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

I saw a feature on this temple in the New York Times. I was taken by the beautiful photos. This…read moreis the main Thai Buddhist temple in NYC. The temple is less than five miles from LaGuardia, tucked away in the typical multicultural Queens neighborhood. Plenty of parking. Everyone at the temple was so nice and inviting! I felt awkward at first, but as I was perusing the garden, someone said, "hello! Have you been here before?" I told him, no, I was just curious and wanted to see what the temple was like. He cheerfully said, "go up to the third floor! Just make sure to take off your shoes." The monks I met inside were also very kind. The third floor was BEAUTIFUL. So many colors, artworks, and Buddhas. I had the whole meditation/worship area to myself. I am not religious, but this room was peaceful and serene. It was comfortable and I was so glad to be there. This temple welcomes everyone and has community events and lunches.

I felt very peaceful while meditating in the temple. Everyone was very friendly. I will…read morecontinuously go back.

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.

I am a seasoned meditator, who can't go to sangha night in my home sangha because I work. Our…read moresangha is small and as yet has not reached it's full potential. So there's little programed on the weekends either. I've been looking around for another sangha that I can join in with to meditate with others. I'm also a little curious. I'm pretty committed to the Triratana Buddhist Community, but I'm also curious about other sanghas. So on Yelp there are 10 places listed in Queens. I chose to visit two today. I went to Lin Yan Shan Buddhist Temple of New York first. I talked with a monk coming out a door. He was talking to me until some Chinese people walked by and felt he had to open the door for them, and walked away abruptly from our conversation. He'd said that was a Pure Land outfit. I like to chant and all, but this place felt too ethnic for me, and while it seemed like a lovely place, I didn't see anyone who wasn't Chinese. And while the monk was pleasant and nice, he was surprised I knew that he chanted to Amitabha, which I felt was a bit condescending. Yes, westerners can know something about Buddhism, it's not just something of the east. So it's on to the next one. I ended up at the Ch'an Meditation Center in a very interesting neighborhood in Elmhurst. I was scared to walk in, but was warmly greeted by a Hispanic woman, who introduced me to an African American gentleman. I talked a little while with two women monks, with monk outfits and shaven heads, and the three dots on their heads where I speculate candles burnt down in a ritual, but that's just speculation. Then I talked to Dr. Rikki Asher, who seemed very down to earth and encouraging. I think I'm going to go back sometime--I will update if I do. I googled Rikki Asher and she's a professor at Queens college, and does silk art. Reading reviews on Rate My Professor, seems like it's a site for disgruntled students to vent negativity, though there were many that were positive. It's weird I know these things about her now, because I was writing this review, and wanted to know more about her. Her silk screens are pretty cool. My experience of her was that she was warm and open. They have a very active schedule with movie night, beginners night, Dharma classes, one day meditation retreats and Tai Ji Quan (gentle and relaxing Chinese therapeutic exercise). They are connected to a retreat center upstate in Pine Bush. They had free books, I took one on the Bodhisattva vow. Two thirds of the books are in Chinese and the place does have a distinctive Chinese flavor. They have a quarterly magazine. So I walked out of there with a lot of information and their website, and a desire to go back in. A diverse and welcoming place which I hope to go back to.

My parents are two devoted Buddhists at Chan Meditation Center. You would often see them there on…read moreSundays and Mondays. My husband and I only started going to Chan Mediation Center two years. I enjoy going there on Sundays too, but I guess Monday Buddha Name Chanting is one of my favorites. At the end of chanting, you sit and meditate after a busy working Monday. It feels very tranquil...

One of the Best Buddhist temple, near my neighborhood.! I…read morerecommend anyone to give this place a visit . Here some images from CNY 25'

Beautiful True Buddha Temple to visit and pray to Buddhas, Boddhisattvas, Vajra Protectors.read more

This is my temple…read more The monk of this temple, Zhi Ming Sifu, is a kind hearted and patient man. There are celebrations of buddhist/chinese holidays beyond the usual meditation and chanting. If you pass by, you should feel welcomed to stop in and visit. It is a peaceful place.

