You are home here. Meditate, center, enjoy the beauty of the monastery and the grounds.

Very beautiful and serene palace perfect for quiet walk. Even for a non Buddhist like myself one can 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. read more

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

Amazing spot. 1) This is a must visit spot in NY-NJ area. Can spend a full day, as there are tons of things to do. 2) The sitting Buddha is one of the largest in the US. 3) There are about 2 temples on the campus. One with the giant Buddha. There is another temple with a smaller Buddhist statues. 4) There is a lake and Terrance to walk around. With Buddhist statues and items. 5) They have food Saturdays and Sundays from 11am-1pm EST. read more

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Namaste, Namo Buddhaya and Salutations! A Beautiful and tranquil setting. I am not a Buddhist practitioner by any means and I am absorbed by the serenity and tranquil peace of this place. Unfortunately, the Covid pandemic has closed the doors to all the temple's, hall and buildings. They do provide a space for the practicing faithful to worship from the outside. No spontaneity in terms of just showing up at the main gate without a reservation. All visitors must book online or you will be turned away. QUICK 311: 1. Open for visitor's only on SATURDAY. 2. Parking permits must be reserved online and are available between 10 to 12pm and 1 to 3pm. 3. They close at 3pm. They expect you to start leaving soon after 3pm 4. There are restrooms at the Great Buddha hall. 5. You must be fully vaccinated and wear your mask at all times. Respect the rules of the Monastery. I seen people vaping and feeding the fish which is a big no, no. Signs are clearly posted on the do's and don't when you're here. A great respite to clear your mind, meditate, refocus and spiritually recharge your batteries if that makes any sense. Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. The grounds are pretty flat and not hilly. The walk up to the memorial terrace has quite a bit of stairs, I chose not to go. Enjoy your time there and hopefully one day you'll reach your 7th Chakra, Namaste! :) read more

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The best Buddhist temple in Westchester. The temple is large and very clean. They offer very yummy veggie lunch. And it's very pretty and quiet to visit! read more

It's my 2nd time visited Chuang Yen Monastery, but the 1st time having vegetarian lunch there. It's not a fancy lunch but tasty enough and not too salty at a reasonable $7 per plate. The staff serving lunch does provide generous amount of food per plate. If you think their serving might not be enough for you, I would say feel free to ask for more (which I did ask for a little more tofu as I like it, and they give an extra scoop of tofu on my plate immediately without question). As I seen from other reviewers' photos, they may not be serving the same food every time so you may expect they may serve different kinds of vegetarian food along with white rice each time. From their website it says lunch hour is between 12 noon and 1pm, but I called their office and they said it's between 11:30am and 1:30pm and usually they will prepare more than hundred servings so if you arrive between 11:30am and 12:30pm, you should be able to take lunch there. After park your car on the main parking lot, you can follow the long pathway with Buddha statues on both side of the pathway to the Great Buddha Hall. I heard the big Buddha statue inside the hall is the biggest internal Buddha statue in the Western Hemisphere. There is gift shop on left hand side of the hall. I was trying to buy some souvenir like keychain that would represent the Chuang Yen Monastery but all their goods are only Buddhist spirit related and I feel quite a lot of those goods are a bit overpriced. On the bottom floor, there is restrooms. On left of the Great Buddha Hall is the Kuan-Yin Hall, on which there is a 700+ year old ceramic Kuan Yin statue and a 1000+ year old wooden Kuan Yin statue. Behind the Kuan-Yin Hall is the Dining Hall which we took our vegetarian lunch. Follow the other path in front of the Kuan-Yin Hall will lead you to the Thousand Lotus Memorial Terrace up hill which holds ancestral ashes. Continue the path will lead to the Seven Jewels Lake, Tai-Hsu Hall and then the Woo-Ju Library. Continue follow the path and sign will bring you back to the main parking lot. read more

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Beautiful monastery and statues. If you come Saturday and Sunday there is $7 vegetarian lunch served from 11:30-1pm. Lovely place that bridges nature and spirituality. read more

