Queens—New York City’s most ethnically diverse borough and its largest in area—ranks second highest in religious diversity among all United States counties, according to the 2020 PRRI Census. Even narrowing it down to Buddhism, Queens’s population is particularly diverse, as the borough is home to some of the country’s largest populations of immigrants from Tibet, Korea, and China.

The architecture of Queens’s Buddhist sites also ranges widely, from small nondescript houses to detailed temples nestled between typical city buildings. Construction is less dense than most of the rest of New York City, which leaves space for meditation in stunning flower gardens and backyard barbecues to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday. Temples belonging to a variety of traditions serve families and visitors alike all across Queens.

1| New York Tibetan Service Center

The New York Tibetan Service Center (NYTSC) works hard to keep Tibetan youth connected to their heritage and to strengthen community among the large Tibetan refugee population in Elmhurst and the adjacent Jackson Heights. They provide free after-school and summer camp programs along with peer mentoring and parenting workshops specifically geared toward Tibetan and Himalayan immigrant families. You can help support NYTSC’s programming at cultural events they host throughout the year, such as a Losar festival, with an art market, traditional Himalayan food, and performances in Tibetan and English.

83-02A Broadway, Elmhurst
nytsc.org

2| Hanmaum Zen Center of New York

If you look closely between two houses on 32nd Avenue in Flushing, Queens, you’ll spot a pagoda-like building behind thin metal gates. The Hanmaum Zen Center is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the grassy grounds alone offer an oasis amid the busy city. The temple belongs to the global organization Hanmaum Seon Center, a branch of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, which has locations across the world.

145-20 Bayside Ave., Flushing
facebook.com/nyhanmaumpage

3| Sera Jey Buddhist Cultural Center 

The Sera Jey Buddhist Cultural Center—the US extension of Sera Jey Monastery in India—provides a long list of invaluable services to New York City’s Tibetan Buddhist community. You can visit them at the house they’ve been renting since 2012, where they host open events on holy days. If you live nearby, blessings and prayer services can be performed in private homes. Their mission includes interfaith dialogue and preservation of Tibetan language and culture, and their monks frequent Tibet House in Manhattan for ceremonies and other cultural occasions.

41-30 57th St., Woodside
serajey.org

4| Jung Myung Sa Buddhist Temple

In the decade before Jung Myung Sa Buddhist Temple was founded (in 1994), Queens’s Korean Buddhist immigrants had to travel hours north to the Catskill Mountains to practice. Now, the three-story temple provides a thriving community space for Korean Buddhists. Most of the temple’s current programming is in Korean, and they are currently working on expanding to include services in English. But even if you don’t speak Korean, the temple is worth walking by to view the lush garden surrounding the temple and the beautiful calligraphy sign that hangs above the front door.

162-11 Stanford Ave., Flushing
jungmyungsa.org/english

5| Chan Meditation Center

Originating as a small meditation group led by Master Sheng Yen, the Chan Meditation Center (CMC) moved to Elmhurst, Queens, in 1979. Since then, they’ve grown so much they’ve had to purchase three adjacent buildings to accommodate their sangha. The buildings serve as a small monastery for a handful of monks and nuns and as the headquarters of Dharma Drum Publications. CMC welcomes anybody interested in meditation and Buddhism to their meditation and chanting sessions, dharma talks, and t’ai chi classes. Though their main address is currently under construction, their temporary address is just up the street. You can find the full schedule of events on their website.

91-26 Corona Ave., Elmhurst
chancenter.org

6| United Sherpa Association

The United Sherpa Association is a central point of community outreach in Queens. Working out of two locations—a community center and a temple—they have set up a food bank for Nepali students, raised over $138,000 for Nepal earthquake relief efforts, distributed NYC ID cards with forms in Nepali and Tibetan to make them more accessible, and provided many other crucial community services. The association also hosts Himalayan cultural and religious festivals, presented as closely as possible to how they would be put on in remote villages. The United Sherpa Association is always working on something new, responding quickly to the Himalayan community’s needs as they arise. Be sure to check out their current efforts and events on their website or social media.

41-01 75th St., Elmhurst
sherpakyidug.org

The post The Buddhist Traveler in Queens appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.

The greater Mumbai area, home to more than 22 million people, is a world away from remote and serene Buddhist monasteries in the Himalayas. But Buddhism is alive in India’s most densely populated city and financial and film capital. Mumbai has the largest urban Buddhist population in India and makes up nearly 80 percent of the country’s total Buddhist population.

Most of the city’s Buddhists are followers of Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1891–1956), who led a movement that converted hundreds of thousands of Dalit (“untouchable”) Hindus to Buddhism to escape the horrors and discrimination of the caste system. Today, Ambedkar continues to be revered, and his image can be found just about everywhere you turn, including in smaller temples, which include statues of his likeness in addition to the Buddha’s. 

1| Fabindia 

Traditional clothing isn’t a prerequisite for visiting Indian houses of worship, but modesty is. For sixty years, Fabindia has worked with rural artisans to sell clothes, jewelry, furniture, and more. Kurtas, long-sleeve shirts, and loose pants provide good sun coverage and a cooler option than jeans or leggings, and you can find every color and pattern imaginable. Shorts are not temple-appropriate; women might consider adding a scarf, called a dupatta, or
stole, depending on the length,
for covering arms or the head if required. Fabindia has hundreds of stores in India, with several in Mumbai; we recommend the Fort location, close to the famous Gateway of India and Crawford Market.  

