Hsi Lai Temple — Attraction in Hacienda Heights

Magnificent. Serene. Tranquil. Astonishing.

Superlatives fail to do justice in describing Hsi Lai Temple.

I finally made a trip to Hacienda Heights to visit Hsi Lai Temple. The largest Buddhist temple in the Americas. I was breathless as I viewed the elaborate architecture & gardens that welcome Buddhists & non-Buddhists alike.

The Bodhisattva Hall is the first building visitors enter, displaying the bodhisattva's Samantabhadra, Ksitigarbha, Maitreya, Avalokitesvara,& Manjusri. Photos aren't allowed inside. Preconfigured offering plates are available for donation & visitors can bring their own as well.

The Information Center has various literature avaiable on the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order, Buddhism in general & the many activities going on at the temple. Complimentary hot tea & coffee are available to enjoy while sitting.

Guided tours by a docent are available at certain times of the day, of which I took the first English tour avaiable.

The Buddha's Birthday Education Project is a building who's purpose is to display the life of Shakyamuni & the spread of Buddhism throughout the world. Crafts workshops are available to make keepsakes such as bracelets, and visitors are treated to hot tea/water & adorable elephant-shaped cake pops.

The Main Shrine houses "10,000 Buddhas" which encircles the entire room, with Amitabha, Shakyamuni & the Medicine Buddha prominently displayed in the rear. It's a pleasure to behold, with the sight of gold sculptures & the smell of incense in the air. No photos are allowed here, either. Seeing people kneeling in prostration & with their silent thoughts in their minds, made me forget about the trivial worries that assault my daily life.

The Memorial Pagoda is located at the very back of the premises. I don't think it's open to the public, but I had the good fortune to be allowed to visit, which I am deeply grateful. I enjoyed this building the most. Sometimes, the greatest, most memorable things aren't the biggest and/or most extravagant.

The Dining Hall has an AYCE vegetarian buffet w/ a donation of $7. It wasn't 5-star food, but I wasn't expecting 5-star food. I enjoyed my meal, knowing the money will be used promoting the Dharma. I'm definitely glad chili sauce was available, as it greatly added to the taste of the food.

Outside the entrance of the Dining Hall & in front of the Tea Room/Bookstore, fresh cooked stuffed pastries are available for purchase w/ either red bean or custard filling 3/$2.

I chose 2 custard & 1 red bean. Be careful. These suckers are hot! I burned the roof of my mouth a couple of times. Okay, more than a couple ;P Delicious little treats, with custard being my preference.

The Arhat Garden has a small bell, located in the lower right, which when hit w/ a coin, offers various fortunes.

I hit the bell 5 times because I'm a boss........er, I mean, because I faithfully adhere to the Four Noble Truths & the Eightfold Path ;P

I spent around 6 hours here & I felt absolutely serene & at peace. I spent time in meditation in the halls, gathered useful information during the tour & had a full stomach from the Dinihg Hall & pastries. No doubt, I'll be back to once again find solace & a wonderful place to gather my thoughts.

I highly recommend visiting Hsi Lai Temple to find a delightful oasis hidden amongst the hills in Hacienda Heights. It's a perfect daytrip that you...

I grew up coming here but ran into a problem this week. We had a larger group of people arrive on bicycles. They weren't very good at communicating with us even though we called/emailed them about possibly finding a place to park our bikes.

Keep in mind we brought over 60 people on bikes. If we all drove, that would equate to at least 20-30 vehicles/parking spaces. We could easily park within 3-4 parking spaces or the many empty lots around the parking area. Oddly enough, they said those spaces/areas do not belong to the temple. So they belong to L.A. County Parks and Recreation (the temple runs right next to the Portola Hiking/Biking Trail)?

Out of respect for the temple regardless of the lack of communication, we parked downhill and walked up. However, about a dozen rode up to see if they can lock up their bikes.

They were all told to leave and that bicycles are not allowed. What? This is a parking lot. Their reasoning is that they cannot be held responsible for the bicycles. Well, what's the reasoning behind allowing cars?

I've lived overseas and have biked to temples in China. It's a form of sustainable and healthy transportation. Many people cannot afford to drive a car so a bicycle is another option.

It seems that the decision for multiple security guards to come over to tell families and visitors to just leave is not what comes to mind when I visit a place of worship. It's not that I am upset that they don't like people on bikes, I'm just unhappy to know that a place of worship that I attend very often thought it was a good idea to turn away visitors without looking at amicable resolutions. It was just easier to tell people to go away.

The temple itself already brings tons of traffic and congestion on Hacienda Blvd during holidays. Our goal was to get there on bikes so that we don't contribute to traffic, pollution, and parking issues. Hsi Lai Temple prides themselves in being sustainable, simple, and compassionate. I felt like their reaction to us was not a reflection of that at all.

I hope the temple staff review this policy but I seriously doubt it. We all went there to learn more about Chinese culture, Buddhism, and to dine at the buffet. I have since emailed my concerns to the staff via Facebook and email. I have yet to receive any acknowledgement...

If you're disabled, you can enjoy a visit here! I visited Hsi Lai Temple in October and arranged for a guided tour with a Mandarin speaking docent. The experience was made so much more meaningful with his guidance and deep knowledge of every aspect of the temple, it's background and symbolic expressions - we were given the time and space to absorb all that he shared, and to feel at peace while as we progressed through the temple. The weather in October is perfect for visiting, as it is not too hot so as to cause strain and overheating with all the stairs in this expansive temple. I was disabled and on crutches, so getting up and down the vast quantities of stairs was a bit of a challenge. They do have an elevator, so it's possible to enjoy the visit if one is disabled or in a wheelchair. The scenery was incredible, and the grounds were kept in immaculate condition inside and out. We partook in all you can eat buffet style vegetarian meal, and fruit and salad bar. I'm certain there will be something enjoyable for everyone. The Welcome Center has complementary tea and coffee to enjoy and you can watch showings of the founder's spiritual teachings there as well. There's a gift shop and I enjoyed the videos so much, I purchased a DVD with English subtitles that I plan to watch at home (you don't have to be Buddhist to appreciate the content either)! The parking can be competitive, and by that I mean you will most certainly be able to find a spot, but it might be further down the mountain than one might wish (which means you must make the uphill hike to arrive at the door). There are lots of Mandarin speakers here, so if that is your preferred language, you'll feel right at home. If not, English is readily used as well. I noticed the temple offers Mandarin classes for youth and adults, as well as Chinese cultural appreciation courses. This place has so much to offer, and should definitely not be missed if you live in LA, or are visiting - without a doubt, I enjoyed it as much or more than any of the...