NYC Meditation Centers

Finding the right community in which to learn and practice meditation can be difficult. So, periodically, we invite our intrepid interns to visit various meditation centers in NYC and share their experiences. Often, they have little or no familiarity with meditation or mindfulness, so their reflections are representative of what newcomers might experience when going to these places.

In 2013, Ms. Susanna Johansson, a psychology student from Stockholm University, visited centers throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. In 2010, Ms. Alyssa Barba, a psychology student at SUNY Stonybrook, made the rounds. Theirmission? To participate mindfully in the meditation instruction provided and describe their experiences. Collectively, they attended meditation classes at the following centers:

Because most centers vary in their explicit incorporation of Buddhism, we have adopted a rating system to describe their orientation, ranging from

(Secular) to (Better know Tibetan!)

In addition, we described the clarity and extent of explicit meditation instruction, ranging from

(Self-guided) to(Personalized instruction)

Disclosure Statement:We dont receive any money, goods, or services in exchange for these reviews. They are provided here for the purpose of description, not evaluation. We recognize that different people want different things, so we have provided descriptions of what the sittings are like in order to help newcomers decide where to visit.

Review by Susanna Johansson

Attendance: There were 10 new practitioners that listened to the beginners instruction on Saturday morning. The more experienced participants were approximately 30 persons. The participants were seated on cushions in rows facing the walls or windows.

The Space: Brooklyn Zen Center is located in a large space divided in three rooms; a kitchen/community area, a library/office and a sitting hall. The three rooms represent the Buddhist concept of the sangha, the dharma and the Buddha, and are equally important on the path to enlightenment.

Structure and Content of Meditation: On Saturdays Brooklyn Zen Center welcomes beginners to meditation. The new-comers are introduced to the space and to Zen customs, such as how to bow when entering a room and how to fold hands and walk in the meditation hall. The introduction also includes a talk on posture and how to focus on the breath in meditation. In the Zen tradition meditation is practiced with eyes open to cherish the intention to stay in the present moment (it is also a way to avoid sleepiness during long meditation sessions). After the introductory session new-comers are invited to meditate together with the experienced participants. The meditation is held in silence with no guidance for about 40 minutes. The participants are encouraged to try to sit still for this time but are given a moment to adjust or change posture in the middle of the sitting if needed. After the sitting the participants recite prayers and chant together. A ritual of bows is conducted followed by a dharma talk. This Saturday the head dharma teacher and Zen Buddhist priest Teah Strozer talked about emptiness and form and how to understand these concepts as intertwined. Teah Strozer also talked about the illusion of the self as constant and encouraged the participants to let go of held beliefs about one self and embrace a changing perception of the self. The participants listen in quiet to the talk. The Saturday morning session ends by cleaning the space together in a Zen way. This means bringing awareness and mindfulness into everyday actions such as sweeping or dusting. Afterwards practitioners are invited to stay and enjoy a meal that has been mindfully prepared by Brooklyn Zen members (10 dollar donation is encouraged).

Background/Mission/Religiosity: Brooklyn Zen Center is a Soto Zen Community (founder Shunryu Suzuki) that offers a place to study Buddhist ethics and practice as well as a space for sitting together in meditation. Brooklyn Zen Center wishes to embody and carry on the compassion, wisdom and community of the Buddha. The Buddhist practice at the center is based upon the belief that all beings are Buddha. On Brooklyn Zen Centers website you can read about Zen center practice and customs and listen to recorded dharma talks.

Where/When: Beginners and new comers to the center are asked to join for an introductory zazen (meditation) instruction on one Saturday before coming to other sittings. After the introduction the center offers meditation on a regularly basis in mornings and evenings, see website for schedule.

Fees:Saturday sitting is drop-in based and registration is not needed. The fee is by donation. 10 dollars is recommended. An additional 10 dollars is encouraged if the participant stays for lunch at the Center.

Ratings:

Overall:Brooklyn Zen Center offers a supportive community of dedicated practitioners that wish to deepen their meditation practice and learn more about the teachings of Buddha. The meditation is held in silence but outside the sitting room practitioners may speak to teachers to receive further guidance.

