Our Team
The Williamsburg Branch of the Kadampa Meditation Center was established over 13 years ago to provide people in the Brooklyn area with the opportunity to learn about and practice Buddha’s teachings. To fulfill this aim, we have created a peaceful city sanctuary located in the heart of Williamsburg. Based on the books of the modern day Buddhist teacher, Geshe Kelsang, we present Buddha’s teachings in an accessible manner that can easily be integrated into our modern lives.
Our Founder
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche (download his FREE E-Book) is the founder of the New Kadampa Tradition, an international union of Kadampa Buddhist Centers with over 1200 Centers and branches worldwide.
Geshe Kelsang is primarily responsible for the worldwide revival of Kadampa Buddhism in our time. Born in Tibet in 1931 and ordained as a Buddhist monk at the age of eight, Geshe Kelsang then studied in the great monastic universities of Tibet and earned the titled "Geshe", which literally means "spiritual friend", under the guidance of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, his spiritual Guide. (read more here)
Eastern United States National Spiritual Director, Resident Teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center NYC
Kadam Morten Clausen is the Eastern US National Spiritual Director of the New Kadampa Tradition and Resident Teacher at the Kadampa Meditation Center New York City, of which Williamsburg is a branch.
For over 30 years he has been a close disciple of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, greatly admired as a meditation teacher and is especially known for his clarity, humor & inspiration presentation of Buddha's teachings. His teachings are always practical and easy to apply to everyday life. Through his gentle and joyful approach and his peaceful example ... (read more here)
Williamsburg Branch Meditation Teachers
Joseph Giacona
Joseph Giacona first met Buddhism while attending university. Spending his free time between classes in the Barnes & Noble Buddhism section he encountered Geshe Kelsang's books and was astonished by their clarity and practical, personal presentation. After meeting Geshe Kelsang in 2001, he began classes at KMC NYC where he joined the Teacher Training Program, a comprehensive study and meditation program. Joseph has a thorough understanding of Modern Buddhism and has attended regular meditation retreats. He began leading meditation classes in Williamsburg in 2005 and is well-known for his engaging and humorous teaching style.
Ashley Wolverton
Ashley Wolverton had been a spiritual seeker her whole life, looking for something meaningful and profound. She ran through the gamut of options and landed on Modern Buddhism, Kadampa style. Ashley appreciated the power of group meditation and fell in love with the teachings and how applicable they are to everyday life. Ashley teaches some of our after work meditations at the Center and the occasional GP class and Saturday course.