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Beautiful Buddhist temple. There is a huge statue of Buddha inside the temple. It has the biggest indoor statue of Buddha in the western hemisphere. It is so quiet and peaceful here. Great place to relax. They also serve $7 lunch but when we got there, it was already too late. read more

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Everything about this place is magical! The Koi Pond, the temple, and the amazing staff keep this place special. It's a mystical environment, a must-visit place. read more

Such a gorgeous, peaceful place. We stopped in on a chilly day and still were able to enjoy and appreciate the beauty around us, but we definitely plan to come back in the Spring so we can walk around and explore more. I loved the beautiful gift shop and purchased a few beautiful items that will definitely go into my own "zen" garden at home! The steps looked daunting, but the climb was actually very easy, so don't let that dissuade you! The place is gorgeous and worth a leisurely visit. I can absolutely see myself sitting in this peaceful space to meditate, walk, sit, or just enjoy! read more

Chuang Yen Monastery - Beautiful structure - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Carmel, New York

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Admittedly, I don't have extensive experience with Buddhist monasteries. However, I can confidently say that this is by FAR the best one I have ever been to. It is both beautiful and peaceful. Also, it has the largest indoor Buddha statue in the Western Hemisphere. That right there is enough to catapult it to the top of my monastery list. Even better, this huge Buddha statue is surrounded by 10,000 smaller Buddha statues on a lotus terrace (see pictures). That's a lot of Buddha. My grandmother chooses to spend a lot of her time here, and that's probably a better indicator than the admiration I have for the amount of Buddha around. She was a good friend of one of the late founders of the Buddhist Association of the US, which is based here. Accordingly, everyone around here treats her with the utmost respect. As I am her favorite grandson (or at least in the top 10), they briefly acknowledged my existence. That's right. I know people. read more

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Went for hiking and discovered this stunning monastery. This is a beautiful Buddhist temple / monastery and what i learnt its largest in North America and tallest Buddha statue in western hemisphere I think this is built in more than 100 + acres of land and it has various buildings including library, cafeteria where they serve vegetarian food and a zen garden and a pond which is filled with fishes and turtles. read more

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Came to this temple yesterday. It was about a 2 hour drive up. The place is really big. They have a few building but the main one where the buddhas were, were at the center. You have to take off youe shoes to get in. There are incenses for you so you can light it up and pray. There is also a dining hall for food. All vegetarian. It's $6 per person. All the money goes to donation. There is a gift shop in the back. We asked the lady if the products were blessed by the monks and she said yes. I bought charms for my family and friends. We all need luck in iur lives! Overall a very nice and peaceful temple. Even the air feels good read more

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I love coming here. The nature scenery and smell of the lighted incense just brings a calmness environment that makes me feel so peaceful and at ease. While it's true that most of the staff speaks Chinese, occasionally with luck, I find a few staff members who speaks English and was able to translate the agenda of the day or even when the monks chants in the big main temple. Because it's Lunar New Year, they opened for a few days for service. Then the places closed until spring. Many people came for the service and pray as the monks chanted. Some people brought flowers and fruits and lighted incense to pray to the deities. There are books, CDs, and pamphlets in Chinese and English on religious readings and learnings. These items are free but they do request some small fee of donation for the print costs. After praying, my family and I dropped our donation money (in red Chinese New Year envelopes with our names and birthdates written on the envelopes) in the donation box which is located several places throughout the facility. There is a small gift shop in the back and you can purchase astrology cards and jewelry or accessories for the home/car/work for good luck. They also sell deities statues. On certain days, the staffers (who volunteered their time and dedication) would cook vegetarian meals in their common lunch/cafeteria and serve to all. In return, they request donation fee and their suggested donation is $6 per person/plate of food. I have not tried their vegetarian meals so I can't comment on the food. Each time I visited here the place is packed and I can't find seatings to sit my extended family so we always opt to have lunch elsewhere. Because of the Lunar New Year, the big bell and gong was opened for all. Before going up the steps that reaches to the big bell, another donation box is left at the front step. When my family and I got to the top of the steps, we all took turn each to lightly hit the bell with the gong 3 times each for luck. read more

