September 10, 2025

Where the East and West Converge

Anushka Joshi finds in Three Jewels a sanctuary where East and West converge. A place that offers a constant reminder to return to the heart, a place to practice, and a home where she meets herself again and again.

by Anushka Joshi 

I moved to New York City for the hustle and bustle. I was so excited to have a playground as a young adult—for my creative expression, to build new relationships, and to meet new versions of myself. And while I expected to be shaped by the city’s rhythm, I didn’t expect to be softened by something far more ancient, right on the street where it all began — at a place called Three Jewels.

At the time I moved, I was just weeks away from completing my first silent retreat: a ten-day Vipassana program. Twelve hours of meditation a day, no talking, no reading, no eye contact. To some, it sounds like deprivation. To me, it’s about delving into your mind. My connection to yoga and meditation wasn’t new. I grew up with philosophical Buddhist lessons in the background of my childhood, passed down from my parents and my aunt. An homage to my heritage, these were not trends, but truths I had inherited.

And then there was Three Jewels, right there in the middle of Manhattan, offering the same teachings, but in a bright and airy coffee shop, in community. I walked in and immediately felt at ease. The space was light, airy, and refreshing—plenty of seating, yet intimate, with an artistic charm that made it feel carefully crafted. I was greeted with joy, and in that moment, I knew this would become a place I’d return to, eventually walking through the door as someone who always felt connected.

It’s more than a studio. It’s a Tibetan Buddhist non-profit that’s been around since the ‘90s, known for translating sacred Buddhist texts to English for the first time and cultivating a community around wisdom, service, and practice. Inside, volunteers – Karma Yogis— serve lattes, sweep floors, and offer themselves to the space. I’ve been one of them. I’ve taught there, practiced there, cried there, and come home there.

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Read Anushka Joshi’s full feature in the second issue of Centre Mag.

Anushka is a Los Angeles-based strategist and media founder shaping conversations at the intersection of technology, culture, and impact. She is the founder of GEN-ZiNE, a platform amplifying the voices of a new generation, and Friend of a Friend, a dating app built around intentional connection. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in Media, she sits on the Advisory Board of NowThis and consults across brand strategy, early-stage growth, and community building. A certified meditation teacher, she also hosts community salons and fosters spaces for intentional connection across the city.