Jeroo Building, B Bharucha Road, Kala Ghoda, Fort
fabindia.com

2| Kanheri Caves

If you have only one full day for Buddhist sightseeing in Mumbai, spend it at this ancient complex. The 109 Buddhist caves carved into a basalt rock hill were constructed as early as the 3rd century BCE, and were in use as a center for Buddhist study and worship up to the 11th century. The massive Buddhas in themselves are magnificent; Kanheri is known for a unique eleven-headed Avalokiteshvara. The caves are situated within Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which offers additional sites and attractions, including hiking, a safari, Jain temple, waterfall, and lakes. The caves are about seven kilometers inside the park, and uphill; cars can be hired once inside the main park’s entrance. You can also hike up; just be aware of the wildlife threats, including leopards. Guard your snacks from resident monkeys, they are quick. 

Sanjay Gandhi National Park

3| B.R. Ambedkar Chaityabhoomi

Chaityabhoomi was the site of Ambedkar’s cremation in 1956, and his death anniversary, or Mahaparinirvan Din, brings millions of pilgrims every December 6. The main hall includes a statue of the Buddha; sitting below him is an Ambedkar bust adorned with flower garlands and illuminated by candles, and a monk nearby to offer blessings. The main entrance gate and pillar are replicas of the Sanchi Gate and Ashoka Pillar, and stalls leading to the temple sell Ambedkar literature, flowers for offerings, and a wide variety of Buddha and Ambedkar tchotchkes. Chaityabhoomi is on the waterfront, steps away from Dadar Chowpatty (beach) and Shivaji Park. 

2RGM+2HJ, D Mandir Road, Dadar West, Dadar

4| Global Vipassana Pagoda

The Global Vipassana Pagoda, on Mumbai’s northern outskirts, was a project S. N. Goenka (1924–2013) worked to complete toward the end of his life that honored his teacher, Sayagyi U Ba Khin, as well as educating visitors about the Vipassana tradition. The gold-painted pagoda stands at 325 feet tall and contains Buddha relics. The complex includes a pillar-less dome that can accommodate 8,000 people (but only those who have completed a Goenka ten-day course can meditate there). A ten-minute anapanasati (mindfulness of breathing) course is offered continuously from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and all visitors aged 10 and up can participate. Getting there is a trek that includes a ferry ride and magnificent views; take advantage of the vegetarian food options onsite.

Global Vipassana Pagoda Road, Gorai Village, West Borivali
globalpagoda.org

5| Nipponzan Myohoji

This Nichiren Buddhist temple has the distinction of being Mumbai’s oldest—and possibly only—Japanese Buddhist place of worship. The temple’s founder, Nichidatsu Fujii (1885–1985), traveled to India in the ’30s to fulfill Nichiren’s prophecy to bring the Lotus Sutra to India. Today, visitors can chant the daimoku in the temple, which includes a large marble Buddha and vibrant paintings depicting scenes from the Buddha’s life. Resident monk Bhikshu T. Morita continues the vision of the order’s founder by working to construct a new peace pagoda and running a nonsectarian school for local children. 

2R28+79P, Dr. Annie Besant Road, opp. Poddar Hospital, B Wing, Worli
nipponzanmyohojimumbai.com

6| Rajgruha (Ambedkar Museum)

Ambedkar’s former mansion is an opportunity to pay homage and to learn more about his life. Ambedkar is said to have constructed the residence to house his personal library, which, at 50,000 books, was one of the largest in the world at the time (a portion of his collection now lives at Mumbai’s Siddharth College Library). Rajgruha is an important site to many Ambedkarite Buddhists, and the ground-floor museum contains other significant personal items from his life. 

Dadar East, 129, Khare Ghat Marg, Hindu Colony

The post The Buddhist Traveler in Mumbai appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.

As you step off the plane, be prepared to be enveloped by aloha, the nurturing quality of Hawaii Island’s vast ‘aina (“land”) and her elements. Notice the fragrance of plumerias, the velvety feel of gentle trade winds, the green lushness of tropical forests, the immensity of the five great mountains, and the ever-present ocean that cleanses and gives life. Aloha means love and friendship, and its invigorating energy permeates the island. 

The big island of Hawaii contains nearly two-thirds of the state’s landmass but only 13 percent of its population. From its introduction in 1889 to serve Japanese immigrants, Buddhism has grown to become an integral part of the island’s multicultural landscape.

1| Daifukuji Soto Mission

Daifukuji (“Temple of Great Happiness”) sits at the top of a gently sloping hill in Honalo overlooking the Pacific. One feels the friendliness and gracious presence of this temple. Founded in 1914 by Reverend Kaiseki Kodama, who walked around the entire island twice to raise donations for its construction, the mission is now headed by Reverend Mary Beth Jiko Nakade, who became its first female resident minister in 2004. The gift shop is a favorite because of its unique pottery and Japanese items. Visit for zazen, taiko (drumming), yoga, baikako (chanting accompanied by bells), or the orchid club.

79-7241 Mamalahoa Highway
daifukuji.org

2| Nechung Dorje Drayang Ling

Nestled in an old eucalyptus forest, Nechung Dorje Drayang Ling (“Immutable Island of Melodious Sound”) is a place of healing and contemplation. While the main temple was built as a Nichiren Mission at the turn of the 20th century, the present institution—founded by Nechung Rinpoche in 1973 and dedicated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1980—embraces its nonsectarian identity, housing a Shingon shrine on the building’s upper level. Take a peaceful walk around its twenty-five acres, and if you can’t take in enough in one day, book an overnight stay.

96-2285 Wood Valley Road
nechung.org

3| Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin

The large island is dotted with thirteen Jodo Shinshu temples belonging to the Nishi Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, which first arose to serve Japanese workers on sugar plantations a hundred years ago. The oldest Hongwanji temple (and also the first temple founded in Hawaii, in 1889) is the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin, located in Hilo, the island’s largest town. The temple is bustling with a Japanese school that is 125 years old and a plethora of activities: judo, kendo, an oral history project, and youth development programming.