Wow, I cannot believe there isn't a review on this place yet and I'm the first! Let me explain why…read moreI am amazed... This is one of the largest Buddhist temples in the area. With a building of over five floors, this temple also acts as a community service center. The boys and girls scouts meet here. There is a tea room area where senior citizens hang out. There is a Chinese school for small children upstairs. They hold multiple festivals throughout the year. This temple also has an active Young Adult Division: everyone under 35 who wants to volunteer their time in bettering the community and the environment in and around the Flushing area. This is like a hot spot of Asian activity in the area. They will welcome you even if you're not Buddhist. Of course, the monks and nuns here are also active in Buddhist worship, prayers, ceremonies and celebrations. They are a division of Fu Guan San: a major organization of Buddhists from Taiwan.

great place to chill. has AC. come here to pray without being bothered. there are several floors in…read morethis building to pray. make sure u also leave a donation- place doesn't stay open for free

It's really nice to enjoy a morning meditation with Kadam Morton…read more He is very knowledgeable and can really help you Cultivate a Buddha mind. Stick with it , it definitely works. They're also special workshops on the weekends . This is really one of the most special places in the city. It's great to catch an hour Meditation and then do all the other things that you wanna do on the island!

My experience at Kadampa Meditation Center was more than I'd hoped for. While I went for a…read moremeditation program, it was more than that. The extraordinary monk who presided was brilliant and kind. I will go there often.

The idea of this practice is nice: if you're struggling with something or someone, want certain…read morethings to happen in your life, you chant...2-3 times a day, every day. Overtime your mentality, spirit will hopefully change because you've refocused your mind & may have "gotten the things" that you were working towards, or conflicts had resolved. You try to lead a life with positivity and positive action. This is what you're required to purchase in order to practice... A local representative (sort of like a youth leader, cheerleader, sales person, social worker, neighborhood member all in one) to call, text, email encouraging you to attend meetings (at member's homes or NYC/Queens branch). An okay little church / communal space in a sleepy residential area- with a "store." What it'll cost you (& I'm guessing the rep / youth leader earns commission per person & encourages you for each purchase) $50 to Officially "sworn in" at a group meeting $40 for the Scroll to chant to $40-60 + (can't remember) for the wooden shrine / hanging big wooden frame to store the Scroll in Clear off a big spot / table in your tiny apartment to sent these things up. $20 for the Booklet & Chants to read $20-40? for the Intro test to study, take & pass. Maybe $20 for the book to study, $20 for the test to take. I don't think I wanted to pay for the second test & stalled on it. Members try to connect & talk up the tests to you, to take more! $$$ (I kept stalling to buy these items) $$ Sort of a singing bowl, to tap 3x before and after you chant $$ A mortar type wand to tap the bowl with $ Plants and water around the shrine. Water things every morning. $$$ other items that I don't remember For an Eastern, non-materialistic practice, it's quite costly! Gosh I wish fundraising for my non-profit was this member pro-active! Although it's members seem friendly and welcoming, their encouragement/ persistence for you to practice could be helpful guidance for newbies feeling fragile and needing support & encouragement (however extremely costly); to overbearing eagerness / cult-like ness, slight guilt in why you don't make time to chant. I was looking more for a nice community with positive vibes to regularly uplift each other, but the 3 times a day chant, chanting that could last up to an hour. Weekly or twice a week meetings. Reps offering to come over morning, evening, help you set up your shrine (actually there to try to convert your roommate), call to remind you of group meetings, call if you missed. You accidentally mass e-mailed higher level organizers about an event that you were having (thinking this is how you create mutual community); instead it causes big drama & phone calls to you (you cannot "sell things" in the group). You move out of the city, still get emails & calls and Christmas cards (after notifying of move...because this sect is "all over the world! & we support all past members.". Call checking up during Covid (nice gesture but this 3+ years since moved). When you post photos on social of other temples that you visit, messages from members who notice your photos (or may be happy that you're still a little Buddhist). You email the new group leader to please remove your contact because you're not interested in this particular sect anymore & meeting reminders, a few emails as to why before you're "removed" (but a few DM's from members trying to maintain contact during it). And you practically beg: although it's a nice gesture, please no more random phone calls & emails. No more contact! Another year later, somehow you're back on the group email list (non-BCC) for meeting announcements. WHY?? I really hope I don't get any more emails or calls after this review. I hope everyone can practice what and how often they want. Obviously this regimen & money structure from this sect, just isn't for me. Or my pocketbook. (No I don't have the items I bought anymore.) Please no more emails, snail mail, DM's, phone calls! Please! Work on you own individual practices and invested members!

