Buddhism and Meditation in Chicago

Welcome to meditateinchicago.org, the online home of Vajrayana Buddhist Center.

Vajrayana Center was founded by Ven. Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in 1997 as a non-profit organization and a member of the New Kadampa Tradition - International Kadampa Buddhist Union. Our mission is to make Buddhism and meditation available to all people in Chicago and the surrounding areas, offering them a practical method to find peace and happiness from within their own minds.

Our resident teacher is Kelsang Lektso, an American Buddhist nun and close disciple of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, who has been studying and practicing Kadampa Buddhism under Geshe Kelsang's guidance since 1999. Prior to becoming the Resident Teacher, Kelsang Lektso served VBC for many years as the Administrative Director and the Education Program Coordinator. Lektso presents Buddha's teachings in a clear, heartfelt, and practical way. She teaches the Sunday morning Prayers for World Peace class in Oak Park, as well as the Monday evening General Program class, and the Lakeview and Milwaukee branch locations; she is also the teacher for our Foundation Program and Teacher Training Program.

Vajrayana Buddhist Center offers a full schedule of classes and pujas in Oak Park, as well as weekly branch classes in Libertyville, Evanston, Lakeview, Des Plaines, and Naperville. We also have a distant branch in Milwaukee, WI.

It is our wish to be a true haven of peace and refuge for the people of Chicago, so feel free to visit any time for a cup of tea, some quiet time, or a tour of the center. Please call ahead to be sure the doors will be open.

On this website you can find information links about Buddhism and meditation, purchase books on Buddhism, or find a meditation class in your area of Chicago.