Even for non-buddhists this Monastery provides a tranquil and solemn place to relax and stroll around. The art here is beautiful and the there are acres of land to relax around. The monastery is mostly open around the summer times but we were able to go when they were open for Chinese new year. One of the first things you will see when walking about the entrance is a long line of statue on a pathway to the main temple. The statues are very detailed with each one representing a disciple of Buddha. You will also see statues of Chinese guard dogs and elephants. Its very beautiful and when we were around the snow created a very great contrast to the clear skies. Inside you can find the largest statue of Buddha across the Americas. Its massive and predominate with many smaller Buddha statues surrounding it and facing towards its center. The whole place reminds me of a cathedral where you have smaller sections to pray/worship and also places to light incense (candles.) Every Sunday they have a great vegetarian lunch they serve. The tofu is very good and properly flavored compared to the stuff you can find in any regular super market. Also the candies are fantastic! There is a Koi lake nearby that you can walk around during the summer with patios and walkways. There are also spots you can sit down that are more in the woods that provide a nice natural tranquility. This monastery is a fantastic place to experience if you are around the area. I love showing people it because its a location not many people think exists this far upstate. read more

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I have been coming here for Chinese New Year for the past 3 years and I have seen it get more and more crowded through out the years as it becomes more well known. This year, we made sure to get there by 10 in the morning so it wasn't too crowded. There are 3 buildings, with the main building in the middle. In the main building there is a large Buddha with very tall ceilings. There is a large praying section before the Buddha and smaller Buddhas all around the room. The other 2 buildings all have individual smaller Buddhas and one of them house the cafeteria. The cafeteria serves a vegetarian lunch for $5 a plate and you can go back to get seconds if you want. The lunch is pretty good, including a soup and dessert and hot tea. Something to note is that you have to take off your shoes before entering each building. As I have gone on Chinese New Year every year which falls in February, it is always freezing! The first year I came they had all hard wood floors and my feet were so cold. Now, they have put down carpet in the buildings but it is still very cold, as your socks are bound to get wet when taking off your shoes outside. Also, your shoes are left out in the cold so when you come back out, you are are met with ice cold shoes. Therefore, I recommend wearing very warm socks. The monastery has a lake on its ground and many acres. I would love to come back during the summer time and walk around as it looks to be pretty landscape. read more

Buddhist monastery in Chinese Mahayana Pure Land tradition, though it seems to be a bit more eclectic. The setting is beautiful, check out the photos on Flickr of this place. On weekends, quite a few tourists mill around, take in the sight of the 37-foot statue in the main hall and eat at the cafeteria-style vegetarian lunch. They have services and programs in Mandarin Chinese and English, and a cemetery for the cremated remains of love ones. Closed to the public during the winter months. read more

Chuang Yen Monastery - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Carmel, New York

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No idea the largest Buddha in the Western Hemisphere was less than two hours from Manhattan. Carved by a professor, surrounded by 10000 (?) smaller Buddhas, this place is a temple in the midst of wilderness out by Carmel, NY, and you find yourself strolling along the one-way roads with children at summer Buddhist camp, parents chatting away, and monks and devotionists mingling with the tourists. The vegetarian lunch here is $6, $5 if you bring your own container. Bland, but pretty much what you'd expect from Buddhist fare - no garlic, all vegetables. Fruit was sweet. They have a library here, a pond full of koi, multiple buildings with no discernible purpose (they'd be better off putting up some signs as to what each building is), and the main hall, monk's quarters, and the visitor's quarters. An information center and gift shop are located in the main building. Main hall where the large Buddha sits is off-limits to shoes, so be prepared to take yours off if you go. I like the architecture, and walking from the parking lot to the main hall is a stone pathway flanked by various Buddhas. A large drum and bell are located on either side of the entry. The entryway was a bit confusing, it has a sign from one direction, the other it does not (and a u-turn on that road is quite the pain). Overall, a good place to come to reflect and explore. Stop by and see if it you have time, or a reason to pay your respects. read more

