Kadampa Meditation Center DC — Local services in Washington

The Kadampa Meditation Center is accessible to people with mobility needs. They have a functional elevator with a note posted with a phone number to call to get staff from inside to bring the elevator down to you. Inside the meditation room, they have removeable chairs and floor seats.

The main accessibility concern I have is that online classes are only offered to members even if someone with a disability requests it. This means that people who cannot physically get to the Center safely or who need closed captioning have a paywall that can functionally prevent access.

There are no ASL or non-English interpreting provided during classes.

I appreciate that they also have a financial hardship option for all class fees with no questions asked. This really helps improve access without there being a stigma. Also, anyone's first class is FREE!

Gen Demo is a fantastic teacher! She is approachable and humble, but also wise and peaceful. She uses really human real-life examples in her teachings along with passages from books that she explains in more depth. She provides caveats to situations the teachings would not apply to dispel misinterpretations before they happen. For example, that befriending our mind and understanding how it works is not an invitation to judge or shame ourselves. She doesn't kid herself or her students into believing that these teachings are an instant fix, universally applicable, or are easy to practice, yet you still walk away feeling more seen and capable. It is also a "take what helps and leave the rest mentality." You aren't expected to believe everything that is taught unconditionally. You can talk with her after each class to process further what you learned or just get to know each other, which is always such a joy.

You definitely don't have to identify as Buddhist to take classes here. Nobody asks if you're Buddhist or judges you if you aren't. Everyone is welcome! I'd definitely recommending...

My husband and I began attending the DC mediation ctr in January as a new year's resolution to cleanse our minds and souls. Gen Demo's teachings have and continue to offer us both a great deal of spiritual advice on how to live a more peaceful life through meditation practices. By offering our kindness and generosity towards others, we learn to be better people. Our Thursday and Friday nights are no longer spent drinking at a bar. As a couple we now look forward to our meditation sessions and life teachings presented to us by our lovely Buddhist teacher Gen Demo. We even discuss that evening's mediation topic on our walk back to our house. Very productive and enriching way of life in this new year. Glad we're off to...

Kadampa Meditation Center - DC offers a quiet oasis of peace from stress and conflict. Located in the vibrant SW, near to the National’s Ballpark, KMC-DC offers a wide variety of classes, retreats and chanted prayers. Gen Demo, the resident teacher, provides profound teachings with grace and humor that directly apply to modern life. I moved to the DC area in May and found KMC-DC very welcoming. Every time I attend a class or retreat, I learn methods that I can immediately apply to my life to help reduce stress and anxiety. I’m very happy to be a part of this community and hope that thousands more in the DC area will learn about us and benefit from the timeless nature of...