Charleston Tibetan Society Charleston Tibetan Society (CTS) is a non-profit religious and educational organization with 501 (c) (3) status. CTS was founded in 1994 with three missions: to increase the awareness of Tibet and its unique culture, to bring the major world religions together to make a more effective contribution to humanity and world peace and to raise funds, through various donations, to help Tibetan refugees living in India, Nepal and Bhutan. Under the auspices of CTS, we established a Dharma Center in 1998 and our sister Dharma Center in Columbia, SC in 2002. The purpose of opening the Dharma Centers is to meet the needs of the community for their fulfillment, growth and emotional and psychological well-being. Interest in Buddhism has grown in the past several years as those interested see the need to balance their life between spiritual awareness and external material sustenance. CTS and the Columbia Dharma Center offer teachings on Buddhist meditation, Psychology, Cosmology. Metaphysics, Emptiness and the Lam-Rim, the most concise introduction to Buddhism, as well as chanting and prayers. In addition, we currently hold one formal retreat per year in the fall. This is to improve the quality of group practice and is a skillful way to learn and share among Sangha members. His Holiness the Dalai Lama openly suggested that the Buddhist teachings must not only be concentrated in the monastic community, but must also reach into the lay world. The reason is that Buddhism is a way of life and is the inner means to become a good human being. This is gained through the practice, which is designed for self correction. The practice constitutes ethical discipline, meditation and discerning wisdom. These three principles are the essence of the Buddhas teaching and the core of the Buddhist practice.