This is such a cool, community experience in the East Bay. I've heard about Wat Mongkolratanaram…read morefor quite some time from friends in the area, and both read about and viewed so much content about this local Sunday event as well. Finally was able to go and experience it! If you've been, would love to hear about your experience too! Essentially, Wat Mongkolratanaram is a Buddhist temple located on Russell Street in Berkeley. They serve lunch to the community (I believe 10a to 1p, although do research ahead of time to ensure they're serving the day you come). I would recommend coming earlier than later, as some items do go quickly. Bring cash with you because your cash = how many coins/tokens you will receive to give the food stations. Right by the coin checkin area, you will find the beverage area of water/Thai tea, and other bevvies. The Thai Tea goes fast too, so also recommend grabbing one early if that's your go-to. There are community-style tables/chairs and also a grass area to enjoy your meal. I noticed several groups bringing blankets and picnic baskets for their afternoon set up. A great idea! For vegetarians or those looking for a more veggie focused lunch, there was a separate line for that. We arrived a little late, so the food stall I waited in line for only had minced pork, yellow curry, and rice, although that alone was filling enough and so delicious. My husband stood in a line for a beef noodle soup. I noticed a food stall with papaya salad, potentially fried chicken, and I believe a mango sticky rice. For dessert we waited in line for the Thai coconut pancakes or Kanom Krok, in cinnamon and plain flavors..they also were serving chive too! I love that you can 'leave a bag/take a bag' if you want to grab these items to-go, as well as grab plastic to-go containers too. There are napkins, utensils, and a sauce station. This is run by all volunteers I think, and everyone was so friendly and helpful. Parking isn't impossible, but because this happens only on Sundays, it did take a few minutes additionally to grab street parking nearby. All in all, a lovely afternoon paying homage to the beautiful Thai culture through food and community. Would def do it again and just prepare to arrive closer to the beginning of the event.

CASH ONLY! Sunday brunch…read more Just based off sheer selection, the Thai temple in Berkeley is the place to go to eat on Sundays. Came on a rainy day and the place was still pretty packed. I really enjoyed the plate and all the sides were pretty solid. Well-spiced and perfect with rice. The soup noodle was good, the celery kind of threw me off but it's filling and warm. The mango sticky rice is classic. Definitely going to stop by again.

An Indonesian friend introduced me to this place. I have to admit I thought the white monks were…read moreweird. Not because they did or said anything weird. Just because they were the first white monks I ever met. But it was good to know I was wasn't the only Buddhist born person there. I trust they don't use Buddhism for commercial profit. How could they be Buddhist if they did? My brother goes here every time he comes to visit from the east coast. He's not Buddhist anymore, but still likes the meditation classes. I wish they would convince him to stay Buddhist. I also wish they had more Sri Lankan monks, more kids activities, yoga, and female monks. The location is perfect for kids. The temple is in between 2 elementary schools. Teaching children how to meditate would be so nice! The space would also be good for family yoga. I hope they take these suggestions into consideration.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