Website: http://www.brooklynzen.org

Class/Date: Saturday morning session, 9.00 am- 12.30 pm, 3/30/13.

322 8thAve, Suite 502 (Enter @ 26thStreet), Manhattan

Review by Alyssa Barba

Attendance: The daily lunchtime meditation classes are small and personal. The two other attendees present were young adults.

The Space:The space is influenced by Buddhism. It is a large, well lit, white room containing several religious statues of Buddha. Although the statues are present, it is not a space that should be to overwhelming for persons of other religious backgrounds.

Structure and Content of Meditation:The whole 45 minute lunchtime session is spent on the actual practice of mediation. Practitioners have the option of open or closed eyed meditation. During the session the teacher often speaks softly in order to subtly guide the meditation.

Background/Mission/Religiosity:This center is a Buddhist Center of the New Kadampa Tradition. The New Kadampa Tradition is a Western Buddhist order based on the teachings of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The Gelug school is one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It has spread to many countries through the work of Buddhist monk Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. The academic degree title Geshe translates to spiritual friend.

Where/When:Lunchtime meditation sessions are held Monday through Thursday from 12:00-12:45 pm. Other classes such as day retreats, Dharma talks and chanted prayer sessions are also offered throughout the month. The classes are based in New York Citys Chelsea at 322 8thAve, Suite 502. See website for details about other classes and branch locations.

Fees:Lunchtime meditation works on a drop-in basis. It is $5 per class and free for cardholding members. A membership at the center costs $80 per month with a time commitment of one year. A membership includes access to basically everything going on in the center for that month including events, dharma talks and special classes.

Ratings:

Overall:Overall, Id say that lunchtime meditation at this center is best suited for those who have practiced meditation before and are interested in sitting for the whole session. Practice is more of a priority in this class than instruction.

Website:Chakrasambara NYC(Facebook Page)

Teacher/Class/Date:Grace Glebowska,Monday Lunchtime Meditation, June 2010

302 Bowery, 3rd Floor, Manhattan

Review by Alyssa Barba

Attendance:The weekly Tuesday Night Meditation + Dharma gathering was swarming with over 60 ambitious attendees. Most of the attendants that were present were youthful.

The Space:Dharma Punx holds its meditation classes in the same neutral yoga studio as the Interdependence Project. The space is a large room with wood floors.

Structure and Content of Meditation:Tuesday Night Meditation at Dharma Punx is a drop-in class that lasts for about an hour and a half. The first 30 minutes of the session consisted of a guided meditation led by Josh Korda. Following the meditation practice, Josh deeply engaged the class into a Dharma talk with his vibrant and youthful spirit. During the Dharma talk we discussed many psychological concepts relatable to our 21stcentury modern society such as the arising of conflicts in our daily lives. The Dharma talk portion at Dharma Punx is great for anyone who is seeking advice into the nature of their problems. By the end of the talk I felt as though I had just left a donation based session with a therapist or an Intro to psych class where tuition was generously based on contributions. Josh showed his knowledge of Buddhism by reveling in Buddhist parables. He also showed his knowledge of Psychology by making references to Mary Ainsworth when discussing the psychological concepts of secure attachments. After the Dharma talk there was a question and answer portion of the class where students could ask any questions related or unrelated to the talk. The class concluded with a final meditation of about 5 minutes.

Background/Mission/Religiosity:The background and foundation of Dharma Punx gears itself to a youthful environment fueled by dissatisfaction with the material based culture we live in. Dharma Punx describe themselves as a community of alternative Buddhist meditation practitioners who work to infuse the Buddhas teachings with the ideology of punk rock. The community was started by author Noah Levine and is based on the Theravaden tradition of Buddhism which was founded in India and is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. Noahs book Dharma Punx has received a lot of positive attention. Noah seems to be another innovator of Buddhism in the West and I am excited to see where his journey takes him and those who follow him and his teachings.

