovative, integrated approaches to sustainable development, meaningful education, and altruistic service in the Himalayas, South Asia, and beyond.
Dharmalaya pursues a diverse array of complementary educational and charitable programmes spanning the fields of economic self-sufficiency, environmental stewardship, experiential education, community service, health, and personal development. Our programmes are offered either free of charge or on a donation basis for local residents and international participants alike. More »
Dharmalaya is founded and managed by a multi-disciplinary, international team of people committed to creating a more compassionate and sustainable world. More »
Dharmalaya is a Charitable Society registered under the Himachal Pradesh Societies Registration Act of 2006 (registration number 4305). It is also a member project of the Earthville Network, an international non-governmental organisation (INGO) recognised by the US government as a 501(c)(3) public charity. More »
Dharmalaya is rooted in the traditional principles of karuna (compassion), ahimsa (non-harming), maitri/metta (loving kindness to all) and seva (service). A complete understanding of these values includes not only caring for all living beings, but also ecological responsibility expressed in a commitment to sustainable living. More »
The name Dharmalaya could be translated in several ways, due to the richness of meaning of the two Sanskrit words from which it is formed, dharma and alaya. 'Dharma' is a word with many levels of meaning: the literal meaning is 'that which is held', and traditionally it is used to refer to both philosophical views and spiritual practice. 'Alaya' also has different layers of meaning: the literal meaning is 'abode' or 'repository', and the deeper meaning is something that could be described as a reservoir of energy. Thus, the two words together could be translated literally as something like 'abode of dharma' or 'repository of truth'. Taking all these meanings together, we translate 'Dharmalaya' as 'a sanctuary for kind heart, clear mind and positive energy'. We aspire to make our hearts, our minds, our homes and our communities a true Dharmalaya.