First off, let me say that this is NOT an actual temple or monastary. That does not take away from…read morethe fact that this is a beautiful & peaceful place that you can learn from. Ive been in an odd situation so out of semi desperation I took the liberty in making my stay into a "mini retreat". The workshop I took was a half day (10-1) intro to meditation, chanting & kum nye at $45 w/ accommodations of an overnight stay being another $45. If you stay overnight you get free access to to the morning meditation & kum nye session of the next day. The instructor Ken was a very light, open minded person who had a very peaceful vibe to him. While he did mention some overall basic tools towards meditation I found that I had gathered more information/knowledge on my own through reading books and articles online. I think the longest we sat was 15 mins w/ generally a couple of 10 min intervals. I did enjoy the chanting & the kum nye. Although chanting wasn't necessarily new to me kum nye was a whole new experience. Quite different from other yogas I had partaken in. It seemed that there was more focus on the entire body, paying attention to "smaller" details that other yogas (at least from my experience) tend to overlook. This definitely helped me to relax more and get into a deeper practice. Around 11:30 we took a 20 min break for tea and snacks. I thought this was a nice touch, but with such a short workshop I felt the break was a little too long. After our workshop we were served food in their dining room. Although there are signs everywhere in that room thanking people for respecting their requests to keep meals silent, I guess our instructor said it was okay to have "light talking". I still personally chose to eat my meal in silence. This of course is for people to become more mindful of their food/eating habits. If you wish to talk there is a separate room w/ a gorgeous view in which you can do so. After that I went to my room which had an absolutely BEAUTIFUL view. I cannot believe I had paid only $45 for the room considering that is generally motel prices. However i used that room to justify my overall purchase of $90 since i didnt think the workshop was worth the $45. It was on the very top of the "new house" (there are two buildings) w/ a view of both the bay & golden gate bridge, absolutely breathtaking during sunset! Their meditation garden is also very beautiful & peaceful. They had a large prayer wheel which spins 24/7 as w/ the rest of the prayer wheels that border the back of the main house. I found it peculiar that all of the prayer wheels were mechanical since it seems to defeat the purpose; however, as mentioned earlier this is not a temple. One of my favorite things about this place though was the library. They had quite a few number of books which can be overwhelming but I stuck with reading "The Way of the Bodhisattva" for hours and even almost finished it. The only odd thing was that they requested for people to leave the books in the library & said that if you wanted to take them to your room you should buy it in the main house (they have a little gift shop but i suggest you go to an actual Tibetan store/ amazon instead). Luckily the library is VERY comfortable so i preffered reading in there anyways. The library is in the new house, which you actually need to have a key to get in so I don't believe it is open to the public. Maybe if you offer a donation they'll let you in. That is another thing I'm not so sure about. With workshops being $45+ what are the needs for donations? There is no mention as to giving back to the actual Tibetan community or anything so this was something I was skeptical of..I should have asked so it's nothing I'll hold against them. They do not serve dinner Saturdays but there are options close by and downtown is about a 20 minute walk (maybe a good time to practice walking meditation). Even though they arr closed to the public they give you keys so you don't have to worry about getting locked out. This place is not wheel chair accessible. If you have bad knees or whatever there are quite a few set of stairs throughout the place. They have free chanting session and dharma talks Sunday evenings! You can also do a drop in for their Sunday morning meditation and kum nye for a decent price. If you stay overnight it is suggested that you wash your sheets. Quarters are needed and it's a dollar for both the washer and dryer (8 quarters needed, they have change in the main building). You are allowed to use their kitchen in the main house to cook meals. They have a small fridge & an electric kettle in the new house. While I did really enjoy my stay, if I had honestly had more time, not only planning but for retreat in general and had better means of transportation I would prefer to go to an actual temple. Also temples will often offer free meditation classes. But if you just need a quick getaway or are planning last minute I think this is a good alternative

Empty Gate Zen Center is a true hidden treasure, an oasis of peace and wisdom. Still little known,…read moreit sits quietly, as in meditation, in a pretty street at a walking distance from downtown Berkeley. The folk at the Center are warm, welcoming and have no interest in having you believe anything. It is a rare place where I have received unconditional support along my journey and have been asked for nothing in return. If you are looking for gurus who will give you ready answers, then this is not the place for you. If you prefer to see by your self and find your own answers, then you found what you are looking for. The Center is a gate to become a more open, aware and generous person. Go to the next Wednesday welcoming meditation and talk at Empty Gate and check it out by yourself. If your heart is open you will probably sense the unpretentious power of this caring community dedicated to help all of us live more conscious, peaceful and compassionate lives. And take your time, breathing gently, after going to Empty Gate for three years I feel that I am just getting started. This is a place to cultivate the art of being, where you can nurture your love of humanity and a passion for the mystery of being alive. As good as it gets!

From the owner: Empty Gate Zen Center provides Zen meditation instruction within a kind and supportive environment…read more We offer a daily practice schedule and regular monthly retreats, as well as Dharma talks, and private interviews with our guiding teacher, Zen Master Bon Soeng (Jeff Kitzes). All of our programs are open to everyone, regardless of previous experience or background.

I've been attending Thursday evening meditation for about 5 yrs now. I appreciate having this…read moretime. It's a time for me to reflect, refocus and regroup myself. Without this precious time, I often forget why I get anxious and let my feelings to take control of me. It's a life long journey to learn about myself and understand the law of the universe, but having a community to practice together definitely helps to live a more fulfilled and happier life for sure.

"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。