Lovely place to spend a few hours. I'd recommend coming in the spring/fall/summer. I came in December and it was very chilly and not as scenic as it could have been. If you do come during the colder months, wear thick, fuzzy socks - you will be removing your shoes to enter the buildings! They are closed January through March. I came on a Saturday and it was quiet (it was also cold and there was snow on the ground). Their site does say that they do guided meditations and events on Sundays. I spent a lot of time taking pictures but I wish I took advantage of the Kuan Yin Hall prayer room and attempted to meditate. Lunch is 12-1, Sat & Sun, 6 dollars for a plate. It's vegetarian and they ask you don't bring meat with you. The day I came, they served - tofu, faux meat, string beans, cabbage, and rice. In the Great Buddha Hall, there is a section with complimentary books and pamphlets on Buddhism, make sure you grab some reading material and make a donation. I couldn't find the gift shop but later read on their site that it's upstairs in the Great Buddha Hall. Maybe next time! read more

Great place for those who follow the teachings of Buddha and Dharma. What can I say after all the nice reviews?! I was amazed at the huge white Buddha statue which seems to be about 4 floors high, the first time I see such a big statue. Then the smaller Buddha under it, the eye chakra is perfectly aligned with the big Buddha on top. I found this place by looking at Peter D.'s pictures of Yelp and of course, the light bulb went on and I had to go see and explore this place upstate NY by myself. The spiritualist, meditative mind of mine is too thirsty to see and experience this type of places. The whole place is beautiful, peaceful, fresh upstate air, the birds, the center has good books on sale, the whole place is just beautiful to see and experience. It did not get the 5 stars because as I was sitting meditating, there were people with their kids running around and making noises which was very distracting. However, need a place to get away from the chaos of your daily life and take a moment to nurture your spirit? this is one of the top places I recommend. Average driving time from Brooklyn is 2 hours. read more

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I've been here roughly twice. Once when I was a lot younger and not remembering too much of it. At that time it was not even finished with its reconstruction and the temple was still open to wide air. The second time was just about a month or so ago. This time I felt the legit experience of it. Being here makes me very calm; really felt like I found my "inner peace." The Buddhas they have are impressing. I definitely recommend this place to anyone....definitely a very cultural tourist attraction. It is a great chance to be wide in nature to received some fresh air, mediate, and calm yourself with any worries. read more

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I came here as a young child for summer camp and yesterday was the first time I ever visited. There are volunteers who direct you to park and there's plenty of parking spots. I was so surprised with the improvements they had made such as having more statutes on the pathway to the main temple. They serve a vegetarian meal around noon time and it costs about $6. You would need to purchase the lunch ticket by the office (lower level of the main temple). The servers always give you a huge servings and you're more than welcome to get seconds. Inside the main temple, besides the large monument of the Buddha, there's an exhibit to showcase the history of this monastery (both in English & Chinese translations). You can also walk to a small lake with the Guan Yin monument (right by the library). It's definitely a tranquil place to walk around and explore however, be beware of large crowds in the weekend. Also, the monastery is closed from January till March. read more

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Awesome! Beautiful grounds, peaceful and quiet. Perfect day for it. 77 and sunny. Weekdays are good for meditating in temple-not many people there. Must go again. Love, peace and bell bottoms read more

Chuang Yen Monastery - Path to enlightenment - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Carmel, New York

A lovely place to visit. The staff were very friendly. You are taken to a different world of peace, beauty and thought. Loved the walk up to the temple with the statues. There is a 38 foot tall Buddha. Nice grounds to walk around. Wish there was a way to learn more about them on a one day visit. read more

