photo of Qalvy Grainzvolt with his infant son 7:30 a.m. After morning ablutions, I greet my infant son, change his diaper, and then take my 5-year old daughter to school.


Qalvy Grainzvolt in Grand Central Station

9:30 a.m. To get to the city, I walk 15 minutes from my home in Westchester County, New York, and hop on the train to Grand Central Terminal. 


photo of Qalvy Grainzvolt at a Buddhist altar

11:15 a.m. Once I’m at the Shinnyo Center for Meditation and Wellbeing near midtown Manhattan, I offer morning chanting and prayer in front of the altar, followed by two public lunchtime meditation sessions.


NYPD officers meditating while standing

3:00 p.m. At least once a month I visit the New York City Police Department’s Midtown South Precinct to speak to the officers and lead a mini-meditation as part of their roll call. Assigned to this precinct as an NYPD clergy liaison, I am here essentially to help these first responders help others. I want to provide the officers with something that can support their health, wellbeing, and state of mind as they patrol New York City’s streets. If they succeed, we all succeed.


Qalvy Grainzvolt sitting on a park bench

4:00 pm. After a walk through Bryant Park, I go to New York University, where I teach a weekly evening meditation class, ending my day in the city.

See more of Rev. Grainzvolt’s day, including the NYPD roll call, on Instagram @tricyclemag.

See previous installments of “A Day in the Dharma” featuring Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, abbot of the Bhavana Society, and Ven. Karma Lekshe Tsomo, cofounder of Sakyadhita.

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