Hsi Lai Temple provides a variety of events throughout the year that appeal to different people. Enjoyable experiences for children, spiritual renewal for adults, or a meaningful evening under the moon for those in their early twenties, one can find an appropriate event.
Family events range from Lunar New Year celebrations and beach cleaning to children’s blessings and symphony concerts.
Traditional chanting services, known as Dharma Services, celebrate various events like the Buddha’s birthday and remembrance of departed family members.
There are also cultivation events and retreats for those new to Buddhism like the Temple Stay, Triple Gem Refuge, Five Precepts, and intense communal practice like the Short-Term Monastic Retreat for the seasoned practitioner.
Dharma Services
Dharma services are opportunities for us to practice together. Through reading the Buddha’s teachings, and hearing it explained by the presiding Venerable (a monastic at the temple), we deepen our understanding of Buddhism and its application in life.
Coming to the temple for a Dharma service brings us to an environment which is conducive to practice and allows us to conduct the practice together, regardless of our experience.
Chanting has always been a primary practice in Buddhism. Through chanting, we can familiarize ourselves with the Buddha’s teachings (“Dharma”) while also practicing mindfulness and concentration. Through participating in Dharma services, we gradually align the actions of our body, speech, and mind with the state of awakening.
We encourage all who are interested to join us for our weekly services on Sundays:
The English service is at 2 pm at the Memorial Pagoda.
The Mandarin Chinese service is at 10 am in the Main Shrine.
Aside from regular services, the temple also holds special services to celebrate holidays in the Chinese Buddhist calendar. We also encourage everybody to add chanting to a daily home practice as well.
Cultural Activities
We invite everyone to come share in the many multicultural activities hosted by Hsi Lai Temple throughout the year. The intention behind the many cultural activities is to provide the conditions in which Buddhist principals can be experienced in a very direct way in daily life The wide variety of cultural activities at Hsi Lai respects that each and every one of us has different affinities for art, music, food, and cultural activities. As we explore what resonates with us on an individual level, we also feel connected and experience the warmth of a community who also seeks to embody principles of compassion and generosity. It is through these shared experiences where we can all cultivate the practice of mindfulness in our daily lives.
Community Outreach
Outreach is a key component in Humanistic Buddhism. Just like us, the Buddha lived in the human realm, practiced in the human realm, and awakened in the human realm. His emphasis was on living daily life well. He shared his great loving-kindness, compassion, moral character, and his wisdom. He taught by words and by living daily life through giving to others. When we give to others, our light will only grow brighter, never dimmer.
Our Outreach Program includes: participation with the local Interfaith Dialogue Community and the 4th of July Parade; sponsoring the Food and Toy Drive, Blood Drive, Winter Love Joy Scholarship, Beach Clean-ups, Neighborhood parties, Elementary School Guided Meditations; Cultural Exhibits and Activities, including Art and Music, and Volunteering. We work together with each other, our communities, and the world to meet the changing needs around us. For example, we recently helped to obtain masks and PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) for delivery to local hospitals and care facilities, and across the U.S. to those in need.
Our Motto is:
Give Confidence to others,
Give Hope to others,
Give Joy to others,
Make things convenient for others.
---Ven. Master Hsing Yun