Kadampa Meditation Center New York

On Sweeney Road in Glen Spey, in the Catskills, Kadampa Meditation Center New York calls itself the US National Temple. It sits within 82 acres of natural woodland and belongs to a worldwide network of Kadampa Buddhist centers in more than 40 countries, founded by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche.

The week is organized around classes. Sunday at 11am, resident teacher Gen Samten Kelsang leads "Navigating Life with Wisdom," introducing one meditation and the understanding behind it, with lunch afterward. A free Prayers for World Peace class runs from 2 to 3pm. On Monday at noon, Kadam Kyle Davis, the second resident teacher, teaches "The Happiness Toolkit," a study of the Lamrim, a system of 21 meditations. Wednesday evenings in the Temple bring multi-week series such as "How to Purify the Mind." Twice a month, a family class offers nature walks, crafts, games, songs, stories and short breathing meditations.

Meals are part of the practice. Vegetarian food, cooked by volunteers with fresh and local products where possible, is served self-serve style to the residential community, which includes ordained monks and nuns, and to visitors. Vegan and wheat-free options are available. Beyond the Temple there are hiking trails, the World Peace Cafe, a bookstore and gift shop, and a monthly Friday night "Food for Thought."

Visitors can come for a day, a Saturday workshop, a weekend retreat or a longer personal retreat. Accommodations are on site, many retreats suit beginners, and a volunteer visitors program lets guests stay and help. Branch classes run in Port Jervis, Binghamton, Scranton, Sparta, Warwick, Beacon and Burlington, Vermont.