Kadampa Meditation Center SF - San Francisco, California

quiet D.

I have been going here for almost 2 years. My life has changed, and I am a better person because of the meditations I practice that I learned from here. I have dealt with my anger issues and have found a deeper compassion. I am now learning to teach this tradition. Check it out! You may find some peace here.

Zachary Jellson

Not your spot if you just want a meditation. There are plenty of other places more geared to that. There was a certain unnecessary formality here as well. Felt odd to sit in a banquet chair during meditation. All in all, something didn't jive with me here. The altar also looks straight out of a museum and its behind glass.

Michael Young (quietD)

This place is where I go to get my mind right and to find peace. Please consider going here and checking it out. I know that meditation is hard bit it is worth it. The meditations are practical and the teachings are from the heart. Gen Choma is great and the people there are always happy to see you. Go get some peace.

Turquoise Heart

I feel compelled to share my recent experience here and to warn others about the disappointments that lie within. What should have been a journey towards inner tranquility turned into an ordeal marked by incorrect techniques, a condescending teacher, and outright discrimination.

Let me start with the meditation technique itself. As someone who has been practicing meditation for years, I was excited to delve into a new approach to enhance my practice. However, what I encountered at Kadampa Meditation Center SF left me baffled and frustrated. The technique I was taught felt like a watered-down version of authentic meditation practices. Instead of guiding us towards mindfulness and self-awareness, the technique seemed hastily thrown together, devoid of the depth and substance that true meditation should entail. It left me questioning the credibility of the center and its commitment to fostering genuine growth.

What was even more disheartening was the demeanor of the teacher. Rather than embodying the qualities of compassion and understanding that one would expect from a meditation instructor, this teacher was consistently condescending and dismissive. Questions were met with eye rolls and hushed tones, creating an environment where students were afraid to voice their uncertainties. Meditation is meant to be a journey of self-discovery, and a teacher's role is to guide and uplift. Instead, the condescending attitude of the instructor eroded any semblance of trust and respect that should exist between teacher and student.

Regrettably, the issues didn't stop there. Discrimination reared its ugly head in the most unexpected way. It was disheartening to see some individuals receiving preferential treatment while others were blatantly overlooked. It became evident that personal connections and backgrounds played a role in how some students were treated. A meditation center should be a haven of inclusivity, where individuals from all walks of life are embraced and supported. The discriminatory behavior I witnessed shattered this vision and created an environment of divisiveness.

In conclusion, my experience at this meditation center is an immense letdown. The inadequacy of the meditation technique, coupled with the condescending teacher and discriminatory practices, left me disillusioned and disenchanted.

It is my hope that this review serves as a warning to others who are seeking a genuine path to inner peace and growth. The shortcomings I encountered at this center cannot be ignored, and I urge the management to take immediate action to rectify these issues. Meditation is a sacred practice, and it deserves to be taught with sincerity, respect, and a deep understanding of its transformative power.

Maria Carnevale

Having moved from Europe to San Francisco, I am very grateful to have found and be part of this loving and kind community. Everybody is welcome, whether Buddhist or non-Buddhist. The teachings are very practical and have helped me find a meaningful and joyful life.

Ian Boissonnault

I was joyfully welcomed to the community at KMC SF/Saraha Buddhist Center where both the ordained and lay were very kind and my times spent here truly enhanced my time in San Francisco. I come from a very different background but I found the lessons to be so practical and calming to my mind- it's the lessons and the receptiveness that truly make the experience here. The teachings offered by Gen Choma are elegant in their uncontrived truths and powerful compassion. Very low on woo. Very humanist, caring, and wishing only the best for all. I highly recommend a lesson or two for all those curious, stop in for your consideration.

Cris Azzola

The Kadampa Meditation Center is a beautiful, peaceful space that allows me to take a break out of my busy day to learn mediation skills and practice with friendly people. They create a very welcoming atmosphere, whether you are a novice mediator or long-time practitioner. I enjoy learning about Buddhist practice and have taken a class with Kelsang Shinchok, which was amazing! It helped me deepen my mediation skills and taught me how I can apply ancient Buddhist principles to thrive in the modern world. New classes are constantly being offered and I look forward to exploring more wonderful topics!

the Sputnik

I felt very unwelcome here. They acted like their pristine, spotless white carpet was more valuable then us, the devotees there to meditate. It took up most of the room, so they set up two chairs on the edge of the carpet for us to sit. I got the feeling I was received with contempt, being a female, by the only man clothed in robes there, an obviously gay man monk, who acted like my presence there was an annoyance. Like he was more spiritual than me. No incense was allowed to be burned there, and no candles were lit, things that are staples in other churches and sacred spaces, and ways I typically elevate my mindset, and cleanse negative, static energy that is bound to accumulate in public spaces, were not used to sanctify the space. They sited fire codes, but it was a let down, as I express my devotion and get in the zone to meditate with incense, candles, and chanting or cleansing chimes or something...there was nothing. The space had negative energy throughout, and the plain white room with large statues of Buddha seemed like props in a generic office space. The fake smile plastered to the woman's face who let us in, remained forced and unchanged the entire time we were there. They had a gift shop attached to the meditation room, with books all written by the same monk for sale, along with a few packs of low quality, overpriced incense for sale. I would not only not recommend this place to the spiritual seeker, I would advise against it. There is more wisdom conveyance, friendship, welcoming vibes, and contemplation to be found at a quaker meeting for worship. This meditation center not only failed in elevating my mindset and providing space to journey safely inward, it left me feeling lower and more polluted on a spiritual level, than when I first entered the establishment. Highly disappointed, would advise against visiting. Waste of time and energy. They do not see the divine inside you, and respect it. The place felt like a front!