My family has been coming here for years. Even though it's more of a long drive for us, we usually still take our time to come. The environment and setting is full with serenity. It's perfect for inhaling such crisp clean air. Especially those who have been living in their city all their life's. They do have a lunch cafeteria schedule, where you are able to get refills for $6 per plate. I honestly love the food as well. HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO TAKE YOUR TIME TO GO! read more

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Closed during the winter. Not mentioned on website . There were people who appeared to have a special code that could enter

I come to the Monastery very often! I am not a practicing Buddhist, but I do entwine my own religious values to my readings of Buddhism. I love sitting in the temple and meditating for a while! If you are interested in the practice they have a ton of books you can keep in the temple, I always leave a donation when I take books, please donate if you do so- nothing large just a kind donation. The history of the Monastery is on the wall behind the Buddha statue, very interesting. The monastery is a public place and free to go there. If your looking for a peaceful getaway take a trip here and enjoy all there is to see. The place has a truly relaxing and peace filled vibe. read more

I didn't come for the lunch, so I can't review that. What I did come for was a brief respite from New York City. This is my first visit here in over nine years, and if there was a fire here, as I have heard someone mention, I didn't see any evidence of it. To be in the presence of the largest Buddha statue this side of the globe is awe-inspiring, and to begin to count the little statues surrounding it (yes there are 10,000) is almost mind-numbing. When there's no service being conducted, the place is so quiet, you can hear your mind working. The grounds are simply beautiful. With only a short trip up the Taconic Parkway, you really ought to come visit this serene location and give your psyche a much-needed rest. read more

A couple monks on a weekday afternoon but barely. There's 3 buildings, a library, a gift shop at the back, a memorial terrace, and a pretty big pond. The pond have mostly catfish and a few koi. No feeding or fishing though! Nice statues and carvings on the way into the monastery and a few in the monastery as you walk around. The lady in the gift shop is Taiwanese. Can speak English, Mandarin, and Taiwanese. The books in the Great Buddha Hall is free you can take whatever you like, but it is encouraged to give a donation of whatever amount you can afford. Some books are printed in Taiwan, some in the States, all donated so not for sale. Many people put coins on the statues outside but please refrain from doing so in the halls. The meditation hall is nice and quiet, not suitable for really young kids who may talk, cry, or run around. No pets allowed in the monastery at all. Not allowed to bring food or snacks that contains fish or meat. Weekends have volunteers who serve vegetarian food ($6), however there's no food during the weekday visits. It is closed from Jan 2 - Mar 31 due to the weather on in the mountains, but it is open on Chinese New Year. Most explanations and signs have both Chinese and English but some only have Chinese. The Tours will be easier for people that do understand Chinese as well. It's a pretty quiet place and it's beautiful. I find it calming and peaceful, I'd definitely go again. You can drive there, there's a pretty big parking lot outside. There's tour bus from Flushing that can get you there, taxi or Uber is workable too, and trains are available to Cold Spring which is the closest station. read more

