Zen Center of New York City - Fire Lotus Temple — Local services in New York

I had to come back to re-review this place. My first time there was ok, I guess. The people in the gray robes are welcoming with a smile. I went back on a Tuesday for weekday meditation and saw a water bug just casually roaming the place where everyone meditates and sits on the floor. I thought to myself that maybe they need help cleaning the place. So, I came back early on another Sunday to help clean. 😳 I was paired with another young lady to clean the meditation room where everyone gathers. She "cleaned" one side, while I cleaned the other. I was expecting, Lysol, Microfiber cloths, vacuums, Mr. Clean, Fabreeze, brooms and dust pans... that's not what I got. I was told to use my hand to brush off any visible dirt or lint on the square pillows and round ones people sit on AND put their faces on 🤯 😷🤢🤮. As I cleaned the pillows, I hit them hard to fluff them, almost every time, dust came out of it. ☠ After I finished, I went upstairs to the second floor to have something to eat from what I bought from the store. As I sat at the table, someone came to get water out of a 3 gallon jug. It didn't appear as though they get new ones. It looked dark around the top with water I assume they used from the faucet or garden hose. It was then, I was done. I haven't been back since. I dunno, am I a germiphobe? I don't know. But, eeeewww. It was enough for me to stop going. Good luck on...

I have done a few morning sits and a full day sit here. As someone who is new but interested in Zen Buddhism I was a little intimidated but everyone was incredibly warm and welcoming. They do beginning instructions on Sunday morning which helped me understand the basics of how to sit and other helpful information about Zen practices. So far it has helped me so much to expand my personal practice in mediation and understanding more about Buddhism. It’s a humble gem in busy downtown Brooklyn. Looking forward to attending more programs here, and I encourage others who are interested to go! I felt like I was messing up or not doing things right in the beginning but everyone is encouraging and helpful that it didn’t feel like it mattered at all. The type of environment you want to have when learning...

In the world of Buddhism, you'll find many who romanticize sitting and are erroneously fixated on enlightenment, special experiences and to realize an ideal version of the ego self. The Fire Lotus Temple is no exception. The purpose of sitting is for us to give more attentinon to washing the dishes, cleaning the toilet and meeting the deadline at work. The idea that sitting fosters wisdom or compassion are myths. Wisdom and compassion come from within and from one's own orientation. Sitting can enhance those qualities, but meditation is not the source.

I've attended for two months consistently, but I haven't returned in two weeks or so. I may or may not return. It can be useful to be around people we disagree with, but the pretense of humility, holiness and virtue that pervades can be...