If you're in the area, take a moment to walk through this beautiful and peaceful house of worship…read more Admission is free. As we walked around the grounds we were gestured to come inside. Greeted by the smoky fragrant air of burning incense, we checked out each of the deities. Please be quiet as this is an active house of worship.

Very picturesque! Beautiful grand entrance. This place has a sense of calm and peace, especially in…read morethe incense area. The staff was kind enough to let us take photos and look around after it was supposed to be closed at 6pm. The place is gorgeous and I highly recommend to stop in for some great photos. Unfortunately, we did not browse in depth as we did not want to overstay during after hours.

This is the most beautiful and largest Vietnamese temple in the Houston, TX area. This is the only…read moretemple that I go to for worship for prosperity, great health, happiness, and praying for world peace.

Amazing to see such an authentic and beautiful large scale Buddhist complex in the United States…read more It is a testament to the devotion and hard work of Southeast Asian immigrants. The tempo is bilingual and has many educational aspects just from walking around. Definitely a must see cultural experience if visiting Houston !

I came here today (Saturday) with my mother. We are new to…read morethe practice of buddhism, and we make a substantial effort to be as respectful as possible. Today, we mistakenly thought that Saturday was the day for english instruction. Upon entering, I removed my shoes and greeted the woman at the front desk with a smile. She did not smile back. This did not make me feel welcome. Me and my mother proceeded further inside the temple, which is BEAUTIFUL by the way. We did take a moment to take it all in. There was no instruction or teachings going on, so we decided to seat ourselves quietly just to observe the beauty of the temple. There was a lively looking woman doing some work on the flowers. I decided to ask her what days of the week do I come for english teachings. Once again, I keep smiling at people to greet them, but they keep frowning! (I want to be clear and say that this is a normal faint smile that you do when you say hello to someone, I definitely was not doing anything weird or threatening) At this point I am thinking, Am I doing something wrong, or are these people really not pleased to have me here for any reason? She directed me to ask the lady at the front desk..so I went to ask. I respectfully stood outside of the room, waiting until she didn't look occupied. She greeted me with a disgruntled "Yes?" And I asked her my question. She answered me curtly, and I proceeded back into the center room of the temple. Me and my mother discussed plans for coming back, and then we decided to leave. As we were leaving, there were VERY kind women practitioners who were more friendly than the 2 workers I am discussing in this review. The woman at the front desk, closed the door on them as they were in prayer. She said "It's getting hot, sorry about that." And did not even say goodbye to us as we left. I am sure they have amazing teachings, its a shame I came on the wrong day! But overall, for a beginner practitioner who is a little unsure of themselves..I did not feel very welcomed or embraced in these interactions I had..I will not be returning. I don't know if these people were having a bad day, or if I did something wrong. But it was very uncomfortable for me. A temple is supposed to be a place where someone can take refuge, and feel safe around other compassionate people.

A little history of this temple and me: When I migrated from Taiwan more than a decade ago, I was…read moreshocked at how Buddhism was so difficult to find in America. Fortunately, my family was contacted by someone from Jade Buddha Temple. Even though I used to live in Baton Rough, LA, Jade Buddha Temple has ever since been my spiritual center to this point. Anyway onto the review! --- Located relatively close to the Houston Chinatown, Jade Buddha Temple is easy and convenient for visitors to access from the city without losing the serenity of the usual temple ground. In front of the temple is a large pond surrounding a tall, standing statue of Kwan-Yin (Avalokiteshvara). If the day is not too hot, the pond has benches surrounding it, so you can admire the pond and contemplate under the gaze of the merciful Bodhisattva. The temple's largest building is the Hero's Hall (The Main Hall), which houses the namesake jade Buddha statue with Maitreya (Popularly known as fat Buddha) as the cheerful greeter to those who enter the Hall. This is where services and festivals are held, but outside these times, the Hall is a silent yet serene ground to simply sit and behold. Quietness without coldness, simplicity with majestic extravagance, Jade Buddha's Main Hall is truly something that both practitioners and non-practitioners to visit to witness the spirituality and the art of Buddhism. Behind the Main Hall is a court yard that is followed by the second building, Kwan-Yin Hall, which houses the traditional Chinese Kwan-Yin in front and Cundi Avalokiteshvara in the back. In contrast to the more extravagant Main Hall, Kwan-Yin Hall displayed Zen simplicity in its decor, so it is no wonder that this is the Hall where the usual mediation sessions take place. Jade Buddha Temple offers many weekly scheduled events, almost all free, to the visitors that include yoga, mediation, service, and sermon. Although most of the staff and the reverends are Chinese-speaking, Jade Buddha Temple has English-oriented events for non-Chinese visitors. The Temple also has some volunteer opportunities to help maintain the temple ground and logistics. At certain times of the year, the Temple hosts traditional festivals including Buddha's birthday to pray for the welfare of all sentient beings. Whether you are a Buddhist or not, Jade Buddha Temple is worth to visit at least once if you are in the Houston area. The staff and the reverends at the Temple are very friendly and will happily answer any questions relating to life or Buddhism for you! You should temporarily escape from the loud urban environment and take refuge in the Jade Buddha Temple to relax, pray, or simply admire what Buddhism is all about.