398 Kilauea Avenue
hilobetsuin.org

4| Hamakua Jodo Mission

The Hamakua Jodo Mission in rural Pa‘auhau was founded in 1894 by Reverend Gakuo Okabe. Inside, there’s a koa altar flanked by two magnificent dragons carved by the Japanese immigrant Umekichi Tanaka, who was trained in miya-daiku (the traditional wood construction of shrines and temples). The cemetery includes many ancient natural lava rock headstones featuring Buddha carvings.

44-2947 Kalopa Road
hamakuajodomission.org

5| Mauna Kea

Measured from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, Mauna Kea is over 33,000 feet tall, making it the tallest mountain in the world—and for Native Hawaiians, the most sacred peak. It is the mountain of Wakea (“expansive space”) and home to Poliahu, the deity of snow and compassion, who comes in the winter. Cultural shrines are found at the summit, along with thirteen observatories, but you’ll have to book a tour or bring a four-wheel-drive vehicle to access the peak. The mountain is arguably the world’s premier spot for watching the stars, thanks to its remote location. But plans to build another, much larger telescope have stirred controversy, and Native Hawaiians have not yet given consent to build it.

Mauna Kea Access Road
hilo.hawaii.edu/maunakea

6| Lili‘uokalani Park and Gardens

Serene, scenic, and seaside, Lili‘uokalani Park and Gardens is a microcosm of Japan. It’s delightful to leisurely walk the twenty-four-acre Edo-style park, crossing bridges over picturesque ponds and walking stone paths to pagodas, statues, torii (gateways), and a Japanese teahouse. Queen Lili‘uokalani donated the land in 1917 and dedicated the gardens to honor the first Japanese immigrants. Also situated in the park is a small island called Moku Ola, or “Island of Life,” the site of an ancient Hawaiian temple dedicated to healing.

189 Lihiwai Street
bigislandguide.com

7| Akiko’s Buddhist Bed & Breakfast

Thirty years ago, my friend the spunky Buddhist elder Akiko Masuda converted an old garage and house into her simple and quiet Akiko’s Buddhist Bed & Breakfast. “Very little has changed,” she says, “except for the plants, people, and houses getting older.” (She’s being modest—she has added several buildings since then!) Visiting here is a trip back into a simpler time of peace, practice, and service to others. Seven days is the minimum stay, but ideally you can stay for a month to refresh your outlook on life. Daily zazen is held from 5:20 a.m. to 6:20 a.m.

29-2091 Old Mamalahoa Hwy.
akikosbnb.com

The post The Buddhist Traveler on the Big Island appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.

Buddhist history and culture permeate Seoul, but you need to know where to look in this vast and bustling world-class city. Korean Buddhism dates back to the 4th century CE and exerted tremendous influence throughout East Asia. Politically sidelined and pushed out of the cities for 500 years during the Confucian Joseon dynasty (1392–1897), the most impressive temples are deep in the mountains and require travel and hiking to reach. Korea has spectacular temples, mountaintop hermitages, towering pagodas, ancient ruins, rock-hewn grottoes, and precious Buddhist relics too numerous to see in one trip. Most South Korean cities have Buddhist temples, and Seoul is no exception.  Here are some favorite spots:

1| Jogyesa

Dating back to the 14th century, Jogyesa is the head temple of the Jogye Buddhist Order, the largest order in Korea. This temple lies in the heart of the historic district between Gyeongbokgung and Changgyeonggung. The sound of chanting monks and the smell of incense drift through the air around the main dharma hall. Another building enshrines a statue of Amitabha Buddha, and the two 500-year-old white pine trees on the grounds are designated Natural Monuments. The best time to visit is during the Buddha’s Birthday festivities in May, when copious colorful lanterns carrying the wishes and prayers of lay members are hung over the temple grounds.

55 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu
jogyesa.kr/eng  

2| Ujeongguk Street and Insadong

Want some prayer beads or Buddhist robes? Maybe little plastic Buddhist tchotchkes or high-end Buddhist art to take home? Wander the neighborhoods around Ujeongguk Street in front of Jogyesa and peruse the numerous shops that cater to monks and nuns, art collectors, lay pilgrims, and tourists. These shops are visual wonderlands. Neighboring Insadong Street is a popular destination for traditional arts and crafts, with many shops and street vendors selling Buddhist objects. Don’t be afraid to head down the narrow alleys winding off the main thoroughfares, where you’ll find some of the best restaurants and shops.

Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu

3| Bongwonsa

Founded in 889 by Master Doseon, Bongwonsa, the head temple of the Taego Buddhist Order, sits at the foot of Ahn Mountain on the Yonsei University campus, tucked away in a quiet part of this dense and noisy metropolis. The temple ground comes with a sordid tale involving a serial killer and offers up a sacred space with a few ghosts wandering about. Make sure to check out the university campus and take a hike up Ahn Mountain for an unforgettable view.

San 1 Beonji, Bongwon-dong
bongwonsa.or.kr/eng/

4| Myogaksa

Myogaksa is the administrative headquarters of the Gwaneum Buddhist Order, situated in the heart of downtown Seoul. Founded in 1942 by Ven. Taeheo Hongseon, this temple occupies an important geomantic site on the east side of Mount Naksan and has a statue of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, carved into the hillside. Myogaksa has a temple-stay program for travelers and regularly conducts tea ceremonies. After emptying your mind in a meditation session, head over to the nearby Dongdaemun markets or the famous Dongmyo Flea Market to fill up your shopping bags.

31 Jong-ro 63ga-gil, Jongno-gu
myogaksa.net

5| Hwagyesa

Established in 1522 as a hermitage, this large temple complex in the Samgak Mountain foothills was an important Joseon dynasty royal temple where aristocratic female devotees would go to learn the dharma, practice, worship the Buddha, and get away from their restrictive Confucian confines. As the home temple for internationally famed Master Seungsahn (1927–2004), founder of the Kwan Um School of Zen in the United States, Hwagyesa is noted for its temple-stay program and resident Western renunciates. The surrounding scenery is breathtaking, and the sound of the dharma bell ringing through the hills on a misty morning is magical.