Please see my review re: SGI USA, also here on Yelp. What another reviewer wrote here is absolutely…read moretrue. You do not learn "Buddhism" but Daisaku Ikeda's interpretations, plus his life and political beliefs. I mean, I was "invited" to a many-weeks-long (6 months?) study of Ikeda's life and struggle, for which you must buy the books in the SGI bookstore. They are not loaned to you---you must buy them. Can't afford the books? You must chant more. It's part of your growth process. See what's happening here? There is no transparency on the financials of this organization and good luck attempting to get them (only the New York U.N. office seems to have any information...$1M for this religious organization to maintain a presence at the U.N....does that include the Geneva office?). The UN SGI office mission is to dismantle nuclear weapons (yes, people will do all sorts of things for recognition and those prizes from Sweden). BTW--the U.N. initiatives use words like "Restoring Our Humanity" in big typography on their collateral---"Restoring Our Humanity"? What?! Lots of intangibles like "women" and "self determination" sound great. But no data is provided anywhere. And those things matter. Unlike many religious organizations, I don't see funds to help members or do any real community investments from this organization. Go to any church or synagogue or mosque...there are community initiatives, social activism, food pantries, housing help, personal pastoral care, etc. With SGI, it's all about the daimoku, chanting for material things, and it's all about Daisaku Ikeda. Ikeda incorporates the great books of humankind into the products that are sold in the SGI bookstore, which is ludicrous. There must be a copyright challenge to SGI, as it is all extremely misrepresentative. Cult. Avoid.

Some people really like this temple, and that's fine. I didn't. Why wear Japanese clothing?…read more We're not in Japan, and most of aren't even Japanese. It seems like they're deliberately making this place feel alien so people have to really buy into their way of engaging with Buddhism. It seems a bit too performative, like I'm worrying more about the rituals and being accepted into the club rather than engaging with my mind and relating to other people in an authentic way. That kind of pull is not good. These are just my two cents. I don't want to sound like I'm trashing it. It might be exactly what you're looking for.

Short version: odd experience, some of which was within the temple's control and some was not. If…read morethis experience turned you off, do not allow it to define your experience of Zen or Buddhism, because this was a particular manifestation that made me rather uncomfortable and did not seem representative of the practice at large. Noticeable lack of diversity in the actual students, though the public crowd was more mixed. I guess the intentions are good though. Liturgy and sutra chanting is done in English, which is an understandable choice - I guess you want folks to understand what they are chanting. But if you have ever been to a temple where chanting is done in one of the languages where the tradition of Buddhism first developed and flourished (i.e. i.e. Japanese/Chinese/Sanskrit), you'll notice that the syllabic and tonal structure of those languages creates a particularly beautiful aesthetic for chanting which is largely lost in English. The translations were also rather awkward and I found myself more focused on the lack of congruence in the whole situation than the actual content of the sutras, which is unfortunate. A very helpful gentleman was walking up and down the aisle and making sure everyone was on the correct page, which was very considerate. A lady next to me, who'd clearly been before as she had all the liturgies memorized, seemed to take particular pride and zeal in butchering the pronunciation of names when we were reading through the ancestor line. I get that foreign languages are difficult and that human speech patterns are largely set after childhood, and that there's no malice in mispronouncing something, but you'd think a little humility would be called for if you know you're about to pronounce something that you're likely to screw up. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Beginning instruction for zazen meditation was good. They provide you with pillows and cushions and introduce you to various poses. I thought the tone was appropriate and approachable for beginners. However, I perceived the meditation leaders to be overly judgmental during the actual meditation session (which, given the foundational belief that all is simply a construction within your mind and judgement is one of the building blocks of suffering, is rather ironic). The instruction is to sit still, but inevitably people want to cough, or shift around, or scratch their nose. When this happened I would catch the leaders looking around or leaning slightly in one direction or another to see who the "culprit" was, and at some point one of them called out, in a particularly harsh tone, for people to sit still. The general seriousness and gravity with which parts of the ritual are carried out (such as the bringing in of the reading podium) seem to have missed the point that all is temporary. You'd think a funeral was happening here. Lastly - and this is what really ruined the experience for me - my boyfriend had left his glasses on his cushion, and at some point during the walking meditation, they were broken. Again, there is a sad irony in the fact that something was carelessly broken during an exercise that was meant to be about mindfulness in walking - literally, feeling the movement of your foot, the placement on the ground, the shifting of balance, the movement of your joints, etc. I find it hard to believe that the breaking of a pair of glasses could have been missed in such a quiet, deliberate, concentrated exercise, and if someone was aware that it happened, I was profoundly disappointed by the fact that they simply left them there without claiming responsibility. But - all is temporary, judgement causes pain, attachment is the root of all suffering. So I'll let go of the glasses, I'll let go of the awkward English sutra chanting, I'll let go of the fact that people looked waaaaaaay too serious, and I'll let go of this experience. :)