Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Monterey Peninsula Buddhist Temple

    4.4 (9 reviews)

    Monterey Peninsula Buddhist Temple Buddhist Temples Photos

    More like Monterey Peninsula Buddhist Temple

    Recommended Reviews - Monterey Peninsula Buddhist Temple

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Shiho F.

    2012 rocked! The weather wasn't as nice as the year before but attendance was strong and the Taiko performance made me teary-eyed as usual.... good times had by all. Thank you! Next year, I will be looking forward to a Gluten Free booth! (wink, wink!)

    Higher Powers that be, watch over and protect me. Thanks!
    Kim H.

    Bonsai Festival is a wonderful experience! This annual event is good for families of all ages, with free admission and parking. They have cultural exhibits, food booths, games, bonsai tree show and other interesting information available. Enjoy!

    Kim C.

    Our first time here for the 70th annual Obon festival. Well organized, lots great food that's very reasonably priced. Beautiful Bonsai and Ikebana show. Fresh Flowers, vegetables, beer and sake for sale. Entertainment with drums, martial arts and a Bonsai demonstration. A few things for the kids to do. Lots of shaded seating. Also had lots of Japanese items for sale in their little store and Obon souvenirs. We had fun and we'll be back!

    Quaint bonsai  exhibit

    See all

    8 months ago

    A warm and welcoming temple. So beautiful and congregation was very sincere, and the vibe is very serene and peaceful.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Eddie W.
    616
    1345
    3274

    15 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Shiho F.
    4847
    2835
    2459

    14 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kim H.
    798
    650
    16886

    15 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kim C.
    452
    707
    11795

    10 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jay S.
    54
    11
    3

    18 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of G M.
    1
    179
    19

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Monterey Peninsula Buddhist Temple

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Carmel Sambosa

    Carmel Sambosa

    5.0(8 reviews)
    5.7 mi

    When i was about 5 yrs old my father and 4 friends moved to Carmel to build this temple. I remember…read moreplaying by a river with two of the boys who also were living on the property during the build. We lived in these dome shaped Yurts with wood construction covered with a heavy plastic. Very cold in the winter. It was an adventure for a kid my age. Almost like a long camping trip. I believe we were there only one season. That was a long time. I dont remember a lot but my father has some great pictures. Most of the construction process and the builders hoisting up these very large beams. Some of around the camp and of the builders. I'm now in my 50s and would love to visit this magical place again. I will be taking all the photos with me to compare.

    Sambosa means "Three Jewels," and stands for the Buddha (teacher), Dharma (the teaching) and Sangha…read more(spiritual community.) This tranquil Temple was created in the early 70's, and is the first Korean Buddhist temple ever built in the U.S. They opened their doors to the public and on opening day, 400 people, including the mayor of Carmel and other prominent monks, flooded Sambosa. The Temple has had its shares of ups and downs, including an unfortunate fire in the 1980's that burned down the main Dharma Hall. But it has withstood the test of time and still remains a graceful and quiet symbol of peace in the Valley. The current abbot is Bom Hugh Sunim, and his teachings explore his particular vision of a nonsectarian approach to religion, philosophy, and life. My mother was friends with one of the followers of the Temple, and being the same age as her twins, we often played together. It's a beautiful place to reflect and slow down, even if you are not a practicing Buddhist...although it seems like the ideal religion for every walk of life.

    Photos
    Carmel Sambosa
    Carmel Sambosa
    Carmel Sambosa

    See all

    Tassajara Zen Mountain Center - Coffee station

    Tassajara Zen Mountain Center

    4.0(42 reviews)
    30.0 mi

    Unfortunately I have to avoid recommending this place based on conversations over the phone. I was…read moresuper excited to explore this awesome, unique temple and called today (May 2022) to see if they were still welcoming visitors. I was greeted with very terse, gruff dialogue over the phone that seemed frustrating and unwelcoming. BLUF, no, they aren't welcoming anyone this summer. They will also not be welcoming anyone in fall, winter (which is normal) and they said "try again next spring." For a religious place of worship that's refusing visits with no stated reason...for shame. The website says it is concerned about Covid, which is understandable, but "all are welcome." The attitude and rhetoric portrayed over the phone can't be further from acceptance or politeness. Thank you!

    I came to Tassajara to try zazen meditation and after hearing it recommended by a friend who lauded…read morethe experience, the onsen, and the amazing food. I only stayed one night and I wish I'd stayed longer because it was an amazing experience! I drove down from SF and, starting at 7am on Saturday, it was only 3 hours and 30 minutes, including the last hour on the gravelly dirt road that others have complained extensively about. I lost reception about 1 hour and 30 mins before arrival. The last 15 miles was indeed a bit treacherous, but nothing insurmountable. Upon arrival, I went on some short hikes, ate lunch (salad and soup), went to the Narrows / watering hole (so fun, but a bit difficult to get to if you're not comfortable scrambling on rocks), went to the meditation introduction at 4pm, did another small hike, returned for dinner (the nut loaf was AMAZING!!), and then went to the dharma talk by an abbot from city center. I finished the day with 40 mins in the onsen. The food was indeed incredible - so good, I purchased the Tassajara cook book, and I've never bought a cook book before in my life! The summer nights are a bit deceptive: it was hot when I went to bed at 10:30pm, but when I woke up at 5:15am it was freezing cold! I went to the morning zazen meditation: it was a little intimidating doing it with the monks and the students, but everyone's very nice and happy to help if you get confused about what to do. The soji (temple cleaning) after was fun too, just 15 mins in the kitchen. The breakfast was amazing as well: scrambled egg whites, oatmeal, fruit, and scones. The bread here is AMAZING! They also let you pack bag lunches if you plan on spending the day out and about rather than coming back in the middle of the day to eat. Overall, an amazing experience. Being detached from the internet and phone reception was incredible: it gave me the opportunity to focus on the people around me and really make friends. It's a testament to this place that everyone I met had been coming here for 40+ years!