117 Hwagyesa Road, Gangbuk-gu
hwagyesa.org/

6| Maji Restaurant

Vegans beware! Many foods in Korea, even those labeled as vegetarian or vegan, are prepared with fish or shellfish oils or pastes (particularly the kimchi). If traveling through Korea, your best bet is a restaurant specializing in Buddhist temple food. Maji will not disappoint. Even a diehard meat eater won’t be able to deny this tantalizing nirvanic experience served in a serene traditional setting. The Buddha himself would hardly pass up this opportunity to eat like a bodhisattva.

19 Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu
happycow.net

7| Doban Restaurant

Run by a Buddhist nun, Doban is the real deal for authentic and organic temple food, but you’ll need a reservation (except during lunch, when you might get squeezed in). The basic lunch menu is simple and inexpensive. The more extravagant three-course meal options, which are pricey but worth every penny, require a reservation and an order placed in advance. I highly recommend the ten-dish three-course option (Course Reservation C), but you need a minimum party of three to obtain this dharma treasure. Don’t incur any bad karma—call ahead and dress appropriately.

7-27 Mabang-ro 6 gil, Yangjae-dong

The post The Buddhist Traveler in Seoul appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.

Situated on the shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago is a unique mix of historic architecture, modern skyscrapers, and seventy-seven neighborhoods, each with its own style.

Chinese immigrants first arrived in the 1870s, but the dharma found its footing in 1893, when Asian Buddhists including Anagarika Dharmapala and Zen master Soyen Shaku attended the World’s Parliament of Religions. Beginning in 1942, thousands of Japanese Americans who had been forced to live in internment camps settled on the South Side, founding new Buddhist centers. Today, the city embraces a multitude of Buddhist communities and traditions. With sixty temples and almost 200,000 Buddhists in the greater Chicago area, spiritual travelers will find refuge along these freshwater shores.

1| Amitabul

Amitabul—“Amida Buddha” in Korean—has been serving up Buddhist Korean vegan food in the urban oasis of Norwood Park since 1995. Chef Bill Choi learned the traditional fermentation techniques from his mother and grandmother in Korea. Soy sauce, miso, hot sauce, and kimchi are all made in-house—ask your server for recommendations. The restaurant prides itself on its hospitality.

6207 N. Milwaukee Avenue
amitabulvegan.com

2| Midwest Buddhist Temple

Founded in 1944 to serve the influx of resettlers from Japanese relocation and internment camps, this Shin Buddhist temple offers virtual and in-person family services and Zen Shin meditation, mind and body seminars, cooking classes, and annual holiday festivities. The temple was designed by local architect Hideaki Arao, and the ringing of its kansho (large bell) can be heard throughout Old Town on Sundays. For a taste of tranquility, arrange a private tour of the Legacy Garden, created by the Japanese landscape designer Hoichi Kurisu to be “an oasis of peace and inspiration for the Buddhist community and larger public.”

435 W. Menomonee Street
mbtchicago.org

3| The Buddhist Temple of Chicago

Situated in the historic Uptown neighborhood, this six-sided temple building (modeled after the Rokkakudo in Kyoto, Japan) can’t be missed. Founded in 1944 by Reverend Gyomay Kubose, one of the first Jodo Shinshu ministers to teach in the United States, the temple offers an LGBTQ-friendly space where visitors can join a weekly English service held on Sunday morning or meditation sessions held twice weekly. Other activities include qigong, iaido (Japanese swordsmanship), cooking, and services for children; all are free and open to the public. The resident minister is Reverend Patti Nakai, a longtime Tricycle contributor.

1151 W. Leland Avenue
buddhisttemplechicago.org

4| Art Institute of Chicago

Designed as part of The World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, this grand Beaux-Arts building houses a stunning collection of Asian art, including a seated Shakyamuni in meditation said to be the largest Buddha statue in the mainland United States. This 12th-century granite statue originates from coastal southern India and can be circumambulated just as it could be in its original monastic site at Nagapattinam. The collection spans five thousand years and includes a rare 8th-century Japanese bodhisattva crafted in lacquer and the stunning sculpture Head of a Luohan from China, which visually captures the clarity of enlightenment.

111 S. Michigan Avenue
artic.edu

5| Chinatown

One of the oldest Chinese American communities in the US is just a short water-taxi ride from Chicago Riverwalk. Consider a guided tour with the Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute or a food tour for the best of Chinese culinary arts. Don’t leave without a stroll through AJ Houseware & Gifts, a packed-to-the-rafters shop where you can find everything from live bamboo plants to electronically lit lotus flowers.

Armour Square Neighborhood, W. Cermak Road and S. Wentworth Avenue
ccc-foundation.org

6| Chicago Botanic Garden

Nature lovers can head north to visit this four-hundred-acre park and its twenty-eight gardens located on islands in the Skokie River lagoons. Relax in the Malott Japanese Garden among flowering plums and sculpted pines, or peruse the courtyard displays with selections from the Bonsai Collection. The Garden’s collection features gifts from Japanese bonsai master Susumu Nakamura, including a graceful, century-old Japanese white pine. Located twenty miles north of Chicago, the garden is accessible by car or Metra train and includes a 0.8-mile, ADA-compliant walk.           

1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe
chicagobotanic.org

7| Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple

Take a trip to the Bridgeport neighborhood to enjoy the vibrant Vajrayana iconography at the Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple. The 128-year-old building sports a simple exterior, but inside you’ll find ornate altars that extend to the ceiling and beautiful displays of buddhas and bodhisattvas lining the walls, as well as a number of chambers dedicated to specific themes such as wisdom and health where visitors are welcome to meditate. As part of the True Buddha School, the Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple offers Taoist and tantric teachings.

