Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso is the founder and Spiritual Director of the New Kadampa Tradition, an international union of Kadampa Buddhist Centers with over 900 Centers worldwide. Originally from Tibet, Geshe Kelsang has spent the last nearly 30 years working tirelessly to establish a pure and contemporary Buddhadharma throughout the world. During these years he has given extensive teachings on major Mahayana Buddhist scriptures. These teachings, which are exceptionally clear and easy to understand, have been published as a number of highly acclaimed books that bridge perfectly the ancient wisdom of Buddhism and modern life. These books form the basis for all the study and meditation programs taught at Chakrasambara Center and all other NKT Centers. The Teachers at Chakrasambara Center are disciples of Venerable Geshe Kelsang. Geshe Kelsang will be teaching at the Fall Festival in Paris 2008.

To read more about Geshe Kelsang please vist the Spiritual Director page.

Kadam Morten Clausen

Kadam Morten Clausen is the Resident Teacher at the Chakrasambara Buddhist Center in New York City and the Vajra Light Buddhist Center in White Plains. For 25 years he has been a close disciple of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, who gave him the title Kadam indicating that he is a senior lay teacher of the Kadampa Tradition. He is greatly admired as a meditation teacher and in particular he is known for his clarity, humor and inspirational presentation of Dharma. His teachings are always practical and easy to apply to everyday life. Through his gentle and joyful approach, and his peaceful example, he has helped many people find true happiness in their hearts. Kadam Morten teaches the Teacher Training Program and the General Program at CBC.

To read more about Kadam Morten and see his teaching schedule, please visit the Resident Teacher page.

Holly McGregor
Holly McGregor is a senior teacher at Chakrasambara Buddhist Center where she teaches the Foundation Program, as well as teaching other workshops and guided retreats.  She also teaches Foundation Program at Vajralight Buddhist Center in White Plains, New York.  She is greatly loved and admired by her students for her clarity and skill in presenting the teachings and for her loving and joyful manner.

Matthew Riechers
Matthew is a senior teacher at Chakrasambara Buddhist Center and the Teacher of both General and Foundation Program  at the Park Slope Branch and the General Program at the Windsor Terrace Branch.  He is the Education Program Coordinator at CBC where he oversees all the workshops, retreats, and classes. Insightful and humorous, he is appreciated for his clear and articulate presentation of the teachings.

Taina Rodriguez
Taina teaches the Sunday meditation class and is a senior teacher at Chakrasambara Buddhist Center. Raised in Puerto Rico and California, she has trained as a horticulturalist in New York City. She is well known for the clarity with which she teaches and her open and friendly manner is appreciated by all who visit the center.

Julia Strohm
Julia is the branch teacher on the Upper West Side. She is the Administrative Director of Chakrasambara Buddhist Center where she oversees the daily operations of the center.  Although interested in Buddhism since she was a teenager it was the teachings at Chakrasambara Buddhist Center that inspired her to engage in daily meditation practice. Now Julia is inspiring others with her warm enthusiasm.       

Sara Wendt
Sara Wendt teaches the Noho branch classes as well as classes in Richmond, Virginia.  Her warm and welcoming presence is appreciated by everyone, and she teaches with clarity and an infectious joy.      

Tejal Parekh
Tejal knew that Buddha’s teachings were for her when she heard Geshe Kelsang explain that “all we need is a good heart that cherishes others.” A heartfelt and inspiring teacher (she’s a great storyteller!), Tejal has been practicing at Chakrasambara Center since 1999 and is the teacher of the Edgewater meditation classes.


Buddhist Nun Kelsang Tsoglam
Tsoglam is the site manager at the Center and her friendly laughter contributes greatly to its welcoming atmosphere. Having had several career paths, she weaves cooking, clowning, and corporate culture into the spiritual path. She currently teaches, Prayers for World Peace, the Foundation program at Vajra Light Center in White Plains, and GP in Hoboken.


Steve Epstein and Naimah Hassan
Steve and Naimah are the co-teachers of the Harlem Branch. Bio coming soon...

Kathy Kimpel
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Massachusetts, Kathy was introduced to Kadampa Buddhist teachings ten years ago while living in San Francisco. A clear, analytic thinker, it gradually dawned on her that the teachings “made so much sense.” In her classes at the Riverdale branch in the Bronx, Kathy stresses the practical connection between the teachings of Buddha and the student’s own life experiences.

Luis Villalon
Luis teaches on the Upper East Side of Manhattan as well as in Long Island City, and Astoria, Queens.  He works in the Education Department at Chakrasambara Center as the Branch Coordinator, helping with the establishment of meditation classes throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.  Luis is appreciated for his heartfelt and engaging teachings.

Joseph Giacona Joseph’s interest in Buddhism began in 1992 while in college. He read Geshe Kelsang’s books for many years on his own. It was only upon seeing Geshe Kelsang teach in New York in 2001 that he discovered  Chakrasambara Center in his own city.  Joseph has been a committed student and practitioner ever since.  He is currently the teacher of the meditation classes in Williamsburg, Bushwick and Greenpoint in Brooklyn.

Karla Hassenstein
Originally from Ireland, Karla is the Assistant Admin Director at Chakrasambara Buddhist Center where she also helps facilitate the spiritual program at the Center. She currently is the branch teacher in Jersey City. In addition to studying and practicing on the Teacher Training Program at CBC Karla has also studied Buddhist Art at Nagarjuna Buddhist Center in England.


Karen Childers
 Karen Childers is the assistant education program coordinator at Chakrasambara Center where she helps run the various workshops and classes.  Originally from North Carolina, Karen’s teachings are focused and lively … and presented in soothing Southern tones.



Heather Brandstetter
Heather Brandstetter Heather is the teacher of the East Village meditation classes. She was born and raised in Ohio and has been teaching in elementary schools in New York City since graduating from college. Heather is known for her warmth and humor, as well as her clear presentation.


Miri Renner
Miri Renner teaches the Hoboken branch classes on Thursday nights. Originally from Germany Miri first studied Dharma at the NKT Center in London before moving to New York in Summer 2007. She is the coordinator of the Teacher Training Program and is appreciated by all for her warmth and kindness.


Adrienne Weiss
Adrienne teaches Dharma at our Stamford Branch in Connecticut with clarity and imagination. Adrienne was in particular drawn to Kadampa Buddhism when she discovered how much emphasis was placed on being joyful.


Shelley Tanner
Born in Tasmania, Australia, Shelley moved to the US in 1998 and has been in involved with the New Kadampa Tradition since 2001. In addition to teaching meditation, Shelley is the president of a marketing firm in Manhattan. Through Buddha's teachings, Shelley has been able to integrate her spiritual practice with the demands of the corporate world. Shelley is now the teacher of our Wall Street branch.

Lisa Baumgartner
 Having found Chakrasambara Center through a flyer, Lisa knew she was hooked from the day of hearing her very first teaching. Lisa is the current teacher of the Hoboken branch classes  and is appreciated for her warm and loving manner, and for her infectious laughter.

Buddhist Meditation Teachers in New York