Beautiful and peaceful setting away from all the city noise to sit and reset for a nice relaxing…read moreday.

Beautiful place to find your peace, walk in the garden and turn some prayer wheels. There is…read moreobviously a very caring community involved to maintain such a beautiful place. Donyo has a great sense of humor. What a bright spirit he is!

This Thai temple is such a hidden gem, was super grateful for friends who introduced us to it. It's…read morea legit Thai temple in Berkeley that has a Sunday morning/afternoon market. You trade in cash for tokens, and then trade the tokens for food that is worth different token amounts (I think that's how they get around the taxes and tip). You can always return the tokens at the end of your meal to get your cash back. My top hits were this pho-like soup with beef and I think bone broth? the Thai iced tea, and the kanom krok dessert (the coconut dessert pastries). CASH ONLY Pros: - the soup is delicious - my friend always brings a container to take the rest of the broth home if she doesn't finish it - all the food is super delicious, and all the workers are super nice - LOTS of options to choose from! Thai food everywhere. Decent prices for the amount of food you get - The temple is beautiful and the statues are gorgeous, even if you're not Buddhist it's a really cool environment to be in - They have covered and uncovered tables to sit and eat at, and you dump your leftovers and dirty dishes in a designated pile, the whole thing is a very well-run ship. Cons: - parking can be tricky - Food can run out if you come closer to noon - lines can be long because the food is so good, recommend you come early - can get loud and crowded - lots of dogs, families, kids, etc. this place is popular. an introvert's nightmare LOL I recommend coming with a party of 2-3 so that one of you can stake out a spot, one of you can stand in a longer line , etc.

The golden paint around the gates instantly demarcated an entrance to the Thai temple. I was…read moreinstantly met with a pleasant aroma of Thai spices. First checkpoint was to obtain tokens in order to purchase the Thai food. Well, I calculated that maybe I had enough stomach space for "two meals" at most, but the portions decent enough to satiate my appetite. I want to gate-keep this experience, however I believe that there is enough publicity that this place is no longer an obscure discovery. The roaming temple dog (maybe a lost but well-behaved dog) mad it an extra fun experience. The food is a great intro to what Thai food is! Pick your personal favorites, I believe each item wouldn't disappoint. I would come again with my friends to revisit this place for a relaxing Sunday breakfast.

We went here recently to sit with Ajahn Amaro, a Theravadan monk in the Thai Forest tradition. He…read moreteaches here once a month. It's an interfaith Buddhist monastery, and there is a variety of stuff that happens here -- sittings, classes, ceremonies, etc. The space is absolutely gorgeous! The main temple room is like 3 stories high, with gorgeous stained glass. There are cushions and chairs, the chairs being quite comfortable and sturdy. You have to remove your shoes, and there is a nice plush carpet (light blue, no less!) in the temple room. If it's winter and you're going to sit here, I recommend wearing a lot of clothing or bringing a blanket. We were freezing when we were there. I imagine it's hard to heat a room that's 3 stories high.

Beautiful peaceful healing place. I have traveled 4 hours to just sit inside the monastery and…read moresoak in the good vibes.