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There are times when I think, "I should look into the path to enlightenment" it's one of the most peaceful religions out there, it seems to be fulfilling to it's adherents and they just generally seem to be nice people who respect the universe and it's inhabitants. Then I crave a cheeseburger and the whole thing falls down. This statement is not meant as a slight to Buddhists so I will preempt anyone who is peeved by my comment by saying, "lighten up."! I highly respect anyone with the discipline to actively practice this lifestyle but it's not for me. Taking some ideas I like; meditation and just being an overall chill person are things I strive to keep up, but it gets hard in the everyday world so for me It's good to visit places of calm and peace to bring me back to a more even level. Just sitting among the followers in the big temple, gazing upon the largest indoor Buddha statue in the U.S. and absorbing the vibes really chill me out. (Writing this on 7/19/2015 recorded as one of the hottest days this year, I do get the irony, hope you do.) Every inch of this 225 odd acre sprawl appeals to my inner whateverness. The entrance path lined with the heavy hitters of Buddhist history has a little story about them inscribed below their statue. Standing between the giant drum and bell, facing the temple entrance watching a multitude of mud swallows gobble insects while swooping and climbing through the air. Slipping off your shoes and entering the hushed hall, taking the turn and craning your head skyward to the giant, contemplative visage of one of the most peaceful figures in human history. Watching the faithful recite their prayers and leave their food as offerings for their well being as well as paying homage to their ethereal relatives that populate this holy shrine. Inhaling the sweet and cloying incense while letting the cares of the world swirl and eddy away like so much smoke. Padding along the grounds among the various temples and meeting halls while making your way up the stairs of the Thousand Lotus Terrace. This space is one of the holiest on the grounds. This area is a place to honor your parents and pretty much all sentient beings. Twice a year in the spring and autumn, ashes of the dead are interred here with ceremonies. One of the main tenets of this particular branch of Buddhism, Mahayana, is respect and honor of the parents. If you do come here be respectful of others as they are here to pay their respects. Seven Jewels Lake is one of the final spots if you are walking the grounds. (Ive skipped a few stops so do yourself a favor and go here yourself) chock full of Koi and turtles and other types of wildlife, this lake is overlooked by an impressive statue about which I know nothing but is very impressive none the less. Yet another spot to gaze into the murky waters, watch the ripples of the majestic animals and brood over the nothingness of existence and the promise of an eternal paradise not yet achieved by our sadly mortal eyes. read more

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Shhhhhhhhhh Best kept secret. The quiet was deafening. Please bring a gift of money or a useful resource for the monestary. (I wised I had a spare lighter for the incense spots) Also, they request you don't being meat to the campus, no running, no shouting, so perhaps leave kids and dogs home? The western hemispheres largest Buddha, surrounded by 20,000 baby Buddhas. This is the "flashy" main draw, but, to me the tiny rambling tucked away paths and pagodas are the best part. Interesting carved seeds and other deities including an ancient reclining Buddha in a separate building. Approaching the main Buddha is a path of sculptures of his disciples. Make sure to read about each one... Seems like they are human archetypes: the poor barber and the rich prince all have equal chance and gifts. I hear they do $6 lunch on weekends, $5 if you bring your own container. Must visit again! Also saw a day long sketching workshop that includes lunch for only $10. read more

After waiting years to trek down to Carmel for this, I finally got the time to do so and I'm sincerely glad I did. Not only was this place incredibly interesting to walk around and visually admire, but the feeling of peace and respect was truly surreal. Also, the fact that everyone followed the "no shoes allowed" rule for each building was truly staggering, especially since there's always that one person who refuses to do something as simple as that. I'd rather not delve into full detail of the campus because seeing this place in person is a much better experience than explaining my own, but the Buddha statue situated in the main temple is breathtaking and pictures really don't do it justice. The statue is enormous and from what I've read from their website and around the temple, it's the largest Buddha statue in the Western Hemisphere. Complementing the gigantic Buddha, are hundreds of smaller Buddha statues placed in a half-circle wrapping from side-to-side along the back of said giant Buddha. It didn't look significant at first, but the closer you got, since you can actually walk right up to them, the more and more impressive it became. Seriously, it was incredible. I'm definitely coming back here, especially when the leaves start changing and potentially on Chinese New Year. This place is a gem. read more

Chuang Yen makes for a quaint and relaxing daytrip, but it certainly does not match all the hype surrounding it. There wasn't much to introduce and explain what we were looking at and signage is almost non-existent. Truthfully, there are many more scenic places in Manhattan if you're looking for that. Want to get close to nature? I've seen many more scenic hikes at Bear Mountain and the Palisades. Also, I learned that it is forbidden to cross your legs while wearing a skirt - no rhyme or reason - just don't do it. These sorts of things don't fly well in my book. You gotta give people a reason why they aren't to do things. If you are coming with kids, make sure to bring crackers/bread to feed the fish in the "Sevel Jewels Lake." It's quite a fun activity! read more