1035 W. 31st Street
choosechicago.com/listing/ling-shen-ching-tze-temple/

The post The Buddhist Traveler in Chicago appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.

Hong Kong, the bright neon metropolis that inspired the setting for the movie Blade Runner, is known as a city of hard work and harder play. If you look beyond the skyscrapers that dominate the skyline, however, you’ll discover beautifully designed Buddhist spaces that let residents take a break from the hustle.

Although Hong Kong is one of the least religious places in the world, many of its residents consider Buddhism to be an important part of their ancestral culture. The city is home to hundreds of Buddhist temples, some dating back hundreds of years. On public holidays such as Lunar New Year and Vesak (the Buddha’s birthday), locals flock to colorful altars to light incense and set good intentions. Recent decades have seen several impressive multi-million-dollar projects that celebrate Hong Kong’s Buddhist heritage—such as Tsz Shan Monastery and Nan Lian Garden—with free admission for visitors.

1| The Big Buddha Statue

The journey to Hong Kong’s Big Buddha begins with a 30-minute cable car up the misty mountains of Ngong Ping with views of the 112-foot-tall statue in the distance. Next, visitors can wander through Ngong Ping Village and say hello to the friendly wild cows and water buffalo. Finally, ascend the 268 steps up to the giant bronze Chinese Buddha, who is seated on a lotus surrounded by six kneeling devas representing the six perfections. Don’t forget to go inside the body to see a collection of traditional Buddhist art. Before you head back down, visit the neighboring Po Lin Monastery for a vegetarian meal with the resident monks.

Ngong Ping Rd, Lantau Island
plm.org.hk

2| Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden

Chi Lin, which was founded as a retreat for nuns in 1934, looks like a Tang Dynasty temple painting come to life. Stroll past lotus ponds and bonsai trees while admiring the cypress wood buildings with sweeping roofs constructed entirely without nails. You might catch a glimpse of the resident nuns chanting and offering food to Shakyamuni Buddha and Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion. Across the road, the Nan Lian classical garden takes you past waterfalls, curved red bridges, and the golden Pavilion of Absolute Perfection.

5 Chi Lin Dr, Sheung Yuen Leng
chilin.org

3| Wong Tai Sin Temple

Visit a temple that is (unusually) dedicated to figures from three religions: Wong Tai Sin (a Taoist deity known for his healing powers), the Buddha, and Confucius. Founded in 1921, this popular spiritual site is a sensory overload of brightly painted eaves, rows of hanging lanterns, and incense urns. Pass the scowling protector lion statues at the entrance, followed by the carved Nine-Dragon Wall. Inside, take part in the practice of kau chim: Shake out a numbered bamboo stick from a cylinder containing a hundred of them. Then show your stick to a fortune-teller, who will advise you on what the future holds.

2 Chuk Yuen Rd, New Kowloon
www.wongtaisintemple.org.hk

4| Soil to Soul Restaurant

Located inside the hip K11 art mall, Soil to Soul is a stylish restaurant with a menu inspired by ancient Korean Buddhist temple cooking. All the dishes are vegan or vegetarian, and none contains the “five forbidden spices”: garlic, spring onion, leek, chive, and onion. Choose from the set menu or order à la carte dishes like chili paste pancake rolls, perilla seed and taro soup, and poached pear with red dates, cinnamon, and star anise. Head chef Gu Jin Kwang sources seasonal ingredients from local farmers and engages in sustainable practices; for example, he offers a low-waste afternoon tea set menu.

Shop 704, 18 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui
soiltosoulhk.com

5| Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery

Take a hike up a mountain path flanked with golden statues of arhats (enlightened ones), each with a different facial expression and posture. After ascending 431 steps, you’ll arrive in an open area filled with even more Buddhist figures, a nine-story pagoda, and a grand temple hall. If you’re keeping count, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery has a total of nearly 13,000 individually carved figures. The two-story complex also houses the embalmed and gold-painted corpse of the monastery’s founder, Reverend Yuet Kai (1878–1965). On your way down, unwind at the small dining area that serves tasty vegetarian dishes.

220 Pai Tau Village, Sha Tin
www.10kbuddhas.org

6| Tsz Shan Monastery Buddhist Art Museum

A gleaming white 250-foot-tall statue of Guanyin overlooks Tsz Shan, a monastery developed by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing that opened in 2015. Hong Kong’s first Buddhist art museum was added to the complex four years later. The collection showcases artifacts from around the globe—from colorful Tibetan depictions of the Wheel of Life to replicas of Maitreya murals from the Yulin Grottoes in Dunhuang. The museum also holds special exhibitions and events, such as meditation retreats and lectures on Buddhist architecture.

88 Universal Gate Rd, Tai Po
tszshanmuseum.org

The post The Buddhist Traveler in Hong Kong appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.

The Boston area is home to nearly 50 colleges and universities, so it’s no surprise that it is also a vibrant hub of Buddhist Studies. Buddhism arrived in Boston in the late 1800s, when Chinese immigrants were hired to take the place of striking factory workers. Around the same time, Buddhist teachings gained traction in Boston’s literary circles after the Transcendentalist magazine The Dial published part of the Lotus Sutra.

Today, Boston supports a thriving scene of dharma practice and study. In addition to temples, bookstores, and museums, it hosts the Buddhist Digital Resource Center, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Buddhist texts, and Wisdom Publications, a publisher of Buddhist books.

1| Drikung Meditation Center

Formerly located in Arlington, the Drikung Meditation Center is led by the Venerable Lama Konchok Sonam, a Tibetan monk who endured imprisonment and torture before escaping his homeland in 2003. In 2005 Lama Sonam commissioned an exact replica and spiritual emanation of Lhasa’s Jowo Rinpoche statue to benefit the Tibetan community in exile. The DMC is currently between homes, as it is in the process of constructing a new temple. Check the website for current visiting hours.