Where/When:Dharma Punx offers drop-in classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The Tuesday night class that was discussed in this review goes from 7:00-8:30ish. The Thursday night class goes from 7:00-8:00 and consists of 40 minutes of meditation with a short sharing session afterwards. There is no dharma teaching on Thursday nights. Classes are ongoing and are located at the Lila Wellness Center in New York Citys East Village (302 Bowery, 3rdFloor).

Fees:Classes at Dharma Punx are donation based.

Ratings:

Overall:Overall I really enjoyed the sangha at Dharma Punx. The outstanding number of attendees present at the class proves the community is highly efficient in their teaching and overall presence. I think Dharma Punx is a great response to the yearning for Buddhism in the west.

Website/Facebook Page:Dharma Punx(Facebook)

Teacher/Class/Date:Josh Korda,Tuesday Night Meditation,8/24/10

500 State Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Review by Susanna Johansson

Attendance: Beginners are welcome to the Sunday Meditation Session before entering other meditations at the Zen center. There are about 15 new-comers this Sunday and 40 experienced practitioners.

The Space: The meditation is held in a beautiful house in Brooklyn. The house functions as a monastery and a temple where both lay practitioners and advanced practitioners can share practice. The rooms have Buddha statues and the practitioners are seated in chairs or cushions.

Structure and Content of Meditation: The Sunday session recommended for beginners are 3 hours long. The session starts with chanting prayers together. We are told that the function of the chanting, bowing and praying is not to worship Buddha but rather to celebrate the identity and unity of Buddha and all humans. The chanting is followed by an introduction held for the beginners. The teacher talks about the concept of Zen Meditation and lets us try different seating postures, finding the one that suits us. Zen Meditation (called Zazen) is practiced with open eyes and lowered gaze, stillness is emphasized and participants are asked to not move during meditation. This is to relearn our habitual response to instantly move to avoid pain and difficulties. The beginners are invited to a short walking meditation and then a 30-minute, silent (without guidance) seated meditation. Afterwards beginners and more experienced practitioners listen to a one hour long Dharma talk held by one of the monks. The talk this Sunday is about searching for spiritual qualities in life and finding the path to enlightenment. The talk is also about looking truly to the essence of things being and all things interdependence. The talk is quite abstract and difficult to understand as a beginner, but the teacher uses stories and metaphors that make it a little bit easier. Questions about meditation are welcomed after the Dharma talk when also some refreshments are offered.

Background/Mission/Religiosity: The Zen Center of New York, Fire Lotus temple, is a branch of the Zen Mountain Monastery. The order was founded in 1980 to be an organization of practice centers and sitting groups in the US and abroad. The Center offers residential Buddhist training in the midst of Brooklyn. The residential are engaged in a schedule of liturgy, meditation and community work, making all daily activities a part of awareness training. The Zen Center often offers retreats outside of the city.

Where/When:Sunday morning session 9.30 am-12.30 pm is open for beginners. When you have joined one Sunday morning session you are welcome to the Zen Centers other sittings that are held everyday mornings and evenings (please look at website for schedule).

Fees: The sitting is drop-in and registration is not needed. The fee is by donation, 5 dollars is recommended as a minimum.

Ratings:

Overall:The Zen Center offers an opportunity to be a part of a community of dedicated Buddhist meditation practitioners where one can earn a lot about the Buddha teaching and deepen ones practice. The instruction of seating postures was very exact and helpful although there where no guidance during meditation which some beginners might find difficult.

Website: http://www.mro.org/firelotus/

Class/Date: Sunday morning sitting 9:30 am-12.30 pm, 3/17/13

302 Bowery, 3rdFloor, Manhattan, NY

Review by Susanna Johansson

Attendance: There were approximately 10 participants at the Sunday sitting. The instructor said that this were fewer than usually attend. The attendees were seated on cushions in a wide circle formation. There are chairs available if needed.

The Space: The interdependence project share space with a yoga studio and Dharma Punx (another meditation center). The space is light and has varied pictures of Buddha but also secular decorations.