As a new comer to the City of Houston, Texas and was able to visit the Temple along with spending…read morehalf of the afternoon with so many similar but unknown faces was interesting to say the least. For starter, the Khmer people are always pleasure and kind to each other with great respect to other culture as well. Many years have passed since my family and I have visited Wat (Khmer Temple) due to busy schedule and COVID-19 Pandemic. However, that is not an excuse as temples are always welcome to all mankind and support all types of situation each of us faces. After spending nearly half a day at the Temple, I realized the amount of work required for the 45 Acres the temple acquired and how much improvement is needed for any extra hands that are willing to offer. As a result, I wanted to thank you to those that took the time to talk to me and educate me on the background, processes and how people come together during both good and bad times. As time permits, I will continue to come and help with the temple on whatever is needed to improvement the temple landscape, repairs and many more. I hope to see many more visitors to the temple and help educate our next generations to understand the culture and how people comes together. All and all, I wish everyone many years of great health, joys, love and peace.

This is the main temple and the center of the Cambodian community in Houston. New Years is festive…read moreand fun. There are a lot of good food around and I always take it as a chance to stock up. Hope u enjoy the pictures.

Amazing teacher & a beautiful Center. The instructions are very clear and inspiring... and the…read morepeople are friendly and helpful. Whether you are a beginner or seasoned meditator, you will find something practical and helpful at Kadampa Meditation Center Houston! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

The center is so welcoming to beginners. Some classes are…read moredrop-in classes so there is no commitment. The classes give you tools to practice on your own so you can improve over time. Very friendly environment - a great place to de-stress weekly.

I came to Fo Guang Shan Chung Mei Temple 佛光山中美寺 was because my neighbor recommended. This is a…read morebeautiful place to visit. It has a Sunday service with monks and prayers spoken in Chinese Mandarin. Fo Guang Shan Chung Mei Temple 佛光山中美寺 is part of the International Buddhist Progress Society (IBPS). Located in Stafford, this temple sits on 89 acres of land. It officially opened in 2001. Fo Guang Shan as 佛光山 in Chinese translates to "Buddha's Light Mountain", was founded by Master Hsing Yun 星雲大師 in 1967. Fo Guang Shan is the largest monastery in Taiwan. There are over 300 branch temples worldwide. As far as I know, besides Houston, there is one in Austin and Dallas. I got a chance to try vegetarian food at Water Drop Teahouse. Prices were reasonable and food was delicious. Because most of the vegetation was damaged from a recent arctic blast. The garden was not as green as I wanted. So, I'll be back this summer. p.s. I uploaded 40 photos to go with my review. You need to use a computer see them at https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/fo-guang-shan-chung-mei-buddhist-temple-stafford?userid=jwPVqdHpVHCBfAe4pZBbgA

My mom has been here before and recommended the tea house. We ordered 3 side dishes- lotus,…read moreseaweed, and edamame, kimchi soup pot, kale fried rice, potstickers, and the fruit tea and prosperity tea. Everything is vegan and they have education in the temple about how decreasing consumption of animal products is beneficial for the environment. The teas were both absolutely incredible. The fruit tea is so sweet, tart, and refreshing. The prosperity tea has a lovely floral smell and light taste. All of the food was incredible, though the kimchi was quite spicy. I should have ordered mild. There is a small shop in the temple, a library, and some books on buddhism available for a small recommended donation. Visitors are allowed to walk the grounds and it is so beautiful and peaceful

Beautiful landscaping and ground! Serene! Wish I had more time to see everything! Will likely…read moreneed multiple visits!

