Basic Jodo Shinshu Temple of BCA. Managed satisfactorily by Rev. Harry Bridge for the Japanese…read moreAmerican community. The summer Obon Odori dancing are fun!

I was asked to bring some mochi for my father's funeral, per the reverends request. But the only…read moreplace that sells funeral mochi in the area now is in San Jose. So on the morning of the funeral, I waited outside the San Jose mochi place for a half hour, first in line with my preorder. Came as fast as I could to this church but arrived 15 minutes late do to traffic. When I finally arrived, the whole place was completely locked and my wife and I were locked out of my father's entire funeral service. Someone finally let us in after it was over. My family has been having services here for generations. But that will stop with me. I will never forgive myself for going on a fools errand to grab some stupid mochi per some ridiculous traditions. And I will never come to support this place again, no matter who dies.

Such sweet energy. I loved visiting the Shrine. It is lovingly cared for by community members. We…read morestayed about an hour - there is so much to see in each little shrine. I was glad to see GuanYin so prevalent in each shrine. Thanks to all who hold this space

Beautiful place. Very peaceful. Creative and fun way to beautify this neighborhood. Really love…read morethis place. Highly recommend visiting

My mom comes here for the festivals and holidays to pay her respects to the monks and our…read moreancestors. The people are friendly here and welcomes visitors. I am amazed at all the Buddhist statues every time I come. My favorite are the two Hell's Henchmen as my mom tells me. They are two men who comes collect your soul when it's your time to go. One has a horse's head and one has a bull's. It's rare to see statues of them, but in this temple, they have them displayed proudly. Go check them out on your way in.

Date: 7/21/2018 Time: 4:15 PM 70° Mostly sunny…read more Purpose of my visit: Obon Festival! It's my first time attending this event here in Alameda. These cultural events, and I have been to many different ones, are always fun for family and friends. I always enjoy them. It's the food, entertainment and being around friendly strangers. I found out earlier in the week about this event and shared it with my oldest sister. One of her classmates, Gordon, mentioned he was planning to attend. Thus, my husband, sister, friend and I met up at this temple for a weekend outing. We couldn't stay long for the entertainment, the Taiko drummers and the traditional dance before dusk. We all wanted to head home to watch the Bay Bridge Series between the A's and the Giants. However, we will get to see the performers at the Obon Festival in Oakland on August 4. My chicken teriyaki dinner was quite good. I must have lucked out because everybody else in my group said the chicken was slightly dry. Udon in the bowl looked yummy. Yes, I was looking at what other attendees were having. Even the aroma of the tamales had me yearning for one. I couldn't believe they had donuts for $1.00 each. Ooh, I want a French cruller, please. The Ikebana exhibit was eye candy - so pleasing to my eyes and so creative of the people who assembled them. The lucky cranes in various colors (3 or 5 cranes) were beautiful. When we left, we saw a childhood friend from our past. Ethel, whom we have known from elementary school (1960's), was there as one of the Taiko drummers. Definitely we will return next year for the Obon Festival. Good times, good eats and good fun for family and friends.

I loved the fundraising event yesterday. So much patience, love and unity here. Enjoyed my steak…read more& treasures!

I grew up in the East Bay but only heard about this place as an adult. It's been on my list and I…read morefinally got a friend to go with me. My friend and I arrived about 10 minutes before official open, but we were able to find parking two blocks away and start getting the tokens. We strategized and split up. I got in the mixed plate line whole she got in the beef noodle line. We got the panang curry, yellow curry, and pad thai for our three items. I also grabbed the mango sticky rice which was in limited supply and right next to the mixed plates. I grabbed a shady spot and hunkered down while she grabbed the beef noodle soup and the khanom. It was a lot of food for the two of us but we wanted to try everything. I also brought tupperware just in case of leftovers. We did not even touch the sweets so had to bring that home. The beef noodle soup was very fragrant and reminiscent of pho. The panang curry was a bit too spicy for my friend but I liked it. Yellow curry was good and so was the pad thai. We got there at a good time because people started having to sit on the grass. It got busy! It is a little confusing when you walk in, but once you get over the crowds, it's a good system. We also didn't use all of our tokens and I'm glad you can get a refund on tokens. The mango sticky rice was delicious, coconut milk was fragrant. Dessert was good, my favorite was the fried taro. I would absolutely return!