29 Mohawk Street, Danvers
drikungboston.org

2| Museum of Fine Arts

Home to the largest collection of Japanese art outside of Japan, Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts is committed to preserving and exhibiting Buddhist paintings, sculptures, and ritual objects from diverse traditions. Although the Japanese Buddhist Temple Room is currently closed for renovations, you can get a behind-the-scenes look as conservators restore seven Buddhist statues in a four-year exhibition, Conservation in Action: Japanese Buddhist Sculpture in a New Light (open until July 3, 2022). The MFA also boasts an extensive collection of Chinese Buddhist sculptures, shrines, and tombs—stop by the Paul and Helen Bernat Galleries to view the sarcophagus of Zhizhe (538–597 CE), the fourth ancestor of Tiantai Buddhism.

465 Huntington Avenue
mfa.org

3|Harvard-Yenching Library

Head across the river to Cambridge to visit the Harvard-Yenching Library, which holds the most comprehensive East Asian collection of any American university. Its Special Collections include 450 hanging scrolls and thousands of manuscripts dating back to the 14th century, as well as 17th- and 18th-century editions of the Kanjur and Tanjur, the texts that make up the Tibetan Buddhist canon. Check the Library’s website for upcoming tours, exhibits, and other public events.

2 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge
library.harvard.edu/libraries/yenching

4| Harvard Divinity School

From the Harvard-Yenching Library, walk just 400 feet north to Harvard Divinity School, home to the Buddhist Ministry Initiative and other programs for training Buddhist leaders from around the world. Many of the BMI’s events are free and open to the public, like its annual Buddhism and Race Conference. (Past speakers include Larry Yang, Duncan Ryuken Williams, and Rhonda Magee.) Check online for a full schedule of lectures and workshops.

45 Francis Avenue, Cambridge
hds.harvard.edu

5| Rangzen Tibetan Place

For dinner, grab a “Special Gratitude” bowl at Rangzen Tibetan Place, a cozy, family-style restaurant that offers a mix of traditional dishes and modern innovations. Established in 1999 as the first Tibetan restaurant in the Boston area, Rangzen has built its reputation as one of the area’s hidden gems. As each dish is prepared, chefs work to minimize food waste and chant prayers of gratitude for all who have made the meal possible. Rangzen’s signature momos (handcrafted dumplings) are now available to take home frozen in batches of 50.

24 Pearl Street, Cambridge
rangzentibetanplace.com

6| Wat Nawamintararachutis

Travel 40 minutes south of Boston to visit Wat Nawamintararachutis, the largest Thai Buddhist temple outside of Thailand and one of only a handful of temples in the U.S. with Thai Buddhist monks in residence. Originally constructed in honor of King Bhumibhol Adulyadej, who was born in Cambridge in 1927, the 55-acre complex sits on a former horse farm and features a 4,000-pound golden Buddha statue. In addition to daily meditation and chanting services, the monks in residence offer lessons in Thai language, music, and dance for children and adults.

382 South St. East, Raynham
watnawamin.org

7| Barre Center for Buddhist Studies

For a more intensive experience, consider taking a weekend course at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. Founded in 1991 by Joseph Goldstein and Sharon Salzberg, BCBS is about 60 miles from Boston in Barre, Massachusetts, just down the hill from the Insight Meditation Society. BCBS retreats integrate silent contemplation and conversation, and participants are encouraged to connect over meals and in small groups as they volunteer in the garden, visit the 8,500-volume library, or meander through the grounds. Check the website for a list of upcoming courses both online and residential.

149 Lockwood Road, Barre
buddhistinquiry.org

The post The Buddhist Traveler in Boston appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.

With flourishing communities from diverse cultural backgrounds, the harbor city of Sydney has become a dharmic melting pot. Buddhism is one of the fastest growing religions in Australia thanks to immigration and new converts, and the natural beauty of Sydney and its surroundings offer some of the best sites for reflection and contemplation.

The sprawling metropolitan area has something for everyone, with myriad Buddhist centers, temples, and cultural sites from a huge range of backgrounds and traditions, while some of the region’s most breathtaking Buddhist destinations for retreat or pilgrimage are just a day trip away.

1.| Chinese Garden of Friendship

In Darling Harbour, the Chinese Garden of Friendship is an oasis from the downtown district known for its nightlife and waterfront views of the Sydney Opera House. Established in 1988 through a collaboration between Chinese and Australian architects and landscapers, the garden has a naturalistic look based on the principles of yin-yang (opposing yet complementary forces) and wuxing (the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water). The design “is a metaphor for meditation,” says Sydney-based Insight Meditation teacher Winton Higgins. “Its paths snake around and over water that when peered into reveals strange submarine creatures—much like the meditative mind itself.”

Pier Street
darlingharbour.com/

2.| Winhangadurinya space

Indigenous contemplative practices have been a source of inspiration for many Australian Buddhist practitioners. About a 17-minute walk east of the Chinese Garden, the Winhangadurinya space at the Australian Museum offers insights into a spiritual history that continues to inform Buddhism in Australia. Winhangadurinya means deep listening, reflection, or meditation in the Wiradyuri language, and this healing and reflection space was created by First Nations Elders and community members for visitors to reflect on our spiritual connection to the earth and each other and to face the pain of invasion and genocide.

1 William Street
australian.museum

3.| Maha Bodhi bookstore

If you’re on a budget, skip gift shops and head down to Maha Bodhi. The quaint bookstore offers a wide range of books, art, and religious objects across traditions. What’s most impressive is what you don’t have to buy: their shelves are stocked with every kind of free-distribution Buddhist literature, much of which is available in multiple languages. If you get lost, the friendly owner is sure to point you in the right direction.