Tucked amidst the vibrant neighborhoods of Little Saigon, Chinatown, and Alief in Houston, Texas,…read morethe Chua Linh Son SW Temple stands as a beacon of tranquility, a testament to the enduring beauty of serene simplicity. This sanctuary may not share the widespread recognition of its more illustrious counterparts, but therein lies its charm: an authentic Vietnamese Buddhist temple, full of humble grace and inviting peace. From my very first encounter on Chinese New Year's day, I was captivated by the comforting rhythm of the monks' chanting, the earnestness etched on the faces of the devotees, and the encompassing atmosphere of reverence. As a newcomer, I joined approximately twenty people, locals, and visitors, seated on cushioned wood floors, drawn into this circle of unity and mindfulness. Meditating amidst them, I experienced an overwhelming sense of serenity, a respite from the outside world's chaos. The temple's exterior matches the inner tranquility with its beautifully crafted small garden, which houses a variety of statues and a grand raised altar. These carefully placed structures add a tangible touch to the spiritual experience, while the stillness of the garden invites moments of quiet contemplation. The Head Monk, a pillar of kindness and wisdom, is nothing short of a treasure. His thoroughness and approachability radiate warmth, encouraging visitors to dive into the meditative practices and prayers. With him and a dedicated nun maintaining this sacred place, there is always a sincere welcome waiting for every guest. This holds true even when the temple is busier during ceremonies or religious holidays, ensuring that every person experiences the temple's gentle embrace. Food here is another avenue of spiritual communion - simple, vegetarian meals that nourish the body and soul alike. Add to that their affordable post-funeral services, and it becomes evident that Chua Linh Son SW Temple is more than a place of worship; it's a community of care and support. Nestled in a corner of the temple grounds, a quaint little gift shop offers souvenirs that embody the temple's calm energy. These mementos serve as gentle reminders of the peace one can find within these sacred walls. Although it doesn't often receive significant donations for maintenance or lavish renovation, the temple's resilience shines through, a testament to the devotion of the limited staff and volunteers who pour their hearts into preserving this spiritual haven. In conclusion, Chua Linh Son SW Temple is an undiscovered gem, a sanctuary of peace in the vibrant southwest area of Houston. I encourage anyone seeking a moment of serenity, or perhaps a deeper spiritual connection, to visit this beautiful temple. Every donation, regardless of size, helps support the temple's continued operation, allowing more people to experience its serene magic. So, come and find your peace here. Let's show this temple the love it so readily gives to each visitor.

It is a very nice Buddhist temple and they have Spanish translation, they also have special healing…read moresessions, the master here is a very nice guy with special ability, if you believing in it. The food here is great as it is Latina America food but Vegetarian

Great place to meditate and relax been going for over 15 yrs and even longer with Master Cau Chin…read moreto visits when he was on Boone Rd

This review is for the celebration / food festival this temple puts on…read more One of my Thai friends who is part of this temple invited us, and it was a total blast! They had lots of really neat demonstrations and cultural performances, which included traditional dancing in ornate, traditional clothing. But the best part is absolutely the food - everything was so incredible, and you get to sample so many different items. Everything was so cheap/reasonably priced. The smell and aromas are amazing, and you can see everyone preparing and frying the food on the spot. They have lots of seats / tables set up inside the building that you can sit at. The grounds are beautiful, and it was also nice to wander around and admire the area and temple. Also, the volunteers working the festival were all so incredibly nice and welcoming. As some others have mentioned, parking can get a bit crowded, but they have people directing traffic and there are some local lots/fields that they open up for public use during the festival.

I grew up coming here every new years service and for big festivals. And although I can't claim to…read morebe 'officially' buddhist (my father is), I definitely have a good understanding of it. Celebrations at thai temple are an experience that I totally took for granted growing up. You get hands down the best thai food I've had in any english-speaking country. It's open pretty much to the public, you buy tickets and exchange them for awesome food from local cooks and restaurants alike, Bangkok street-vendor style. Not only that, the traditional feeding of the monks at lunchtime results in tons of comforting homecooked thai meals being brought out and shared potluck style with those attending prayer service. Curry noodles, duck eggs, papaya salad, and many many dishes you don't see at thai restaurants. It's all about prayer or just observing the service, eating, eating, and more eating, socializing, and meditating while trying not succumb to food coma. For you practicing buddhists, as far as the service is concerned, it's in Thai but they are very friendly to the non-thai... there's plenty of Laos, Cambodian, and non-asians here. And listening to a buddhist chant is enchanting. But seriously, the food. If you haven't had a homecooked thai meal, you can get one here.