An eight-foot golden statue of the Buddha glows in the middle of the meditation room at Kadampa Meditation Center, a serene space in Chelsea. Originally founded in 1994 by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, the studio was first located in a graffiti-covered dance studio, two blocks away from its present home, which opened in 2012. It's here in this peaceful city sanctuary that New Yorkers are given the opportunity to learn about and practice Buddha's teachings.
Besides daily meditation for all levels (it only costs $2 for a 30-minute session), the center offers more than 20 classes each week, plus a variety of retreats and courses with such promising titles as "Limitless Mind" and "Love Without Pain." Meanwhile, Pujas or chanted prayers, are offered for free and practiced at various dates across the calendar. If you're closer to Williamsburg, there is also a Kadampa Meditation Center hub where you will be able to meditate.