    Photos
    Tassajara Zen Mountain Center - Cabins for guests

    Cabins for guests

    Tassajara Zen Mountain Center - Dinner

    Dinner

    Tassajara Zen Mountain Center

    See all

    Tu Vien Kim Son Monastery

    Tu Vien Kim Son Monastery

    4.2(61 reviews)
    30.7 mi

    I've visited this monastery about 5 times but the last time I was there it was closed. Spacious and…read morebeautiful place to practice meditation.

    This Vietnamese buddhist temple is a great meditation center set on Mount Madonna in Watsonville…read morewhere the street ends on Summit Road, a scary drive for sure with seemingly endless twists and turns. When we got to the top, the sign said "closed due to construction work" but the gate was open, so we entered, and there was plenty of parking and we found several other visitors on site as well. The monastery and surrounding area were beautiful with tall trees, lots of greenery, so many buddha statues large and small, peacocks, deer, a gazebo, a restroom, areas for worship and prayer, and a dining area where we were invited to share a meal with the monks. But the place seemed lacking in maintenance and cleanliness, even considering that it was "under construction". To make matters worse, flies and mosquitos were abundant making it hard to have a snack outdoors. Also, though the animals on site added some charm to our visit, the cawing of the birds was relentless during the hour we were there. Besides that, the main draw was still the quietude in our surroundings. With the current "under construction" condition, I'm not sure it's worth the scary winding roads required to get here. That being said, it's a lovely place to visit, and I would certainly return on better days.

    Photos
    Tu Vien Kim Son Monastery
    Tu Vien Kim Son Monastery
    Tu Vien Kim Son Monastery

    See all

    Shoreline Church - Volunteers help load groceries at our food pantry.

    Shoreline Church

    4.5(56 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    Shoreline has been my church home for 30 years. It's the perfect place for people who want to grow…read morein their faith, but also very welcoming to people who may just be seeking. The message is delivered in a way that is easily understandable. For me, I hear it as a practical application to my daily life. The pastors and staff make it a very friendly non-judge mental environment. From the minute you walk in you feel welcome. Shoreline is a large church but has many different Bible studies and events to get involved in. This is a great way to stay more connected through Shoreline. It's also a way to meet people who are of the same mindset and are wanting to enrich their relationship with Jesus. Besides helping me to grow in my faith, I have established lifelong friendships as a result of attending Shoreline. Nina Arman

    From the outside, the church looks good. They give you donuts, coffee, and a good worship team…read more There are some good folks at this church who truly love Jesus. The church is a business and ran like any other mega-church business. I've been going to Shoreline off and on for the last three years. They have all the bells and whistles and look shiny and pretty from the outside. If you're looking for connection and support of a smaller church you won't find it here. Some of the events such as the children's program in the summer are not accessible to all kids. There are no scholarships and programs available for those less privileged to have access to the program as other privileged kids. I don't feel the church is inclusive of marginalized minorities to have the ability to resources as the privileged kids and think the church can do better here. There is no support for BIPOC kids who don't have the means to attend. These kids are excluded from the community and the pews. Also, there is no benevolence fund to help members who are suffering or in need. They have a food bank and give out clothes and nothing more for those in need who are sitting in the pews. There is no support structure in place for folks struggling in the pews and no acknowledgment from the church. Support does not always mean money and they want the tithe but you are not seen or heard as a member who is suffering. The more mega the less help you can expect from them. A church of 10 will go to the ends of the earth to help you. In a church of a thousand maybe someone will bring you a casserole. Which isn't surprising. There's less of a community in a more mega church. You're just a number. A church is a community and a community should help any members who are in distress - whether this be through formal existing "emergency funds" or through informal support from other members within the organization. If someone is in that sort of situation. The church should absolutely help provide for the needs of the member. It should have nothing to do with how much the member has given in the past. So in a nutshell you decide if this is a church you want to invest your time, money, soul, and heart into.

    Photos
    Shoreline Church - A volunteer sings on the worship team during one of our Sunday services.

    A volunteer sings on the worship team during one of our Sunday services.

    Shoreline Church - A young attendee at our annual Shoreline Fall Family Festival builds a boat at our take-home craft stand.

    A young attendee at our annual Shoreline Fall Family Festival builds a boat at our take-home craft stand.

    Shoreline Church - Families gather in our courtyard at the annual Shoreline Fall Family Festival.

    See all

    Families gather in our courtyard at the annual Shoreline Fall Family Festival.

    Monterey Peninsula Buddhist Temple - buddhist_temples - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...