The Chakrasambra Meditation Center is just one of many Buddhist centers in the New York City area.

View from the center window
However it did prove to be the most welcoming to beginners.
After starting out on a journey that began with a list of 18 Buddhist centers in the mid-town Manhattan area alone, a nervous journalism student ended up with only one person who was willing to spend a few moments answering some questions, Taina Cutler, a teacher at the Chakrasambra Meditation Center.
The Chakrasambra Meditation Center follows the Kadampa Buddhist tradition where the main belief is to integrate all of Buddha’s teachings (also known as Dharmas) into every day life and thus revealing the path to enlightenment.
The Chakrasambra Meditation Center was founded by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, an ordained Buddhist monk born in Tibet, in 1931.

A picture of Gyatso above a statue of Buddha
Gyatso became a monk at the age of 8 and is thought to be responsible for bringing Kadampa Buddhism to the Western world. Gyatso is the founder of the New Kadampa Tradition, an international union of Kadampa Buddhist Centers with over 1000 Centers and branches worldwide, according to the Chakrasambra website.
Classes are held at the center 4-5 days a week and they involve everything from beginner’s guided meditation to more advanced discussions of Buddha’s teachings. The center brochure says, “Talks and guided meditations are suitable for everyone. The emphasis is on integrating Buddha’s teachings into our lives.”
Chakrasambra also host many meditation/fasting retreats and Kadampa festivals.
The center has many teachers. The main teacher, besides Gyatso, is a man named Kadam Morten, who has been teaching Buddhism for 25 years. On Sunday May 1st it was Taina Cutler’s chance to discuss some of her favorite Buddhist lessons.

Tiana Cutler, teacher at the center
Cutler talked about Karma and confessed that though she is the mother of a 2-year-old child, she is still able to find the time to meditate daily.
Victor Torres attends classes weekly at the center and was there May 1st during what the center calls “Lunchtime Meditation”. He began his study and practice of Buddhism years ago while struggling to get through a hard break up.
“I was going through a tough time and would find myself staring at fountains and water to calm myself. then I began talking classes here and now here I am three years later,” said Torres.
The Chakrasambra Meditation Center is beautifully yet simply decorated with Buddha statues, small fruit trees and an array of candles and inscnce. The teacher sits croos-legged upon a wodden podium with a microphone connected to a micstand rests near. Studenst can sit either in rows of metal chairs or on cushions on the floor.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
(Finding a Buddhist Center near you can be easy if you use this directory .)