Shop 2/242 Elizabeth Street
maha-bodhi.business.site

4.| Monks on Alms Rounds

Fans of people-watching will want to see orange-robed monks collecting spoonfuls of rice on alms rounds (pindapata). Bodhikusuma Buddhist & Meditation Centre hosts morning alms rounds through Thaitown on the last Saturday of each month. Bring food to offer the monks and then join the sangha for a blessing and communal lunch at the center—or enjoy the offerings in Thaitown or adjacent Chinatown. Busy on Saturdays? Venture west to the suburbs of Harris Park, where the residents of Lokanta Vihara go on rounds each weekday morning, beginning at 11:00.

2/203–209 Thomas Street
bodhikusuma.com
lokanta.github.io/

5.| Buddhist Library

The Buddhist Library and Meditation Centre nestled in hip Newtown is a hub of Buddhist community and learning. The humble loft space hosts a wealth of Buddhist resources as well as community gatherings, meditation and yoga classes, and workshops. It’s the perfect jumping-off point to a diverse selection of Buddhist places of interest within a half-hour walk, including the Sydney Buddhist Centre, Sydney Zen Centre, Bodhi Books, Wat Buddharangsee, and Tibet House.

90–92 Church Street, Newtown
buddhistlibrary.org.au

6.| Metta Centre

Metta Centre sits closer to the geographical heart of Sydney, which places it 12 miles west of the central business district, in a region more indicative of the city’s full cultural breadth. Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, and Tibetan Buddhist temples dot the area, but Metta Centre is a great place to start; it offers a welcoming space where teachers and groups from different lineages often gather to host events and teach courses, many of which are free.

2/7-9 Cross Street, Bankstown
mettacentre.com

Day Trips

Within a short trip from Sydney are even more exciting Buddhist sites.

7.| On the South Coast, Nan Tien Temple, a branch of the Taiwanese Fo Guang Shan Buddhist order, is noteworthy for its architecture, borrowing elements from Chinese palaces, Japanese gardens, Tibetan art, and the color schemes of Southeast Asia.

8.| For a wilderness setting, head north to the heart of Dharug National Park for a retreat at one of the country’s oldest Buddhist monasteries, Wat Buddha Dhamma, which the German nun Ayya Khema cofounded in 1978. Alternatively, in the Southern Highlands, the nuns of Santi Forest Monastery welcome visitors to stop by for a few hours, and they also accept applications for a short stay.

nantien.org.au, wbd.org.au, santifm.org

The post The Buddhist Traveler in Sydney appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.

Statistics may suggest that Portland is the least religious city in the United States, but the city has a long and varied history with Buddhism. Buddhism first came to Oregon in the 19th century with Chinese and Japanese immigrants. In 1956, Buddhist Beat poets Allen Ginsberg and Gary Snyder passed through Portland during a three-week hitchhiking trip from Berkeley, leaving Snyder’s alma mater Reed College with the first known recording of Ginsberg’s “Howl.” Today, the religiously unaffiliated notwithstanding, Portland is home to a diverse range of Buddhist communities, not to mention the highest number of Tricycle subscribers per capita of any major American city.

1.| Portland Japanese Garden

Described by former Japanese Ambassador Nobuo Matsunaga as “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan,” this garden is a must-visit for Buddhist and non-Buddhist travelers alike. Located across from the International Rose Test Garden in Portland’s Washington Park, the extensive grounds feature distinct garden styles and include a traditional Japanese tea house. Meander along contemplative pathways and linger on storybook bridges as you slowly make your way to a stunning view of Mount Hood.

611 SW Kingston Avenue
japanesegarden.org

2.| Lan Su Chinese Garden

While the older and more expansive Japanese Garden is better known, the Lan Su Chinese Garden is a special destination for those looking for a meditative experience in the heart of downtown. Taking up an entire city block in Chinatown, Lan Su was built as a classical Chinese garden by artisans from Suzhou, Portland’s sister city in Jiangsu province. The garden features hundreds of native Chinese plants, several pavilions, a teahouse, and over 40 intricate lattice windows in the garden wall and interior that offer beckoning glimpses of scenes to investigate.

Schedule a tour with a trained local docent and check the garden’s calendar for public events such as calligraphy demonstrations.

239 NW Everett Street
lansugarden.org

3.| Miao Fa Temple

From Lan Su Chinese Garden, you can hop across the Willamette River to Miao Fa Temple, a Chan Buddhist temple founded in 1998 by Venerable Master Tsien Tien as a branch of the Miao Fa Temple in Taiwan. The historic building was originally the headquarters for the Third Church of Christ Christian Science Portland but has been retrofitted to include traditional Chinese Buddhist temple features. While many of the temple’s activities are in Chinese, there are also events in English, and the prayer books come with English translations.

1722 SE Madison Street
miaofatemple.com

4.| Oregon Buddhist Temple

The first Buddhist priest to arrive in Oregon, Reverend Shozui Wakabayashi, established this Jodo Shinshu community in Portland in 1903. Affiliated with the Buddhist Churches of America in San Francisco, the temple opened its original three-story brick building on NW 10th Avenue in 1910 with over 500 members. After the US ended the forced internment of Japanese Americans following World War II, the members returned to Portland to reestablish their temple at a new location on 34th Avenue. The present building was dedicated in 1966. Although the original building is no longer used as a religious facility, it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and a commemorative plaque is posted downtown at 312 NW 10th Avenue.

3720 SE 34th Avenue
oregonbuddhisttemple.com

5.| Van Hanh Restaurant

Originally run by Buddhist nuns, Van Hanh Restaurant serves up delicious vegan Vietnamese food out of a big green house on the far east side of Portland. Van Hanh is known for its house-made mock meats, such as the roasted pork belly. I can personally attest to the steamed dumplings made of mung bean stuffed with taro and the spring rolls with jicama. Although the current owner is not a nun, on Sundays the restaurant makes food for the congregation at Nam Quang Temple, located on NE 148th Avenue.

