This is an amazing place to visit. It's a beautiful Tibetan architectural Buddhist temple,…read moreVajrayana style Temple, from Nyingma Lineage! I was really well treated by resident lama and by the leaders. I really appreciate de visit!

It's a miracle that a Tibetan Buddhist temple connected to an authentic lineage can be found in…read moreAmerica. This is a place where those who want to commit to a serious practice of Buddhism can learn and grow.

I'm a slacker Buddhist…read more You know those Christians that are called CEOs? Show up for "Christmas and Easter Only"? Yeah, I'm the Asian that only shows up for Lunar New Year Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival. I've previously taken my parents and my husband to this temple where we sit and pray and do light meditation and chanting activities as well as fun singing activities in Mandarin Chinese. This temple is very different from the many that I frequented in Houston as a child. Everyone here has both English and Mandarin spoken and the services are conducted in both. Further more, one thing that I think is awesome is the Lunch and food provided here is donation based where as the temples in Houston I grew up with were payment only. I'm really excited to be 2 lights down from them, it's a 6 minute drive from the Arboretum area to this place and they have a parking lot as well as side 360 parking when it gets packed. I went last night to the Mid-Autumn Festival where they had many fun family friendly activities, everything vegetarian based food and many vegetarian asian type desserts which my parents taught me all about. So fun to see the non-asian folk also around here as the Buddhist temples I went to were predominately 90% Asian visiting. Here in Austin, I would say it's 60% Asian, with 40% everyone else. They have very cool meditation, yoga, etc events on Saturday and Sunday mornings, donation based as well as a kitchen that serves Vegetarian based meals. Also, what I love is they are not the type to "shame on you if you don't donate money to a religious cause". They truly are a friendly family type vibe and you donate because you truly believe in doing good and you want to. Totally low pressure. Also, they gave me a mooncake for the Mid-Autumn Festival that was handmade by all their volunteers and in the Lunar New Year, they give you red envelopes in Chocolate coin money, but still money none-the-less. (Houston temples actually give you $1 in a beautiful red envelope!) Celebrating Asian traditions here in Austin are very apparent here and it's beautifully decorated and I will do my best to be back more frequently.

If you've driven up 360 you will inevitably notice a big gold shiny buddha sitting happily in front…read moreof a temple and perhaps wondered what it was all about. Well I sure did and I decided to check it out. I'm not Buddhist but do enjoy meditation and yoga. I looked them up online and saw that they offered meditation classes on Saturdays (in English). Before committing, I wanted to scope this place out. I arrived at around 4:30, thirty minutes before they close. Aside from a few construction workers (apparently they are doing some major renovations), I was the only one there. I snooped into the tea room and felt like I was transported to another time. Beautiful wooden tables, one of which topped with a delicate tea set and a small vase with flowers. I saw that they offered (assumingly) vegetarian Chinese foods and noted to myself that I must try this! I walked deeper into the dining area into another room and found flyers for classes on the Introduction to Buddhism in English, as well as Chinese language classes for adults. I left the tea room and walked across the pavilion into the beautifully ornate main room to find two monks chanting in sync. I couldn't understand what they were saying but I enjoyed how serene and focused they were. At first I thought perhaps I was intruding but then I saw a welcome note on a table, sign in sheet, some information on Buddhism, and some sweets which I happily helped myself to. I will absolutely be returning to check out the meditation session sometime as well as try the food. And I will report back. :)

2 hours ago It's been at least a year since I had been here…read more I came today very much looking forward to starting up my meditation practice again. The meditation was happening in the smaller Ayala room this day. As I approached I noticed there was a walking meditation taking place. Not sure if I should go inside or wait until the group was seated again I asked a woman who has just exited if it was ok for me to enter. She tried her best to avoid eye contact with me and stated "I don't know you!" With a straight face. I felt so offended by her lack of compassion and basic kindness I immediately left. What a negative energy this woman brought into the place. I didn't feel comfortable there. I won't be back.

It's been nine years that I've been attending the Austin Shambhala Center, and have felt no…read morepressure to do anything. It's all a personal path, and the sangha (community) is your support along the way. Everyone is so supportive if you voice your need to learn more. Chogyam Trungpa was a messenger. The teachings he gave have been passed down for thousands of years. Regardless of his imperfect nature, the teachings still stand firmly rooted in basic truth. Please come by and see how wonderful this group is.

