Elizabeth Wespe
Everyone is welcome at Kadampa Meditation Center in Water Mill, The Hamptons.
“Tradition says that teachings are like diamonds. Even the smallest piece is valuable,” Kelsang Gechog said as he prepared the room for a Sunday meditation and prayer session. “Just come today and enjoy yourself. That’s your little piece of diamond.”
The Kadampa Meditation Centre offers both introductory and in-depth Buddhism and meditation classes. Classes take place in a meditation room and are suitable for all levels, from those seeking relaxation to those looking to find lasting inner peace and satisfaction in walking the Buddhist path.
“We’re making it very light-hearted and fun,” Kelsang Neima said, echoing Kelsang Gechog’s sentiments. “We want it to be fun.”
All monks take the name Kelsang, followed by the Tibetan name they choose when they become a monk or, for women, a nun. Both Kelsang Gechog and Kelsang Neima were ordained at the UK headquarters. Neima means “the fortunate and peaceful one.”
People say that meditation classes help them feel happier and improve their relationships, the nuns explained. Meditation also has health benefits, such as reducing stress.
Meditation classes offered at the Kadampa Meditation Center last an hour and a half and include 15-20 minutes of meditation, instruction, and opportunities for discussion.
On a recent Sunday, about 35 participants sat quietly with their eyes closed, focusing on their breathing. Kelsang Gechog spoke in soothing tones as participants became aware of the breath slowly moving in and out of their nostrils.
“My aim is to teach the Dharma to everyone,” Kelsang Neima said, adding that Dharma means “protection” and is the teachings of the Buddha. Kadampa has centers all over the world, with presence on “every continent except Antarctica,” Kelsang Neima said, adding that he began attending classes and meditating 23 years ago.
Kadampa Meditation Center The Hamptons welcomes all faiths. The current head spiritual leader of the New Kadampa tradition is the female nun Genla Kelsang Dekyong. The spiritual leader was the Tibetan monk Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 91.
This belief is based on the 23 books of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, who made the Buddha’s teachings accessible to modern people, rewrote them and translated them into various languages.
There are 1,300 Kapama centres around the world.
Locally, there are locations in Mattituck, New York City, Huntington and Port Jefferson.
Classes cost $10 to $15 each. Classes are held on Saturdays from 5 to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to noon, with more classes planned for September. In addition, half-day workshops and retreats will be offered, covering topics such as cultivating patience, love and compassion; overcoming inner suffering such as anger, jealousy and loneliness; and how to live a meaningful life while cultivating the inner riches of love, compassion and wisdom.
“I come every week I can,” participant Mary McGrane told a packed room on a recent Sunday. “Sometimes life and work get in the way, but I’ve been coming since 2018.”
At the time, McGrane was suffering from a severe concussion. “Coming here and meditating has helped me recover. It quiets the mind. It’s helped me a lot. I come here almost every week.”
Megan Frey is a teacher at the Mattituck branch. “We explore the concept of true perfection of patience through medicine,” Frey, who attended the Water Mill branch’s Sunday class, said of her class. “We find ways to put distance between our thoughts and our actions.”
Frey, a Port Jefferson native, has been a teacher for one year. “I found out there was a mediation class at the Port Jefferson branch, so I signed up for the class and continued to go every Sunday because I loved the involvement and the psychological exploration.”
Now, Frey is helping to grow the Mattituck chapter and also teaches at Water Mill. “It gets a bit crowded at times. What we all have in common is a spirit of inquiry.”
Nearly 20 years ago, Kelsang Neima and Kelsang Gechog stumbled across an article about meditation in Creations magazine. “We both saw the same article and started at the same time,” Kelsang Gechog said, explaining her involvement with meditation before she became a nun.
Kelsang Neima first attended the Huntington center. “The monks were very obedient and I was really impressed,” she said, adding that the main goal was peace, peace of mind.
Kelsang Gechog had a career as a school psychologist before being ordained, and Kelsang Neima was a business owner who operated a deli and other businesses.
Two of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s books are available for free download for everyone: How to Transform Your Life, The Journey of Bliss and Modern Buddhism, The Path of Compassion and Wisdom. Like all Buddhist lineages, this one traces its roots back to Shakyamuni Buddha in India.
Kelsan Neima will be heading to the UK in a few weeks for additional training. The International Festival takes place three times a year, two in the UK main venue and one on a global tour bringing the international community together.
“Not only have we enjoyed the life-changing teachings, but we have also made lifelong friends,” Kersaneima said. “We all love each other dearly.”
“I want to impact as many people as possible by sharing lessons and methods that will help them in life. Everyone who comes here says, ‘This has changed my life for the better.'”
“We are planting seeds of virtue on the spiritual path, and everyone is welcome,” Kelsan Neima said. “We have a sign that says ‘Everyone is Welcome.'”
