Founder
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 Kadampa Meditation Center and all other NKT Centers. The Teachers at Chakrasambara Center are disciples of Venerable Geshe Kelsang.

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

Resident Teacher
Kadam Morten Clausen

Kadam Morten Clausen is the Resident Teacher at Chakrasambara Kadampa Meditation 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 Chakrasambara KMC.

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



Foundation Program Teachers

Taina Cutler
A senior teacher and long-time practitioner at Chakrasambara Kadampa Meditation, Taina teaches at the Wednesday Foundation Program class at CKMC. Raised in Puerto Rico and California, she has trained as a horticulturalist in New York City and now makes her home in New Jersey.

Sara Wendt
Sara teaches the Monday Foundation Program class at Chakrasambara Kadampa Meditation Center. An accomplished singer-songwriter and performer in and around New York City, Sara has been closely involved in many of the musical celebrations both at CKMC and the U.S., U.K. and International Kadampa Festivals.

Other Teachers

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 she encountered at Chakrasambara Kadampa Meditation Center that inspired Julia to commit to fully to her meditation study and practice. Julia is now inspiring others with her clarity and warm enthusiasm.

Paige Polisner Paige 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. She teaches at the Upper East Side branch.

Joseph Giacona
Joseph's interest in Buddhism began while in college. Subsequently, he read many of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's books and found them clear and inspring. It was upon seeing Geshe Kelsang teach in New York in 2001 that he discovered CKMC in New York City. Joseph has been a committed student and practitioner ever since. He teaches at the Williamsburg branch.


Ana Fox Chaney grew up in the East Village and has been meditating and practicing Kadampa Dharma for almost ten years. Her job as an elementary school math teacher in NYC provides her with many opportunities to put the lessons of her meditation practice into use, as well as providing a treasury of anecdotes that she incorporates into her classes at Union Square branch. Ana's teachings are both insightful and delightful.

Karla Hassenstein Karla works full time at CKMC as the Center's Education Program Coordinator. Among her numerous duties in this role is the overseeing of all the center's branch classes. She currently teaches Prayers for World Peace on Sunday mornings at CKMC. A longtime student on the Teacher Training Program, Karla has also studied Buddhist Ritual and Art at Nagarjuna Buddhist Center in England.

Tim Cockey
Tim is a senior teacher from Chakrasambara Kadampa Meditation Center in Manhattan. He is also the deputy branch coordinator at CKMC where he assists in the development of the branch classes throughout the tri-state area.

Alice Fox
In her capacity as a caregiver in the health care industry, focusing on end-of-life issues, Alice finds Buddha's wisdom extremely beneficial and important. She is a warm and engaging teacher of the dharma.

Natalia Darialova
Natalia is a television journalist as well as a published author of two books of fiction and one of non-fiction. She is a highly original and devoted teacher of the dharma, known for her humor and clarity. Natalia teaches the Sunday morning General Program class.

Michael Dulev is a New York City actor/waiter who has been practicing Buddhist meditation sincerely since 2005. Finding the teachings to be creative, inspiring, and practical in every aspect of his life, Michael continually aspires to learn from and benefit others in his daily practice. Michael teaches at the Greenpoint branch.

Alexandra Bonano was born and raised in New York City and works as a university instructor. Citing the clarity and practical nature of the Kadampa Buddhist teachings as the inspiration for her own study and practice of meditation, she aspires to benefit others with her own heartfelt enthusiasm. Currently, she teaches at the Astoria and Washington Heights branches, as well as the Lunchtime Meditation at CKMC in Chelsea.

Simone Barker
Simone was searching for the Dharma (Buddha's teachings) long before she even knew what it was! Now that she has found it, she takes great delight in sharing what she knows. She teaches at the East Village/Bowery branch.

Bridget Walsh
Bridget is an elementary school teacher in New Jersey. She was drawn to Buddha's teachings for their clarity and practicality in addressing methods for dealing with all aspects of modern life. Bridget is enthusiastic in her wish to share these life-changing teaching with others. She teaches at the branch class in Jersey City.

Buddhist Meditation Teachers in New York