Restful environment off the beaten path and truly worth it for the walk around the grounds, the experience of seeing a HUGE Buddha statue in North America, and of course supporting the local Buddhist community. The layout of the property is wonderful to walk around during Fall foliage, the investment in the structures is daunting, and there really isn't much else like this in the NYC Metro aside from the Zen traditions here and there. read more

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One of the most peaceful days I've had in years was here. We were camping nearby at Fahnestock park and thought it would be a crime not to come visit. We went on a Monday afternoon and it wasn't very crowded. it was very hot, though, and they don't sell any refreshments or anything like that, so if you go, go prepared, because there is a lot of walking involved if you want to explore the grounds as well as the three main buildings. The koi pond was beautiful, and I really loved the murals in the main building with the giant Buddha - I must have spent an hour just looking at those alone. This place is really worth visiting, no matter what religion you adhere to. read more

Chuang Yen Monastery - Buddhist Temples Near Me - Carmel, New York

I really love visiting this monastery - I was here with my mom 20+ years ago and it was still under construction with only one building and a few places for meditating. At the time, I had no idea what the English name of the temple was, nor was I able to identify what part of NY it was located in. I came through this place as part of a bus tour back in 1993 and had always wanted to go back since. Now fast forward Xmas 2015, it was an unseasonably warm winter and my husband and I with our two daughters, made the trip to the monastery. It looked nothing like it did back in 1993, it was far more beautiful and serene than I had remembered it to be. I loved how we are to pray in silence, take off our shoes and prepare our offerings for worship. My toddler was in awe and kept pointing out to us that we needed to pray! My eldest who is 16, enjoyed the trip and asked if we come back again. The vegetarian lunch was fabulous and it had such a large variety of dishes. The "lunch ladies" literally dumped more food for my teen daughter since everyone needs to feed kids wholeheartedly. I loved how well organized they were, how they offered water and candy to children..even sold soda for those of us who absolutely must have our fizzy sugar. The area was clean, adorned with beautiful writings, carvings and sculptures. It's definitely a must see for those of you who want to experience Buddhism from within. There are interesting buildings to view and experience, and I enjoy the fact that they do not push for donations. I have gone to a number of temples in NY and our family enjoys donating. However, when they start pushing for commercialization and there are no priests evidently present, it loses its purpose. Its tranquil setting is obviously felt and you don't have to be Buddhist to visit such a awe-inspiring place. read more

This is my first Buddhist temple visit in America. It is very crowed as it is well known. Amazing place! I would like to come in summer time and walk around to enjoy the pretty landscape. read more

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3.5 Stars It's a decent experience coming here for the first time. I thought the path with stone bodhisattvas on both sides was intriguing to look at since they all have different expressions and gestures. At the top of the path, is the very large, main area with a extremely large guan yin sitting inside, it's statuesque head almost to the wood beamed. On this day, there was alot of chanting going on. Off to the left side is the Guan Yin read more

What can I say? It's free, open 9-5 p.m. everyday (more than most NYC museums), has ample parking, and is architecturally unique. The path leading up to the Hall is so serene. It feels like a palace rather than a temple of prayer. Enormous. The Buddha statue does not disappoint. They do serve vegetarian food (donation only). I recommend you see the pond. Lots of Koi Fish along with a statue of Kuan Yin. No feeding the fish, but they open their mouths at you. Oddly cool. I see some Salty Sammy's talk poorly about a tour experience. I don't think you need to bother with that. There is plenty of info on the 1960's to now regarding how this place developed. Lots of free books on Buddhism to read as well. Also realize that this is an Asian space. I would be careful of taking ethnocentric expectations of clear/timely communication. English is probably their second language. P.S. To those taking off a star because there are kids running around - this is a community and a place of tourism. Set your expectations. I found that a place with meditation pillows and relative silence is the Kuan Yin hall adjacent to the Buddha Hall. Unlike the Buddha hall, it prohibits cell phone use. read more