Immigrants in Jackson Heights Discover a Universal Religion
by Sofie Jones and Chelsea Kim
Sandry Gutierrev, a middle-aged Colombian woman was smiling broadly as she bounced into the compact living room of the Jackson Heights Meditation Center, grasping two pink mylar balloons that read “Congratulations!” and “Baby Girl.”
Jinn Noh, 41, a Korean volunteer instructor at the center, sprung up to hug her. During her meditation a few minutes before, Gutierrev had received news that her third granddaughter was born, only a few blocks away. In the minutes since, she had run out to grab balloons and gifts, before returning to share the good news.
Noh inquired about the baby, celebrating with her friend and helping her print out a picture of the newborn. Moments like this, according to Noh, are a common occurrence at Jackson Heights Meditation.
“You see, we are almost like family,” Noh said, as Gutierrev left for the hospital. “Although people are from different backgrounds, they don’t mind. We all came here to meditate.”
The meditation center sits on a crowded street in Jackson Heights, a diverse neighborhood in Queens, often recognized as the nation’s most culturally diverse county. According to residents, 167 languages can be heard in the neighborhood, which is home to many different types of restaurants, stores, and street carts. Members of the meditation center, many of whom are first and second generation immigrants, hail from a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds.
Those who meditate at the center enroll as members, paying $120 a month for unlimited sessions. Each day, they are able to attend guided classes, taught by volunteers, called “helpers.” Helpers, who have previously completed the course, run meditations for those currently practicing, in hopes of, as Noh put it, “helping forward.”
Most members are from Latin American countries, but others come from Nepal and Pakistan. Members also practice a variety of religions, including Islam, Hinduism and Christianity. In this setting, they all come together to find inner peace and happiness, creating an open community that allows a plurality of opinions.
Meditation itself, Noh said, is extremely accessible to a diverse population. In an area with residents of different cultural, religious, and linguistic backgrounds, it draws all people in a way that religion cannot, she explained.
“In order to practice a religion, you must know the language of the religion and understand the culture of the religion,” she said. “Therefore, there are limitations. However, in meditation, you do not need languages, and you do not need to understand the culture. All you need is your own mind. That is why meditation is universal.”
For Cecilia Martinez, a Mexican resident of Jackson Heights, meditation has given her the ability to carve out an identity for herself aside from the pressures of everyday life. Martinez works in Jackson Heights and mails much of the money she earns home, leaving her little time to herself.
“When I start here, I have a problem,” she said. “All my life was attached to my family. I didn’t have my own life.”
After 18 months of dedicated meditation, Martinez says that she has become more “independent.”
“I still love my family as much as I have in the past, but I have my own life now. It’s wonderful,” she said.
Rooted from a main center located in Nonsan, South Korea, Jackson Heights Meditation is one of the 320 non-profit branches located throughout the world. Since its opening in 2014, this center has adapted specifically to fit into the lives of Jackson Heights residents, by providing more flexible class times and less concrete schedules. Noh explained that many of the frequent members work or run their own businesses during the day, making it hard to for them to schedule two or three hour long sessions into their daily routine. However, for many members, the sense of clarity and calm found through their sessions make them worth fitting into a busy lifestyle.
“Our members like to meditate regularly, between and after work, even if they only have time for a thirty-minute session,” Noh said. “Therefore, the meditation center in Jackson Heights is more personalized.”
Many frequent visitors to the center are immigrants who are frequently far from their homes. This center, according to Noh, also tries to create an environment where everyone can feel at home.
“We always celebrate each other,” she said. “The people are from very different cities, cultures, backgrounds. They want someone to talk to.”
The curriculum taught at the center is broken down into seven levels and takes about a year to complete, assuming that members commit to meditating every day. Levels are determined by the students’ ability to “subtract” their distress and control their minds. Each level takes about 20 to 50 hours to complete.
“There is no certain rule to determine someone’s improvement in meditation and self control,” said Noh. “When we think that the person has improved, we ask them whether they agree. If they agree, they are raised a level. Besides, if we were able to determine someone’s mind fully, that would be psychic!”
Rather than pursuing one common goal, each member is guided to seek for their own personal identity through meditation. The method for this process is called “subtraction”, where one is instructed to simplify their thoughts and discard any unnecessary worries.
“Everyone has a different mind, so they picture a different scene when they meditate,” Noh said. “Subtraction is about looking into what’s inside yourself. If you have stress, anger or sadness inside your mind, we want to see you throw that away.”
Martinez stressed that the center has played a big role in her life, allowing her to see the world and her situation in new ways.
“Here I am with my universe,” she said. “When you start meditating, you don’t stop. You need it like the air, like the food.”
