The President, Mrs McAleese, yesterday visited Samye Dzong Buddhist Centre in Kilmainham, Dublin.
Samye Dzong, which is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year, is the first Buddhist organisation established in Ireland and is a centre of Buddhist teaching and practice.
After attending a Buddhist service the President met monks, nuns and other members of the community. She visited the centre's shrine room, which contains images and artefacts of the Buddhist tradition.
"My coming here to the Buddhist centre establishes a personal connection with Buddhism - which has parallels with my own Catholic faith in meditation and contemplative practice," the President said
The centre has helped with cultural activities in Dublin such as presentations of Tibetan and Mongolian music and dance.