Structure and Content of Meditation: The instructor emphasized that the practitioners should take time to introduce themselves and to get to know each other. The Sunday session at the Interdependence project is intended to teach the basics of meditation. The instructor started with guiding us into our meditation posture with our eyes open and with a comfortable and straight spine. The instructor invited us to lay down and participate in a guided body scan to settle into our bodies and relaxing. The body scan was about focusing our attention to different body parts and letting go of tensions there. After the body scan we where invited to an awareness of breath meditation for 10 minutes. The participants should focus on the natural feeling of their breath and gently lead wandering minds back to the breath. The meditation was held in silence. Afterwards, the participants shared their experiences of the meditation and asked questions in order to get further guidance from the instructor. The session ended with a talk about what is precious in our lives. Participants identified specific areas of values in their lives, which facilitated a dialogue between the instructor and learners.

Background/Mission/Religiosity: The Interdependence Project is a secular Buddhist center, which means offering Buddhist teachings and practices that are free from rituals that are included in more traditional Buddhist practices. The Interdependence Project wants to bridge the gap between the individuals personal development and the collective engagement in the world/community through combining mindfulness with outreach programs, ecology, activism and arts. The Interdependence Project offers both drop in meditation and weekly classes and study groups.

Where/When: Introduction to Meditation Beginners Mind is held every Sunday at 3:00 - 5:00 pm.

Fees:Sunday sittings are drop-in and registration is not needed. The fee is by donation, 5- 10 dollars are recommended.

Ratings:

Overall: The Interdependence project offers a space where to practice secular Buddhism. Participants are encouraged to get to know each other, ask questions, share and contribute to the sessions with their experiences. The practice is well instructed and suitable for beginners.

Website: http://www.theidproject.org/

Class/Date: The Sunday session's Introduction to Meditation Beginners Mind, 3/31/13, 3:00 - 5:00 pm.

Review by Alyssa Barba

Attendance:The Introduction to Meditation class consisted primarily of people who were new to meditation. The class is small and personal. The majority present are young adults.

The Space:The space is a very neutral yoga studio. It is a large space with wood floors.

Structure and Content of Meditation:The whole hour and 15 minute Intro to Meditation session was broken down equally between a teaching portion and the actual meditating practice. Ellen Scordato the instructor was awesome! She gave us each individual attention and was excited to answer any questions that the class had. We would meditate in progressions from 5 to 10 minutes. In-between we took short breaks to discuss what we experienced and how we felt. One specific teaching that stuck out to me was a technique specific for beginners with wandering minds. Ellen taught that by mindfully counting from 1 to 10 we can tame our wandering minds. While meditating, if we notice that we have counted beyond 10, it is a subtle reminder that we have lost focus. Practitioners have the option of open or closed eyed meditation.

Background/Mission/Religiosity:The Interdependence Project (I.D. Project, a.k.a. IDP) is an educational non-profit organization started by Shambhala Buddhist teacher Ethan Nichtern who has proven to be an incredibly intelligent innovator of Buddhism in the west. The I.D. Project provides asangha(community) to anyone interested in practicing meditation as a way of dealing with our complex 21stcentury lives. The communitys mission includes committing to the practice of sitting meditation, mindfulness, loving kindness, building a compassionate community and participating in responsible consumption. IDP is based on informal meditation and nonsectarian Buddhist teachings.

Where/When:IDP offers several different classes and events to get involved with throughout each month. Buddhist Studies and Meditation Classes (a.k.a.DharmaTalks) are offered every Monday and Wednesday from 7:00-9:00pm & Saturdays from 4:30-6:30pm. These classes consist of both Dharma teachings and meditation. The Intro to Meditation class discussed in this review is offered every Sunday from 3:00-4:15pm. Unguided Open Sitting & Walking Meditation is also offered every Monday from 6:00-6:45pm and Saturday from 2:00-4:00pm. IDP usually has 2-4 guest lecturers per month. The classes are based in New York Citys East Village on the 3rdfloor of 302 Bowery. For entry, ring the middle buzzer. IDP has more groups in Portland, Oregon and Austin, Texas. See the website for more details.

