I'm not sure where my other photos went but wanted to post a little about this temple…read more
This seems like a hub for a lot of the locals and elders in the neighborhood. The woman that's always at the counter, with a very outgoing personality, seems to know everyone that walks in there! The times that I've gone in, I've noticed different folks cleaning up, adding more incense sticks to the holders, fixing the fruit and flowers, sweeping the floor, adding a bottle of beer to the statue praying area, LOL. I'm not sure if they are official members, I don't get the sense that they were working on that day, more like passing by. But it's nice to see this communal effort and comfortable in the space.
It's mostly a Cantonese speaking crowd, but I heard another dialect spoken on a recent visit. The woman at the counter probably has working knowledge in Mandarin too.
I am not an expert, but when I go, it's usually for the Chinese New Year & my fortune, or to pay respects to elders that have passed. Every little slot that you see at each offering area - that's where you make donation. At the front of the area, there is a table top pedestal filled with a little slips of yellow paper, individually bundled by a rubber band. Donate $1 and pick a fortune.
The next 2 tables have candle flames, bundles of incense sticks. Take 3 incense and light them, take them & bow 3x's at the 3rd table & stick them into the pot of sand. At the back there's padded low benches for you to kneel, bow 3 times, and pay respect. Another slot under the statue to make a donation, which may benefit your future.
There's containers of Guan Yin Sticks. You can take one and kneel back down in front of the statue. Gently shake it, hold with both hands, hold it at an angle and shake with a gentle chopping motion. A stick should fall out. You want 3 sticks to fall out individually, write down the number in the order that they fell out. That's your Guan Yin Lot, look up your fortune according to those numbers. If relates to your health, wealth, big transactions, relationships, energy (more or less), ability to make large decisions.
The front part of the temple has a lot of boxes of souvenirs & gifts to dig through. Lots of bracelets, which are prettier than the tourist shops on Mott St. Cash Only!
There's boxes of free books and the front windows are filled with different little statues, objects, and bodhisattva statues.
I can't say that I am an expert, but this is the way I've experienced the temple. The last time that I went, the lady at the counter was talking really loudly with some folks, it was actually a little distracting while I was in the back. Overall, this is the temple in the area that I'm familiar with, and choose to go to.