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HSI LAI TEMPLE

April 12, 2014 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Hacienda Heights, California

Hsi Lai 5The Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights is the oldest operating Buddhist Temple in the United States, as well as the largest and arguably the most beautiful in the Western Hemisphere.  Modeled entirely on traditional Buddhist architecture, the massive complex looks as though it could have easily been lifted straight out of China or Taiwan and dropped off in Southern California.  The Temple, which includes magnificent halls, serene gardens, shrines and a monastery, is also the headquarters of Fo Guang Shan Buddhism in the United States.

History

Fo Guang Shan is one of the great traditional branches of Buddhism, though its current incarnation only dates back to the mid-20th century.  Founded in 1967 in Taiwan, it became a refuge for Buddhist monks and other devotees outside of mainland, Communist China.  Its main Temple is now the largest Buddhist shrine in Taiwan and one of the largest in the world.

Hsi Lai 23In 1976, the head of the order, Master Hsing Yun, traveled to the United States in honor of the Bicentenial celebration.  There, at the behest of friends, he decided to establish a new temple, the first on the far side of the Pacific.  An initial building, the White Pagoda, was established as a temporary shrine and headquarters.

After searching for a suitable site, and facing initial negative reaction to the project, the Buddhists settled on a magnificent site in the Hacienda Hills overlooking Los Angeles.  The Temple, a sprawling structure, was completed in just a few years.  After initial doubts, the public embraced the Temple as an architectural masterpiece and important local site.

Hsi Lai 12The Hsi Lai Temple has since become a beloved landmark of the area.  It quickly became not only the most important Buddhist site in the United States but one of the most important in the world outside of the Far East.  In 2011 it was featured as the starting site for the Amazing Race.  Buddhists from all over America now travel to the shrine annually for its many important Buddhist ceremonies.

Visiting

The Hsi Lai Temple is, simply put, one of the most beautiful religious buildings in the United States.  Its Ming/Qing architecture is about the finest example of such construction in the Americas.  The magnificent buildings aside, the most striking feature of the Temple exterior are its phenomenal gardens, which are a refreshing oasis from the chaos of nearby Los Angeles.

Hsi Lai 15The Temple consists of several major shrines, including the Bodhisattva (honoring various Bodhisattvas), the Requiem Pagoda (honoring the dead), the Meditation Hall for studying, and the Main Shrine, which features a vast collection of statues, prayer neaches and artwork.

The Hsi Lai Temple is located on a the north slope of the La Habra Heights about a mile south of Hacienda Heights and about fifteen miles east of downtown Los Angeles.  It is open daily from 9:00am-5:00pm.  There is no cost of admission, but voluntary donations are encouraged.  Web: www.hsilai.org (official website).

Other Sites

Hsi Lai 14As the main center of Chinese Buddhism in the United States, Southern California is home to several other sites of related interest.  Among these is the White Pagoda, the original temple in the United States, located in Maywood.  Also nearby in Rosemead is the Buddhist Hsi Lai University.

Filed Under: Asian, Buddhist Tagged With: US-California

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About Howard Kramer

Howard Kramer is the creator and author of The Complete Pilgrim. He first took an interest in religious sites in his early twenties when traveling through Italy after college. In the two decades since he has traveled to more than two dozen countries and almost every state, visiting and photographing hundreds of the world’s greatest churches, synagogues and other places of religious interest. Howard has been writing about religious sites for the better part of the last decade, and The Complete Pilgrim is a culmination of years of his work and passion.

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Welcome to The Complete Pilgrim(TM)! This site, created by Howard Kramer, is a combination travel blog and online guide to the world's greatest sites of religious interest (with some historic and recreational places thrown in for good measure). All written content has been originally researched and produced and is provided free for public research and enjoyment. Thank you for visiting!

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Where would you like to go?

Africa (North) Africa (Sub-Sahara) Arabia Armenia/Azerbaijan/Georgia Australia/Pacific Austria/Switzerland Balkans Belgium/Netherlands British Isles Canada Caribbean Central Asia China Czech Republic Egypt France Germany Greece Hungary/Romania/Bulgaria India (NE)/Nepal India (NW) India (South)/Sri Lanka Iran/Iraq Israel Italy/Malta Japan/Korea Latin America Mexico Palestine Poland/Lithuania Russia Scandinavia Southeast Asia Spain/Portugal Syria/Jordan/Lebanon Turkey/Cyprus Ukraine US-California US-Mid Atlantic US-Midwest US-New England US-New York US-Pacific Northwest US-South US-Southwest

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Have a comment, a great photo or a religious site you'd like to nominate for the weekly spotlight? We would love to hear from you. Email us at hkramer@thecompletepilgrim.com.

About the Author

Howard Kramer is the creator and author of The Complete Pilgrim. He first took an interest in religious sites in his early twenties when traveling through Italy after college. In the two decades since he has traveled to more than two dozen countries and almost every state, visiting and photographing hundreds of the world’s greatest churches, synagogues and other places of religious interest. Howard has been writing about religious sites for the better part of the last decade, and The Complete Pilgrim is the culmination of years of his work and passion.

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