What a beautiful Buddhist temple!…read more Came for Chinese new year eve in year of the dragon for a chanting ceremony. The monk let everyone feel welcome, even those not speaking mandarin or not Buddhist. Explaining everything that was going on including when to kneel; stand; bow, etc. It was so beautifully decorated for new year and they had red enveloped to give away to visitors as well as incense to burn. Would definitely like to come back for other ceremonies as I felt very much included.

This is an absolutely lovely hidden gem. Tucked away amongst corporate offices and highway, the…read moreXiang Yun Temple provides an incredible place to reflect. They also offer a home made meal for ~$7 that comes with tea, samples, and a full plate of food. They also offer a guided mediation most weekends. Highly recommend!

Wonderful place. I enjoy their sittings and the calm atmosphere of the zendo. Highly recommend this…read moreplace to those wishing to further their spirituality pratice.

I've been coming to the Austin Zen Center for 6 months now and I love it. They teach genuine Zen…read moreBuddhism and are very warm, interesting people. If you're looking for a place of calm and refuge in the city, I recommend.

A peaceful gem of knowledge and meditation guidance! Rev. Choi does an excellent job leading…read moremeditations with a comprehensive instructional handout and a gentle and kind presence. I felt very much at home as I entered and even more so during the practice. So thankful to find this tranquil refuge so close by! Highly recommended to anyone interested in cultivating a meditation practice.

From the owner: Meditation, Meditation Center, Buddhism, Mindfulness, Won…read moreBuddhism , Spiritual Books Library

Awesome! - Ever since I visited Thailand last year, I've missed the sticky rice you could buy at…read morepretty much any market you came across. They make it in bamboo and you have to crack the shell and peel it back to eat it. It's essentially a cheap energy bar for the rice farmers there. - Very tasty! Anyway, I thought I'd have to go back to Thailand to ever get one of these again but I recently came across a little piece of Thailand in Austin. If you ever want to get a feel for what a Thai market feels like and/or just check out a fairly genuine Buddhist temple without having to fly 17+ hours check this place out. Calendar here: http://www.my.calendars.net/watthaiaustin I've only been to one Mahachat Festival so far but I'm definitely planning to check out songkran ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songkran ) in April along with some other cool events. We are lucky to have this in Austin. It's a long drive and a little hard to find but so worth it!

I came here for the Loi Krantang festival yesterday and can't contain my excitement. Having…read morerecently moved to Austin (from NYC and LA prior), I figured that I'd have to give up finding superb Asian cuisine (except Vietnamese). Arriving at this Thai temple to find two dozen or so food vendors for this fe(a)st was like coming upon cases of ice cold Topo Chico in the middle of a desert. Sure, one vendor served pad thai and some curries, but many of the offerings represented the cuisine of Northeast Thailand (Issan) and Laos. This has to be some of the best Thai food in the Austin area, and it is incredibly authentic to boot. Sticky rice galore. Sour sausage. Yen tau fu with cubes of congealed blood, squid, shrimp and fish balls. Bags of kaffir lime leaves and incendiary Thai chilis for a good price. Skewers of grilled meats, including chicken hearts. Deep-fried and grilled whole fish. Fantastic deep-fried bananas. Mystery surprises wrapped in bamboo leaves. Freshly prepared papaya salad. Fantastic little stacks of coconut and rice pancakes reminiscent of kanom krok (but alas, no actual kanom krok). And dozens more iterations of desserts based on those ingredients, sometimes laced with palm sugar. Then, I ate an entire one of those chilies and lost track of the rest. Pinch me, I must still be dreaming! And anxiously awaiting the feast for the Thai new year in April.

Palri Pema Od Ling is a beautiful, traditional Tibetan Buddhist temple. With a gorgeous, giant…read morestatue of Guru Rinpoche, one of less than 40 in the world, it is an inspiring and peaceful place. Weekly practices are lead in English and Tibetan by a Tibetan monk. Visiting lamas come throughout the year to offer teachings in English or with translators. This place is the jewel of Austin, a treasure that we are so lucky to have! Check our their website http://palri.org/

Sitting with this community in person or online in their "cloud zendo" nurtures my practice and…read moreconnections to others. The sangha welcomed our new Senior Teacher, Nathan Smalley who received dharma transmission ( Nov. 2025.) He joins Peg Syverson and Flint Sparks in leading us to "grow up and wake up to life as it is." With a warm bow of appreciation to those curious about this path, BB

When you are through with booze, drugs, and other noisy distractions, this place will help you…read more find the safety in side yourself. Best Wishes Ted Cleaves MD