Visiting

Xiang Yun Temple is a Mahayana Buddhist temple that opened in January of 2000. It is a branch temple of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order, which is headquartered in Taiwan and was founded by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. Venerable Master Hsing Yun became a monk at the age of 12 and has devoted his entire life to promulgating Humanistic Buddhism. In addition to Fo Guan Shan, he founded Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) and has more than 1,000 monastic disciples and more than 1 million devotees worldwide.

The temple’s facilities include the main shrine, memorial hall, meditation hall, outdoor meditation garden, dining hall, tea room, and gift shop. The outdoor meditation garden, the main shrine, the tea room, and the gift shop are open to the public daily, except for Mondays when the temple is closed.

①Happy Buddha
Happy Buddha is referred to both as a Buddha and as a Bodhisattva. Happy Buddha sits at the front gate of the temple, welcoming people with his smiling face. He also sits in the dining hall, encouraging visitors to eat all they can eat.

② Purity Vase Guan Yin
In some Dharma services, the monastic sprinkles holy water with a willow branch. In this statue, Guan Yin is holding a water glass instead of a willow branch, but the purpose and function are still the same.

One of Guan Yin’s names is “thousand hands, thousand eyes,” which means she can see and help many suffering beings at the same time. Stand directly in front of the statue, and you can see the trunks of the oak tree behind her, stretching out to the right and to the left, symbolizing Guan Yin’s arms stretching out to help those calling her name.

③ Six Paramita Bells
The Six Paramita Bells represent the Bodhisattva path, i.e. the cultivation of giving, morality, patience, perseverance, meditative concentration, and wisdom.

④ Mountain Gate
Standing in front of the main shrine doors looking toward the highway, you can see a gate with four Chinese characters written on it. The four characters translated mean, “Turn back and then you find the other shore.” The shore of worldly life is the shore of suffering, and the temple shore is the shore of liberation. When you go outside and find difficulty in your daily life, come back to the temple. It is your place of liberation.

⑤ As-You-Wish Guan Yin
In this statue, Guan Yin is holding a ru yi, or “everything as you wish,” in her left hand. The ru yi is a ceremonial scepter used to bless people.

⑥ Administrative Office

⑦Meeting Room

⑧ Courtyard
In Chinese Buddhism, the courtyard is called “the way to Buddhahood.” Once you’ve entered the main gate of a temple, you are walking on the way to Buddhahood. The courtyard features a staggered rectangle design known as the “paddy or rice field.” The pattern symbolizes the relationship of mutual support between lay people and monastics. The lay people provide financial and material support to the monastics, and the monastics provide spiritual support and teach the Buddha’s teachings to the laity.

⑨Pure Land Assembly
The mural depicts what the Western Pure Land looks like. All the beings in the Western Pure Land are lotus born, so if you practice diligently in this world, your bud will blossom there.

⑩ Mind-to-Mind Assembly
The Buddha is holding a lotus flower, but is saying nothing. The Buddha meant it is not necessary to teach through words or language. This became the beginning of meditation school, or mind-to-mind teaching. The clouds at the bottom of this mural symbolize purity of the congregation.

⑪ Skanda, Dharma Protector
Originally a Brahma god, Skanda became a Dharma guardian god after the Buddha asked him to protect the eastern, western, and southern continents.

⑫ Garan, Dharma Protector
Garan, originally a famous general, became a guardian of the monasteries.

⑬ Main Shrine
The main shrine, also known as the Precious Hall of the Great Hero, is the religious center of the temple and is the most important place within a Buddhist temple. In this main shrine, you personally experience the blessing of the Triple Gem:
Buddha—the teacher
Dharma—Buddha’s teachings
Sangha—Buddhist monastic and layperson community

⑭ & ⑮ Diamond Sutra
The Chinese Diamond Sutra, translated from Sanskrit to Chinese, is written on the series of wooden blocks on both sides of the wall and is unique to this temple. It begins on the left wall and continues on the right. The Diamond Sutra teaches non-attachment.

⑯ Three Buddhas
Shakyamuni Buddha (middle), Medicine Buddha (right), Amitabha Buddha (left). The three Buddhas represent different perspectives of the Buddha. Shakyamuni Buddha, the Sangha’s teacher, discovers the truth of the world. Medicine Buddha takes care of our present life, longevity, health, happiness, and harmony. Amitabha Buddha takes care of our future lives.

⑰ Memorial Hall
The memorial hall is a special area dedicated to the deceased. At the end of some services, the congregation walks through the memorial hall to transfer merit to those who have passed on so that they can continue to develop on the path to awakening.

⑱ Meditation Hall
The decorations in the meditation hall are very simple so that practitioners can focus on meditation and not be distracted by pictures or words. The main decoration is a Buddha statue. On each side of the Buddha is a wooden stick symbolizing the discipline of meditation. Walking, standing, and sitting meditations are all held in this hall.

⑲ Meditation Garden
This garden is designed for walking or sitting meditation and is where meditation retreats are hosted.

⑳ The Noble Eightfold Path
This path is designed in the shape of an eight to let people know that on the way to Buddhahood, Buddhists practice the Noble Eightfold Path.

㉑ Carefree Guan Yin
The gazebo is a place where anyone can come and do meditation, prostration, or worship. Inside, the statue of Guan Yin is sitting in a carefree pose. The legs are not crossed.

㉒ Orchard

㉓ Tea Room
The tea room provides a place for visitors and devotees to have a cup of tea or a nice vegetarian meal, and it also serves as a place for them to chat with their friends or the Venerable.

㉔ Dining Hall

㉕ Kitchen

㉖ Elevator

㉗ Library

㉘ Ladies’ Room

㉙ Men’s Room

㉚ Elevator