I'm a long-term meditator and yoga practitioner and I came here for a personal retreat. Tibetan…read moreBuddhism has been close to my heart since college for personal reasons and I love supporting local non-profit organizations in general. My room cost (with fees) was approximately $2,800/month. Positives - The meditation classes with Mark Henderson (6:45am-7:30am M-F "The way of the Bodhisattva") and Hugh Joswick (Intermediate meditation) were worth the trip themselves.The morning class is definitely one of the most challenging meditation practices I have encountered, which is exactly what enabled me to learn more about my own personal meditation practice obstacles. The reminder of the Six Paramitas was both timely and deeply appreciated. - Eddie deserves honorary membership in the Department of Knowing Things. Whether I needed information, directions, or help figuring something out, he was consistently helpful and funny at the same time. - Beautiful hillside location with trees, birds and wildlife. - Quiet environment well-suited for meditation and personal retreat - Convenient access to classes and programs - Short walk (~20 mins at my walking pace) to downtown Berkeley (BART etc.) Accommodation & Facility Issues - The room contains a twin-size innerspring (spring coil) mattress. I found it uncomfortable for a month-long stay and would have appreciated more detailed information about the bed in the listing - The room carpet appears not to have been deep-cleaned for an extended period (dust, extensive stains) - whether you stay for a single week or a month, laundry detergent is not provided. Laundry fees still apply. Dish detergent, sponges, hand soap, toilet paper and towels are provided. I believe that guests are expected to buy laundry detergent and wash the towels themselves. - Room vacuum cleaning and dusting is not included, even for longer stays; guests are expected to clean their own room with their own cleaning supplies. - The balcony door is my room repeatedly opened on its own during the night despite being closed before bed. This allowed for cold air into the room. There may be an issue with a stroke plate and the latch. - Information provided to guests (i.e. both AirbnB app and the room printed materials) is inaccurate. - I was shown a pantry containing shared spices but it was not clear what was free to use (e.g. cinnamon yes, oil no?) All guests are provided two boxes (1 for their dry food, 1 for refrigerated food) - coffee beans and tea are provided, coffee cream, milk etc are not - I couldn't find a tea strainer for loose tea in the kitchen; it was handed to me that day and it disappeared again. I am now only using tea bags provided by the institute. - I wasn't able to find cookware compatible with the guest kitchen induction stove one morning. All pots were located in the staff kitchen guests do not have access to that day. - I received 7-8 AirBnB messages containing photos of dirty dishes left in the shared areas though it was not clear who was responsible. As a guest, I found this approach very uncomfortable and impersonal. Overall: This may be a peaceful retreat if you are looking for unanticipated daily challenges to get in the way of your practice. The Four Noble truths still stand in 2026. There is suffering (no laundry detergent on a Sunday evening before a busy Monday) and a way out of suffering. The path sometimes requires a pilgrimage and the return carrying a full-sized jug of laundry detergent up the steep Berkeley hills.

Great Tibetan Buddhist place to relax meditate and find yourself…read more Excellent teachers.

I came a few weeks ago for the first time and really liked it and was interested in returning. But…read moreI decided not to return, because everytime someone associated with the temple was talking to me about it, they were also touching my shoulder. It made me very uncomfortable and I was never asked by anyone if I felt okay with touch. I was unresponsive to the touches, but on most days, this would be extremely upsetting for me. While I have this experience many places I go, I was shocked to be having it at a Buddhist temple, and this has inspired me to buy and wear accessories that spell out to people that they need to ask before they just start touching people. It should not be necessary to point out that not everyone is comfortable with unconsensual casual touch, but BBT has helped prove to me that it is, and that even in the Buddhist community I'll be treated this way if I set foot outside. Not quite the experience I was hoping for in my first visit to a Buddhist temple.

I will admit this review is a little bias. I've been going to this church and working this bazaar…read moresince I was in the second grade which is a long time. But it's totally worth the 5 Stars. Things I know: -It's small. We're a small church but very family oriented church. - We don't serve Alcohol. Hey, we're a small church and those permits are expensive. Reason why this bazaar is better then others: -Our food: All of our food is prepared w/ lots of love and personal touch. I have personally squeezed the age for the inari. Meaning we use the real stuff and yes, it's fresh. None of that canned stuff. We serve loco mocos and portabella mushroom burgers, which I have never seen at any other Bazaar. The Steak Dinners, Chicken Dinners, eggrolls, manju, and baked goods are all very good as well. -Our Silent Auction: We always get some good donations for the silent auction. This year I got a box for the A's game's Japanese Heritage night. We also had a bunch of bonsai trees, beautiful art, and every year one of our chef members donates a sushi dinner for 30-40 people. The donations change every year but we always have some pretty good items and I always seem to spend more then I hoped for. -Our Sunday Entertainment: On Sunday of the Bazaar we close the street down and set up a stage for a number of different performers. This year, Grammy Award nominee Anthony Brown and acclaimed Bay Area writer-performer Brenda Wong Aoki headlined the entertainment. Also, Kalena Gregory's Hawaiian dance group, Hui Hula o na Pu'u i ka Noe; the Destiny Arts Center's youth hip-hop dance group; and the Dii Lewis Band, featuring Lorin Kagehiro all had some awesome performances. I go to a number of bazaar's throughout the year and i must say ours has the most personal touch. Many of the bigger festivals mass mass produce their food and it's made poorly. I've even been to one where they made their veggie sushi w/ celery.. GROSS.. its supposed to be made w/ a nice blanched string bean. I mean if you don't want to spend the money on the string bean at least get cucumber, not celery. So, if you're not doing anything next year during Bay to Breaker time, check it out. I'll be sure to greet you at the Hamburger booth.