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.

Even though I more closely subscribe to Theravadin Buddhism, this Chinese temple greeted me with…read moreopen arms. This temple is a diamond hidden in a sometimes, wild and chaotic Oakland. The chief monk chants beautifully! The interior speaks for itself (see photos). I lend my full support to this temple and have donated as much as I am able. I come by frequently during the day when it is open and often patrol at night to ensure this temple remains as vibrant and beautiful as ever. I learned Theravadin Buddhism when I visited "Ceylon" during a doctoral graduate course entitled "Into the Heart of Sri Lanka: Psyche, Culture, Spirit, and Healing." I am including photos from one of my trips to Sri Lanka (Ceylon). Please visit and support this temple if you are able!!! May the triple gem bless you. 儘管我更信奉上座部佛教，但這座中國寺廟張開雙臂迎接我。 這座神殿是一顆隱藏在時而狂野而混亂的奧克蘭的鑽石。 大和尚誦經好聽！ 內部不言自明（見照片）。 我全力支持這座寺廟，並儘我所能捐贈。 我經常在白天開放，晚上經常巡邏，以確保這座寺廟像以往一樣充滿活力和美麗。 我在博士研究生課程"進入斯里蘭卡的心臟：心理、文化、精神和治療"期間訪問了"錫蘭"，學習了上座部佛教。 我包括我去斯里蘭卡（錫蘭）旅行的照片。 如果可以的話，請訪問並支持這座寺廟！！！！ 願三寶保佑你。 Jǐnguǎn wǒ gèng xìnfèng shàngzuò bù fójiào, dàn zhè zuò zhōngguó sìmiào zhāngkāishuāng bì yíngjiē wǒ. Zhè zuò shéndiàn shì yī kē yǐncáng zài shí ér kuáng yě ér hǔnluàn de àokèlán de zuànshí.

I stumbled upon this temple while walking my dog. It's a local neighborhood Mahayana Buddhist…read moretemple inside a small storefront. The alters are elaborate and beautiful and the monks are very friendly. They love my dog and always wish to pick him up and bless him. I love how much he can put a smile on their faces! I enjoy stopping by on my walks with him to take in the warm, positive energy and pay my respects to Buddha.

I'm ringing in Chinese New Years writing a review for this temple. It's buzzing with people wishing…read moreand hoping for a good year. Happy Chinese New Year everyone!!!

As a child, I used to go to this temple with my grandmother. After she passed, her name went up on…read morethe golden wall beside bodhisattva, which means she is a devoted follower. I can definitely attest that the leaders are good people. They mean well. They treated my grandmother well, and visited her when she was in critical condition at the hospital to comfort her. Recently I came as an adult and the elderly greeter was very enthusiastic. However, the things she said were very manipulative and unsympathetic. After teaching me how to pray for a baby, she demanded money for the temple when I got pregnant and warned that if I didn't, I would lose the baby. $300 in fact. She said it more than once without a smile and forced me to say it directly to Buddha while watching me do it. She also taught me that I should go up to pregnant women to inconspicuously rub their bellies. I did not need permissions to touch their bodies. I realize that you cannot control the things that people say, but if she is a greeter, she is not in touch with the standards of society. I was too shocked to realize she was threatening me with money. I hope this review gets through to the leaders and monks of 佛光寺 Fo Guang Si and that you prevent this from happening to other visitors. I know that you are a tight knit group, but from this interaction, I do not believe you are as welcoming to newcomers as you can be. No matter how devoted my grandmother was to this temple, I am never coming here again. For visitors, proceed with caution as your milage may vary.

