This temple is the great place for the ceremonies. The temple's people very helpful and do what we…read moreask for. I did not do anything, they do all the works even the kitchen. They did not asked for payment or tips, it's up to my family offered them. Note, I see the reviews below, it's ridiculous! I can tell, they never been in the temples in their whole lives, and it's first time form them. They just go to the temple and do nothing, no cooking, no cleaning, no helping, no bring the trash to the dumpster, not even was the dishes. The temple's people cleaning after the event and not their family. The temple's people do all the work for their family's funeral. The people who took the foods, it's not the temple's people, they were their people went to join their ceremonies. Sometime, they only paid the temple's gas, heating/AC, or electricity for $200 or $300 or $500 for two days and one night of the ceremony. If we compare to the funeral home, American Funeral Home, we paid them at least $10,000 to $20,000, but no one complain a sh*t.

Exactly 22 years ago, my dad had his funeral service done here at the temple. His urn was kept…read morethere since then. Recently, I went to vist my hometown, Lowell, to pay a tribute to my dad at the temple. I prayed for about 15 minutes. Then I kindly asked the staffs if they could help me locate my dad's urn. I was struggling with my Cambodian words trying to communicate with the monks and staffs and they finally brought me to a small closet where they kept all the urns. The closet was very small and packed with all the urns. It was unorganized! All the letters were written in Cambodian! I couldn't read any of those. I only spent about 15 minutes searching for my dads urn because the staffs were getting ready for another funeral service. In the end, I didn't find it. As long I know he is in a good place and that I pay a tribute to him is all that matters. I wouldn't not recommend anyone to walk alone in the area eventhough Lowell is slowly improving. The temple is small and clean. A good place to pray for loved ones.

A very welcoming and open community exists at the GBZC. Every week newcomer classes are offered…read morethat are very accessible to people of all levels of knowledge of Zen Buddhism. The space is warm and well maintained. Services include liturgy, zazen (seated meditation) walking meditation, and a dharma talk or interviews with a teacher (voluntary with no pressure to have one). Please don't be intimidated and go if you are interested in Zen. It's a great place Parking: small lot adjacent to fitness center is available for visitors. Also lots of Cambridge sticker parking and some meters. Also on bus routes and not terribly far from the T. Easy to navigate once get the hang of it.

I came here for the first time last night and immediately knew I made the right decision. They…read moreprovided an orientation for newcomers that was welcoming and instructive. After 30 or so minutes of learning the basics with some helpful hints and tips we dove right into Tuesday nights meditation. The environment felt inclusive and welcoming. The whole aura of the center was comforting and relaxing. There was no feeling like I didn't belong and they had books at each of the seated areas to help through the chants. I'm not sure about the parking situation but from the central t station it was a quick 10 minute walk. I will definitely be back!

Beautiful temple with many different statues. Extremely calm and quiet environment which is…read moreessential for prayers. While I no longer practice Buddhism myself, I went back with my mother and grandmother to this temple I have been to since I was little. It has changed a bit and grown (with the school and library across the street) but is still a welcoming place to all I remember it to be. Be wary that although there is parking there isn't a ton.

We lived the next street over for ten years, and my wife (who grew up Buddhist) swore she could…read morehear chanting on the summer breeze. So we investigated, and found the temple. The sanctuary is a serene place to meditate or pray, and my wife spent some time here over the years. This came with some degree of bewilderment from the monastics who live here, not at all used to white folks showing up. There's also a bit of a language barrier, as the congregants are all from Quincy's Vietnamese community, and most of the monastics are monoglot Tieng Viet speakers.

Very peaceful ambience. They have dedicated priest and regular aarti is performed daily in the…read moremorning at 9am and evening at 7pm. All religious festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm. Very friendly volunteers. Every Sunday there is event in the evening and dinner is served after aarti.

Attending meetings at the New England Buddhist Center has been a refreshing and uplifting…read moreexperience for my life and spirit, even on days when I'm not feeling my best. The community here is incredibly diverse, warm, and welcoming--you truly won't find such a wonderful group of people anywhere else. We also adore the bookstore and they even have a lovely collection of children's books. I highly recommend attending an Introduction to Buddhism meeting and giving it a shot. It's a life-changing philosophy!

I am a vietnamese buddhist that grew up in Brookline, Mass. I drive by the Brookline center and…read moredecided to go in and introduce myself. When I went into the building I was surprise to see an interior that looks like a business complex. I went in and ask a man in a suit if there was any meditation rooms or if they did any buddhist teaching from monks. The man explained the location was for the bookstore and paid events. Than he ask if I wanted to become a member and instantly I felt a bad feeling about this place. I've been to alot of buddhist institutions here in America and overseas and I have never been ask to become a member and maybe even pay for access. IDK what they're up to in Brookline but i don't think it's kosher.

Serene. Peaceful. Healing. Wonderful energy. Beautiful space for meditation, quiet contemplation &…read morecommunity.

What a great gentle, spiritual meditation & yoga class!!! Loved it!read more

I give this four stars because nothing is perfect, but I truly am a fan. I visited this center as…read moresomeone entirely new to Zen practice, and I felt very connected and peaceful right away. If you are a minority in any way, whether sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, ability status or whatever the case may be, be rest assured you are in a safe place. The simple fact that you are meditating with other people or learning about meditation with other, you will feel connected. I highly recommend Dharma talks on Thursday nights (sometimes Friday, you have to check the schedule). You get to ask whatever question you may have and hear some interesting questions and answers. I love this place and I hope you do too.

It is quite a few years I have been visiting this temple, Very nice ambience. you will love the…read moreway the pooja is performed. People are very nice and friendly. When I cannot go I can even watch on zoom. I am delighted with the service the volunteers offer. Do not miss visiting the temple if you are in the Boston area. I have been blessed with the grace of Durga.

We went to the temple for the first for Diwali yesterday.The temple is located on a shopping…read morecomplex.Outside you don't feel like there is a temple out there.But once you step in,you are in a for a surprise.You almost feel like you are in a Kali temple in Kokatta.They do pooja the way they typically do for goddess Kali.The temple is neatly organized with various Druga and Kali statutes. After our prayers,we had nice prashad in the temple.Surprisingly,the temple was not at all crowded even on a Diwali day.