8446 SE Division Street Portland, OR 97266
vanhanh.us

6.| Dharma Rain Zen Center

Formerly a contaminated landfill, the cleaned-up grounds at Dharma Rain Zen Center have blossomed into a thriving Soto Zen community with an emphasis on the symbiosis between monastic and lay approaches to Buddhist practice. In addition to teachings and meditation instructions, visitors will find restored native habitat and local wildlife. If you can’t attend a meditation session, you can walk the grounds, including a 2,500-foot-long path and trail.

8500 NE Siskiyou Street
dharma-rain.org

7.| Heart of Wisdom Zen Temple

Housed in a former church in a residential neighborhood in Northeast Portland, this Zen community in the lineage of Taizan Maezumi Roshi offers regular meditation instruction and special programming, such as the Full Moon Metta evenings of loving-kindness, walking, and sitting meditation. If you’re looking to get out of the city, the community also operates the Great Vow Zen Monastery in Clatskanie.

6401 NE 10th Avenue
zendust.org

The post The Buddhist Traveler in Portland appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.

Houston, one of the largest and fastest-growing cities in the United States, is home to a diverse Buddhist community of Asian immigrants and Western converts. The dynamic exchange between these groups has resulted in the establishment of numerous Buddhist practice places throughout the city and surrounding areas.

Buddhist travelers in Houston can start by exploring the Japanese Garden in Hermann Park, which includes a traditional teahouse as well as stone paths that meander among Japanese maples, azaleas, and cherry trees. From there, take a short walk along oak-lined avenues to Asia Society Texas Center, which regularly hosts mindfulness classes and art exhibits. Continue your journey by visiting the Buddhist centers in the Montrose and Houston Heights neighborhoods, then venture outside the loop to explore the various temples in the city’s thriving Asian neighborhoods.

1. | Japanese Garden, Hermann Park Conservancy

Find an oasis of calm in this frequently visited and newly renovated park in the Houston Museum District. The sprawling five-acre sanctuary includes a traditional Japanese teahouse, gardens, and seating areas—plenty of room for reflection on your Houston visit.

6000 Fannin Street
hermannpark.org/poi/24/

2. | Asia Society Texas Center

Designed by the renowned Japanese architect Yoshio Taniguchi, this 40,000-square-foot center includes a performance space, a cafe, and several galleries with a robust schedule of rotating art exhibits and community programs. This is also the home of Insight Meditation Houston, which offers weekly meditation sessions and dharma talks led by Ginger Clarkson, who trained at California’s Spirit Rock Meditation Center.

1370 Southmore Boulevard
asiasociety.org/texas
insighthouston.org

3. | Myoken–Ji, Nichiren Buddhist Sangha of Texas

Close to the University of Houston, Myoken-Ji is home to the Nichiren Buddhist Sangha of Texas, led by Myokei Caine-Barrett, Shonin, the first woman and Westerner to lead the Nichiren Shu Order of North America as bishop. The temple offers regular sutra study classes and weekly services for chanting, including portions of the Lotus Sutra and its title, “Namu-myoho-renge-kyo.”

4360 Graduate Circle
myoken-ji-usa.org

4. | Zhong Yue Shaolin Temple

Take a side trip south of downtown to Houston’s thriving Chinatown neighborhood on Bellaire Boulevard and visit the Zhong Yue Shaolin Temple. After touring the grounds, you can engage in moving meditation by taking a class in taijiquan (t’ai chi) taught by Grand Master Shi De Shan, a 31st-generation Shaolin monk.

6707 Wilcrest Drive
houstonshaolintemple.net

5. | Jade Buddha Temple

The Texas Buddhist Association has played a significant role in Houston’s Buddhist community since it was founded in 1979, and its Jade Buddha Temple has provided refuge for many spiritual seekers. Guided by Venerable Wing Sing, Venerable Jan Hai, and Venerable Hung-I, this nonsectarian Chinese temple provides classes, chanting services (with the Bodhi Choir), youth groups, dharma talks in Chinese and English, and lessons in Chinese language and culture.

When Hurricane Harvey hit the area in 2017, the temple temporarily housed families whose homes were flooded or destroyed in the Category 4 storm. (The temple has suspended activities through September 6, so check its website for updates.)

6969 Westbranch Drive
jadebuddha.org

6. | Dawn Mountain Center for Tibetan Buddhism

Anne Klein (Lama Rigzin Drolma), a religious studies professor at Rice University, and her husband, Harvey Aronson (Lama Namgyal Dorje), a psychotherapist and Buddhist scholar and teacher, founded this Tibetan Buddhist center in 1996. Of special interest are the “Teaching Tuesdays” dharma classes—taught by Klein and Aronson on the first and third Tuesdays of every month—and retreats led by resident and visiting teachers. Dawn Mountain’s Research Institute has also translated and published important Nyingma lineage texts since 1994.

8100 Greenbriar Drive, Suite 300
dawnmountain.org

7. | Water Drop Tea House

A short drive from downtown Houston brings you to the suburban neighborhood of Stafford, where you can stop by the Chung Mei Buddhist Temple and Water Drop Tea House, a vegetarian spot that serves noodles, fried rice, soups, and specialty teas. Chung Mei is associated with Venerable Master Hsing Yun, a Chinese Buddhist monk who founded the worldwide sangha Fo Guang Shan, and the temple complex also includes a Buddhist library with over 1,000 volumes and a statue garden. (The tea house is currently closed and will announce on their website in the coming months when they plan to reopen.)

12550 Jebbia Lane
houstonbuddhism.org

The post The Buddhist Traveler in Houston appeared first on Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.