Serene and beautiful monastery grounds. Happy to discover a hidden gem in the hills. When you first…read moreturn in you'll drive along a small tree-lined road and go up the hill to their gated entrance. You may have to call their intercom to enter through the gate if they are not currently hosting an event. When you first visit, go to the reception office for an intro about the monastery and their activities. You can join their regularly scheduled meditation classes and dharma classes. The building to the left of that is where they hold Buddhist classes and talks. To the left of that is a small hill and walking nature loop to see a Kuan Yin statue placed within a circular, eight petaled lotus mandala. The walk has beautiful views of the surrounding distance. Down towards the right is the temple, which is only open to the public during events. They recently finished some renovations inside their main temple and outside gardens. The gardens behind and below the temple opens to expansive views too, yet is still undergoing construction. You can see a small pagoda with a Kuan Yin statue and a rectangle platform with a statue of the Buddha. Inside the temple, it is common etiquette to remove your shoes, place them in a shoe cabinet along the wall, and wear socks inside (no bare feet allowed here) during events. There are bathrooms and a water station too. I joined a recent Friday meditation gathering and it was nicely organized and run very well. They have a welcoming sangha community too.

Beautiful scenery and grounds. The peace I felt was incredible. I love it here. I highly recommend.read more

Teo Chow Temple. Two floors open to public. Came here on 02/22 to pray for lunar new year…read more Folks are very nice and run by the older generation. Parking and drop off for elders can be tough since you can't park right in front of the temple due to a protected bicycle lane. I've parked on the street close by and never had problems but there are some homeless folks around. The praying over the speakers may be loud for some so I always try to pack headphones for my kid. They prayed in teo chow while I was here. They don't have a website but they do post a paper calendar for large events of the year.

Standing modestly at 2 stories tall, this establishment is far from big but it has what you need…read morefor worship in terms of incense, candles, the major deities and a spot for ashes if you cremated a loved one. There's a small fireplace for you to burn offerings indoors. Place is run by older people and they get crowded during the new year. Donations are accepted.

Yesterday was my first time there. First impression: very unpretentious, intimate temple space. The…read morealtar isn't all that impressive if I were to use the standard of some really dignified, solemn, grand temples I've been to in Taiwan, cuz here, things are sort of random, sort of like a patchwork. There're Buddha and bodhisattva figures on stained glass; statues made of ceramics and wood; flowers real and (I assume) plastic; gongs and bowls and incense burners; small sculptures of Arhats in the glass cabinet, and Chinese calligraphy on the wall. Makes me think of some sort of mismatched collage. Obviously Mahayana / Chinese Buddhism, and clearly devotional in nature. Strangely familiar and comforting - for me, as a Taiwanese - yet different, and a little bit odd. Aesthetically speaking, it's not the most stunning where Mahayana / Chinese Buddhism is concerned. But there's something about it that warms the innermost cockles my heart. There's something touchingly sincere about this place... For one thing, I am familiar the ritual, the chanting, the recitation of the Buddha and Bodhisattva's names - it's what I had been doing all my childhood years back in Taiwan, and it's real nice and heart-warming to be able to do it here, in the US... For another, the vibes are really good, genuine and down-to-earth. Most participants are Asians: sincere, modest, unassuming, earnest, somewhat straight-laced - again similar to the Buddhists I know in Taiwan. There were also Caucasians and a few Jews wearing kippah in the audience (maybe because this is not only a Buddhist monastery, it's also the Institute for World Religions). Daily evening worship is 6:15 to 7:15pm. Every Saturday at 7:30pm, there's talk by Reverend Heng Sure, a very good speaker. Makes the Flower Garland Sutra come alive with stories and anecdotes relevant to modern everyday life. I always love white monks, but initially I was a bit worried if he would be too moralistic for my taste since he is the disciple of Master Hsuan Hua. Well, turns out that he is wonderful. I was really moved when he played his guitar and sang the song about the Buddha's encounter with Sunita. The song (which he composed himself) was about how this "untouchable" flower scavenger, who had been suffering all his life, was awe-filled upon meeting the Buddha; and, after being accepted into the Supreme One's community of monks, eventually attained Arhathood. By then, even the Brahmans bowed before him - this once outcast and rejected, the lowest of the low - with sincere reverence and respect. It was really moving. Beautiful experience. For me it's more cultural than spiritual, though Heng Sure balances it up. I wish I had discovered this well-hidden monastery earlier.

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.