I don't think most people outside of the neighborhood know this place exists. But real talk, the…read moreHan Ma Um Zen Center is one of the coolest things in NYC and of course, it happens to be smack dab in Flushing, Queens. One doesn't have to be buddhist to appreciate the gorgeous architecture and it's a destination that could certainly use more recognition. Founded in over 30 years ago, the temple is belongs to the largest buddhist order in South Korean, the Jogye order. There are only a few branches in the United States and it's only fitting to have something like this near the 2nd largest Korean community in the United States (#1). They're open each day from 10AM to 9PM. If entry is not available (#2), then consider walking around the grounds for a beautiful photo on a sunny day. It is about a 25 minute walk from the Main Street subway and residential street parking is available. ______________ (#1) Second only to Los Angeles. (#2) COVID is still happening.

Beautiful building. It is one of those sites that you don't realize you're in a neighborhood as…read moreopposed out in a rural area. A gem of a place hidden to locals. Check it out

It's a beautiful place for peace and prayer . The people who work there are kind . They have free…read morebooks to guide you through Buddhism . I love it here .

Very beautiful and serene palace perfect for quiet walk. Even for a non Buddhist like myself one…read morecan find something to appreciate in this place. We came on a rainy overcast day & not even that can take the beauty from this place. There are religious sculpture lining the entrance, a big buddha on the main hall, free books on buddhism, & vegetarian lunch on the weekends you can have for a minimal price. Love, love this place. Will come back on the fall to bring the rest of my family.

I visited before in 2016 and felt to shy too enter. I came again and wow. I really had such a…read morewelcome feeling. Everyone seemed like friends . Sat in on a service. I was given a book to use during the service & afterwards folks showed me how to do one of the rituals with incense by the main alter. The Buddhist priest Mr。Ikeda had some chapters chosen for the new year mass greeting 。 Afterwards there was a tea upstairs. We all could meet up and chat and ask any questions. There was also like a fellowship potluck. (Yummy.) Everyone seems like friends. Kindhearted people. It seems more people should be here. It seems perfect in the Big Apple. The church has a nice history in this city. There is service in Japanese and in English. Maybe if you feel stressed and want to find a way to deal with it in a healthy method you might consider coming here. Make time for yourself to learn something new. They'll give you a little food for thought. A thought to carry you through the week. I enjoyed that little thought of positivity. I also enjoyed that since this is the Year of The Dog, they sold beautiful handmade items. Just like they do in Japan. They are decorative and I'd say they charmingly welcome good luck your way. (1)There was Sumi-e ink art created by the head monk here. Rather elegant and beautiful. (2)There were also wooden Ema available for sale($5). "Ema" are wooden wishing plaques. People write their wishes or prayers on a wooden plaque then hang you it up. Wish for anything! Of course, it has cute artwork on it. You can keep your wooden ema with wishes or without your wish on it if you want. I've done both. (()In the Edo period in Japan writing your wish on an Ema was a way you could communicate your wish to god.) The building itself: I must say it was also interesting that it was one the building of William Randolph hearst's mistress. Actress Marion Davies! What a beautiful building. A delight to see the rooms. (^^)/ Check there url. Visit when they are open. Do you need a little good luck charm from the Buddhist Church? Yes!! Make a new friend. Learn a different way of looking at things. A way to enjoy your life.learn to manage your stress.

One of the advantages of living in a multicultural place of New York is the opportunities to attend…read moredifferent exciting, cultural events. Working in an office setting five days a week can make life mundane and well, boring, so on the weekends, I try to explore fun activities around town to educate and enliven myself a bit. This past weekend, I visited the New York Buddhist Church's White Elephant Sale . This church has been serving the New York community since 1938 and regularly hosts special events and programs throughout the calendar year. The White Elephant Sale is a fundraiser held in the basement of the church. Setup like a flea market, there were random items, mostly oriental properties, for bidding and selling, but I actually had my sight on the homemade Japanese snacks and foods. I could not leave this place empty-handed, so I purchased some grandma made vegetarian and inari sushi ($4). Sure, the presentation is a bit spartan and simple, but the genuine bites transported me to a traditional Japanese home decorated in tatami mats. Love these stimulating excursions.

People are so kind, warm, and welcoming. They provide very thought-provoking discussions on Sundays…read morefrom 10am-12pm and then provide delicious vegan food! I highly recommend everyone check it out for themselves.

We have been attending your Floating lantern ceremony many times. It is such a beautiful thing to…read moredo. We so enjoyed your exhibition, we came out feeling SO relaxed. We have always been made welcome by all the wonderful kind people there. The lake looked amazing with so many lanterns all lit up. We didn't want to leave all the peace and beauty. Thankyou all for sharing it with us xxxx