Fees:Classes at IDP run on a drop-in basis. The suggested donation for the Intro to Meditation class and Open Sitting and Walking Meditation class is $5. The Buddhist Studies Classes (a.k.a.DharmaTalks)which are grouped in series of different topicscost $10-15 per class depending on the class. See website for details about the topics of upcoming Buddhist Studies Classes.

IDP has several different levels of membership. A full membership is $25 month and $15 month for full-time students. A full membership includes 1/3 off most classes and retreats. It also includes free admission to salons, members events, select art workshops, and more! See the website for more details regarding the various types of memberships.

Ratings:

Overall:Overall I found the beginner meditation at IDP to be a perfect balance between teaching and actual meditation practice. It was also incredibly clear and fun! IDP is the perfect place to bring friends who might be new to meditation and are looking for asangha(community) to comfortably get started in. Also, IDP website offers useful blog posts and podcasts and is an awesome resource for those interested in studying the integration of Buddhism and Psychology.

Website/Facebook Page:The Interdependence Project(Facebook)

Teacher/Class/Date:Ellen Scordato,Sunday Intro to Meditation,7/11/10

(Disclosure: I (Jonathan Kaplan) have given talks at IDP, and I did not influence Alyssas review. I am, however, in agreement that IDP is a wonderful Buddhist community in NYC: why else would I be giving talks there?)

334 Amsterdam Avenue at West 76th Street, Manhattan, NYC

Review by Susanna Johansson

Attendance: There were about 10-15 practitioners seated on chairs in a circle formation. (Cushions are also available).

The Space: The meditation is held in a white painted oval room with a small window overlooking the rooftops on Upper West Side. There are no religious symbols present.

Structure and Content of Meditation: All teachers at MAKOM offer some kind of guidance, although the degree of the instructions varies. This Monday evening, we were invited to begin with focusing on their breath and relax their body. The teacher asked us to exhale and let go of difficulties, then inhale peace and tranquility. We were then encouraged to enter deeper into meditation and follow our own meditation path, observing arising thoughts and emotions. A couple of times during meditation, the teacher offered guidance to practice loving-kindness and gratitude in order to expand our hearts around difficult subjects.

Loving-kindness could be understood as to practice the ability to experience and feel friendliness and warmth to all beings on earth, starting with oneself. It can grow out of the knowledge that we are interdependent and more similar than different. Through understanding of this basic concept, we can be more compassionate and empathic towards oneself and others. After the meditation, there was time for questions and sharing experiences of the recent meditation. This evening, the participants discussed the degree to which the teachers instructions during the meditation were helpful or distracting. Most people in this group preferred to look at the instructions as suggestions that they may or may not follow.

Background/Mission/Religiosity: The Jewish Community Centers mission is to cultivate an inclusive and engaged community based on Jewish values. They embrace diversity and welcomes all. The JCC offers Jewish learning, arts programs, urban retreats and wellness activities. MAKOM is JCCs department of spirituality, mindfulness and meditation and welcome beginners and advanced participants that want to explore the self through meditation.

Where/When: Gently guided sitting meditation with time for Q&A is held every weekday morning 7:30 - 8:30 am and Monday- Thursday afternoons at 5:45 - 6:45 pm.

Fees:Sittings are drop-in and registration is not needed. Donation is encouraged.

Ratings:

Overall: The JCC MAKOM offers meditation on a regular day basis for those who want to make meditation a daily morning or evening habit. The meditation is gently guided and space is left for independent practice. The meditation focuses on awareness of breath, body, emotions and thoughts as well as the practice of loving-kindness. When I visited the MAKOM, the meditation was secular.

Website: http://www.jccmanhattan.org

Class/Date: Monday, 3/18/13, 5:45-6:45 pm.

505 Carroll St, between 3rd& 4thAves, Brooklyn, NY

Review by Alyssa Barba

Attendance:The weekly Monday Night Meditation Sitting was a full sized class (about 20 people) consisting mostly of attendees who appeared to be regulars at the Jewish Meditation Center.

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