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    Seattle Soto Zen

    5.0 (2 reviews)

    Seattle Soto Zen Photos

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    Kadampa Meditation Center Washington

    Kadampa Meditation Center Washington

    4.8(16 reviews)
    2.5 miBallard, Loyal Heights

    I have just recently moved to Seattle and gotten involved with KMC Washington. I am so impressed by…read morethe people here! There are many very long-time practitioners of Buddhism here, and it is clear that they have been sincerely being Buddhists. These are people who have learned from a qualified Buddhist master, and they are humble and have a sense of humor. It is so refreshing! This is a great example of Sangha. As you can see from the photos, the temple is beautiful with a lovely meditation room. This is covid time, and they are being careful, so everything is streamed right now. It will be wonderful when people can gather together inside again in the future.

    I encourage everyone to make their own impression but being as this is Yelp, here's mine: this…read moreplace is great in concept but it quickly gave off a cultish vibe to me. And I'm not saying this because I'm a skeptic of Buddhism, as my entire family is Buddhist! My grandfather was a political figure in Vietnam who had the backing and support of the Buddhist party. He also was the one who lent his car to his monk friend on the day that monk infamously lit himself on fire in protest (if you Google pics you can see my grandpa's car in the background behind the burning monk). So yeah, I'm trying to say that I have a familiarity/background with Buddhism. Anyway back to the KMC: Everyone was very nice, but I didn't like how everything was "for purchase" and how meditation classes have a mandatory fee. I'm used to free or donation-based sessions, as most Buddhist temples/centers I'm familiar with are. It felt like they obviously were trying to make money wherever they could, which didn't feel very Buddhist to me? But again, I understand that this place isn't technically a temple or monastery etc so maybe that's the difference. Group meditation felt more like a lecture hall at a college. I personally seek a more intimate, calming environment. Here, they have the ceiling lights on so bright you'd think you were being interrogated. How does one relax and meditate with bright ass lights? Perhaps that's a challenge on purpose? I'd suggest dimming the lights a bit for meditation, even if it means some might fall asleep. *UPDATE*: Upon further online research, I've discovered to my shock that the NKT organization is actively against the Dalai Lama and have been called the "Death Eaters to the broader Hogwarts of global Tibetan Buddhism." There are actually testimonies written by "survivors" claiming how NKT is very much a cult. Make up your own mind about it but the info is out there. TLDR: I don't know if most who go here are aware of all this controversy and that Kelsang Gyatso is opposed to His Holiness. Basically, the sect he's created here is based on teachings/practices that's been banned from Tibetan Buddhism, and there are eyebrow-raising articles online regarding the activity of its members. I strongly urge anyone interested to do their research first because I suspect they're largely successful due to the ignorance of Westerners (their target audience/demographic). I'm giving them 2 stars because the people seemed nice, they provided snacks afterwards, and the lesson taught that day had value, but I personally will not be supporting this center and will seek meditation from a more traditional Buddhist establishment.

    Photos
    Kadampa Meditation Center Washington - Resident teacher Gen Kelsang Khedrub

    Resident teacher Gen Kelsang Khedrub

    Kadampa Meditation Center Washington - Blissful 8' Buddha statue

    Blissful 8' Buddha statue

    Kadampa Meditation Center Washington - KMC WA

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    KMC WA

    Buddha Jewel Monastery - Journey Towards Happiness and Wisdom: Enroll in our Meditation and Buddhism Classes.

    Buddha Jewel Monastery

    5.0(3 reviews)
    7.6 mi

    This is a place I've recently found while searching for help with overwhelming grief, to say they…read moreare welcoming is an understatement... While I expected they could help me with grief, I did not expect them to be able to help me fix my entire life, things I have been struggling with since I was a child, which is exactly what has happened. Words cannot express how much gratitude I feel for finding this place and these people.

    This monestery is truly a jewel. The Buddhist nuns (women monks) who live, staff and teach at the…read moremonestery are welcoming, sincere and kind. As a level one meditation student, I have found the guided meditations and course instruction to be more beneficial than years of therapy in terms of providing insight into the causes of suffering and showing the way toward a peace of mind. I cannot recommend the free meditation courses highly enough. For the individual who is either brand new to or familiar with Buddhist teaching, the monastery offers an accessible and welcoming learning environment. It is indeed a refuge for those interested in deepening their understanding of wholesome and liberating teachings of the Buddha. The monastery will soon be in transition with a large renovation project starting in the Fall of 2019. In the meantime, it is beautiful and meticulously cared for. Warm lighting and clean, open spaces positively glow with elegant fabrics, inspiring and tasteful Buddhist statues, plants and flowers. The Buddha Jewel monastery is a blessed refuge of sanity, calm and quiet dignity in a chaotic secular world. I can't believe how fortunate we are to have this place located in Shoreline! If you don't live nearby, it is well worth the drive to attend the well-prepared and thoughtfully presented classes. If I had to describe the Buddha Jewel monastery facility and community in one word it would be "integrity". Care and thought and consideration abound in all aspects of the community outreach and education.

    Photos
    Buddha Jewel Monastery - 禪修班招生中
歡迎報名

    禪修班招生中 歡迎報名

    Buddha Jewel Monastery - One Incense
One Hour Guided Meditation
Drop In
All Levels Welcome

    One Incense One Hour Guided Meditation Drop In All Levels Welcome

    Buddha Jewel Monastery

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    Seattle Soto Zen - buddhist_temples - Updated May 2026

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