I was so serious about celebrating my 100th review thus, it took many months to decide what to…read morewrite. I decided to share something very personal. It helped to focus my career when I got out of school. It showed who is "me" and guided "me" to grow personally and spiritually. I have a full of appreciation till this date. If I can explain how, where and what made "me" to grow, it is going to be not easy. Each step was a huge struggle but I understand my life better. I am still searching for more. It is a life long journey. When I was 21 years old, I met this teaching. It was in New York City. The teaching helped to understand my obstacles as a young person and guided to find how to over come each steps. It helped my relationships with my boyfriend and my friends, and career. After the achievement of each obstacles, I knew I became a better person. People around started to tell me how I changed. I became easy to talk to and well rounded. This change helped to develop a good relationship in a business and able to find and keep my boyfriend for long time without any unnecessary arguments (it was important). If you are looking for an answer in your life, it might be to try. It has been a great help for my life. Because of this wonderful experiences, I can respect others that practicing their teachings because it is not easy to do. The teaching, based on the last teaching of Buddha (Nirvana Sutra), gave a tool to find myself. Then, showed me how to elevate as a human and as spiritually but I had to work very hard. We all have some kind of extra senses, awareness (feeling, six sense..etc.). Some has, or can develop, naturally but most need a help to achieve. I definitely needed a lot of it. After sitting for many trainings at the temple in San Francisco ,New York, Paris and Japan, I have polished my inner "me" to be rounded and understand of the others, differences, and the other world. I hope It makes sense? I am not developed as fast as some. Some trainees catches and go very fast and some are slow. I am one of them. The trainings (it's called Sesshin Training). It helped to see another dimensions. It doesn't end there. The training gives a hint of how to overcome. fundamentally, it is mostly to help and do for others and find appreciation in any situation . When I find another dimension, I feel (some see and some feel more). I am starting to sound crazy but the experiences were real and helped to understand tremendously. The training was not easy and especially at the beginning. It was a battle of not want to see and acknowledge or scare to know about..... real "me". Especially, to experience and to know about an existence of the other world was difficult. This unique training (Sesshin) can be finished in 30 minutes. It depends on where your mind are. If your mind are focused, the training can be finished faster or if it's longer, might be what you needed at that time. I had an experience to sit with one of my friends who is a Yoga trainer. Although I practiced much longer, he finished earlier. It may be that he knew how to breath and focus better. Even many years of sitting and meditating, I am still not where I want to be. I am still having difficulty to detach from my attachments. Yes, I have many....believe me. It is a life long training. Wonderful! Doing more free weights, gain more muscle. If you eat a lot, you gain weight. It is simply nature of law, cause and effect (Karma). If I practice more, I shall achieve my goal. I hope I can before I die. Without the body, I can not help others.... There are two locations in New York. Main temple with a gold reclined Buddha of about 15 feet that I was very fortunate to watch carrying into the temple and had a chance to pour some jewels (not actual jewel, consist of grains of rice and so on..) is in White Plains. There is a training center that offer limited trainings in Midtown, 36th between 6th & 5th Avenue.

Beyond beautiful Buddhist stupa…read more 1) It feels like a little slice of Burma in NJ. 2) The Stupa is very well maintained & clean. 3) Make sure to take off your shoes before entering the Stupa area. There is no signs, just expected - or else, someone will come out & inform you. 4) It is a must visit spot if you are around the area

Which day is the Water festival ? Did anyone can come in join?…read morePlease let me know when is the Water festival date.

I came here as preparation for a college class presentation and had one of the most interesting…read moreexperiences in my life. Upon arrival, I met with the head monk who led me to the meditation or Jijang-Bosal (Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva) Room. He instructed me to grab a floor pillow. From there, we spent 45 minutes in the dimly lit room having a conversation about the core principles of Zen Buddhism​m before he led me in a sitting​ meditation session. I'm not a Buddhist, but he treated me with such compassion and acceptance. We were even able to converse a little bit about coss-theological topics. Overall, the temple has such a pleasant​ atmosphere. I'm sincerely impressed and thankful that they would offer me such a unique experience. If you're​ a Buddhist looking for a Zen meditation​ temple or just curious, I'd recommend giving Chogyesa a visit.

Authentic Korean Buddhism adapted to New York!…read more Offer a combination of Korean Buddhist practice for Korean Speaking participants on Sundays. Tuesday and Thursday evening 6:30 to 8:00 pm meditation practice in English. Come early for beginning instructions. 3rd Saturday every month, all day retreat includes Yoga/Tai Chi instruction and walking meditation in Central Park. Monks are welcoming and bi-lingual (Korean/English).

I hope I'm not asking for too much but it is much smaller than I expected based on the grand…read moreexterior. There are only 2 statues inside. You are allowed to light one incense for the first statue at the entrance, but no photo and incense allowed after that. It is quiet inside but it was hard to feel zen at the center of Chinatown and across from the Manhattan Bridge. What I really like is the big bowl of paper predictions. There is a note saying if you donate $1 you can take one. Make a wish and choose your paper!

Although i am officially not a Buddhist i am a frequent visitor of this temple for years. One of my…read morefavorite places to find peace & quiet in this often times busy and sometimes crazy city! The temple is at the foot of Manhattan bridge, not so appealing on the outside but the inside is colorful,beautiful & worth checking out. It houses the biggest Buddha statue in all of Nyc. It's serene & peaceful inside. i didn't encounter a lot of people on my visits. usually only locals praying & few curious tourists. There are signs posted prohibiting pictures on certain areas but on the main altar pictures are ok i think -as long as done discretely. Theres also a gift shop on the entrance. You can light an incense for a fee. The care takers of this spot leave you alone to explore on your own. Theres no fee to enter, but i see some donation boxes around. Buddhist or not one can find something to appreciate in this not so hidden Chinatown gem.