Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

Geshe Kelsang Gyatso is the Founder of the New Kadampa Tradition, an international union of Kadampa Buddhist Centers with over 1000 Centers worldwide. Originally from Tibet, Geshe Kelsang has spent over 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 Brazil 2010.

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 over 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.



Karla Hassenstein
Karla works full time at Chakrasambara Buddhist Center as a senior teacher and the Center's spiritual education program coordinator. She currently teaches Prayers for World Peace on Sunday mornings at CBC as well as our Sunday Evening Introductory Series. In addition she is the branch teacher in Harlem. A longtime student on the Teacher Training Program at CBC, Karla has also studied Buddhist Ritual and Art at Nagarjuna Buddhist Center in England.

Taina Rodriguez
Taina teaches the Wednesday Foundation Program class at CBC and the Sunday afternoon meditation class. She 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.

Sara Wendt
Sara teaches the Monday Foundation Program class at Chakrasambara Buddist Center. She teaches with clarity and an infectious joy, and her warm and welcoming presence is appreciated by everyone.       

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.

Julia Strohm
Julia has been teaching Buddhist meditation on the upper West side for over six years. Although interested in Buddhism since she was a teenager, it was the teachings at Chakrasambara Buddhist Center that inspired Julia to engage in daily meditation practice. Julia is now inspiring others with her warm enthusiasm.       

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

Tim Cockey
Tim is a meditation teacher from Chakrasambara Buddhist Center in Manhattan. He is the deputy branch coordinator at CBC where he assists in the development of the branch classes throughout the tri-state area.

Miri Renner
Miri is the Admnistrative Director of Chakrasambara Buddhist Center, overseeing daily operations of the center. Originally from Germany, Miri first studied Dharma at the NKT Center in London before moving to New York in Summer 2007. She is the is appreciated by all for her warmth and kindness.

Heather Brandstetter
Heather is the teacher of the Union Square 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.

Chris Poling
Chris teaches the Greenpoint branch classes. His warm and welcoming presence is appreciated by everyone, and he teaches with clarity and an infectious joy.                                                               

Paige Polisner works as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at the Lexington School for the Deaf in Queens, where she provides individual counseling for students and teaches Peace classes. She became involved in Buddhism while culminating her search for a spiritual path that could offer solutions where clinical psychology fell short. Her teachings are candid and heartfelt.

Jennifer Caruana
Jen teaches Buddhist meditation in Queens. In addition, she is a classically trained opera singer, with a warm and welcoming presence appreciated by all who hear her teachings.

Alice Fox
Alice was born and raised in the East Village. She currently works in the health care industry, focusing on end-of-life issues. Alice teaches at the NoHo branch.

Buddhist Meditation Teachers in New York