Starting in the spring, the churches of the Japanese American community in the East Bay each pick a…read moreweekend to hold their annual food bazaar. This one at the Buddhist church is one that I never miss! Starting on a Saturday night and into Sunday, the bazaar features a white elephant sale, games for little kids, and I think the best homemade Japanese and American foods. From burgers and hot dogs to Japanese favorites, it is all made with love. The simple bowl of udon is delicious. Skewed pork deep fried is great with beer or sake. There's chili and rice, manju, strawberry shortcake, and chicken teriyaki box dinners. All proceeds benefit the church and it's programs.

i have attended church here for 20 years. my son joined church basketball league. we travel 18…read moremiles to come to church but the community is warm, fun, and supportive. i'm treasurer of the women's group for 8 years now. we have alot of fun. you should join us and learn how to prepare japanese mochi, chirasushi, inarisushi, tsukemono, and other foods for the bazaar, and when we support the church fit special holiday luncheons. membership luncheon is May 2025.

"To Promote Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, as well as to propagate the Jodo Shinshu teachings," this…read morebeautiful center is a fantastic resource for the Buddhist Churches of America. In addition to housing the Center for Buddhist Education, the Institute of Buddhist Studies, and the BCA bookstore, the Jodo Shinshu Center (JSC) holds many activities, sessions, and conferences. There are multiple classrooms, a gated parking lot, dorm/hotel rooms for overnight stay, a library and kodo for services. The wonderful and helpful staff is always more than willing to help, welcoming many guests to tour the JSC and learn about Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. I always jump at the chance to attend the conferences/reunions/activities at the JSC and have been to talks on Shinran Shonin, TechnoBuddha, YAC Retreat, College YBA Conference and many other events here. I have not only formed great memories and relationships with lifelong friends, but also expanded my knowledge of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism through this awesome center. I definitely encourage anyone to drop in and check it out, keeping an eye on courses and outreach offered by the JSC.

I think they need to have more information available for first time visitors... There were not many…read morestaff available, and the information was about specific events, not the facilities there. Basically, I wanted to know if I could go to the kodo (but I forgot the word, sorry), but basically got mixed messages. I think because I'm Boricua, the staff working there thought I did not know it was a Buddhist center... but I know that; I am a Pure Land Buddhist, lol. Anyway, it is too bad because I think it is important for everyone to know about Amida Buddha. It seems there are other Jodo Shinshu churches/temples that might be more inclusive, but I can't say for sure. 実は、日本語を勉強しましたが、昔だったから、急に言語をスイッチするのが難しいです。私がちょっと恥ずかしがりやし, この頃近毎日英語だけで話しているので, 日本語の言葉が出てこなかったんです。ちゃんと話せなかったのが問題を引き起こしたと気がしました。すみませんでした。

Very open and friendly. Respectful of everyone. Reminds me of my temple in Laguna Beach.read more

I loved this Hare Krishna Hindu temple. I heard about it from the owner of the vegetarian…read morerestaurant, Govinda, in Eugene OR. So glad that I finally came here for the Pooja and dinner of kitchari, dahl, paneer curry, and watermelon. I ate the watermelon first because fruit gets digested quicker. Then everything else. Finally the prasadam which was shira and raisins. So delicious! I liked that the menu was vegetarian and that there was no cruelty to animals. So much better than the Buddhist temple in Palo Alto that has a crab fest (never hear of Buddhists killing a living being before...I used to volunteer at a Buddhist kitchen in the Atlanta area and meat or seafood were never, ever on the menu at the World Peace Cafe Kitchen in Sandy Springs. The next time, I come here, I'm going to bring a couple of $20 bills to make a donation. Truly enjoyed this spiritual experience. A real boost to my mental health and happiness in very trying times (wildfire smoke and the pandemic). Overall though, God has been very kind.

great facility- have happily participated in a few events here, tho it's been awhile since I…read moredarkened that door. Always clean and well lit.... the only negative I remember is difficulty Parking

LOVE TUES YOGA CLASS: I came almost every single day for a week (free yoga class week), about two…read moreor three months ago. Now I go regularly on my favorite day which is Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:15 PM with Juliana (who is the nicest person ever!!!). She focuses on your breath (ujayee?) which helps me focus on the present and on my body. Otherwise my mind wanders and worries. Her class is very relaxing, and her poses are not too difficult. She also has a style that doesn't stay on one pose for too long. She sees yoga as a way to enhance your connection to your body. If you really want a work out, this class is not for you. FEE IS DONATION BASED- recommended price is $10-15- but no one checks, you just put the money in a box on the side. Honestly, what I put it depends on the week.