Experiences and benefits of going to Temple

It was only this year that I have started to go to a Buddhist Temple. Depending on where you live, there are either very few temples or none at all. Luckily for me, I live in a big city so there are a few around town. Though through research and visiting their websites (if they had one), I crossed off a couple that didn’t suit me. But eventually I found a temple, the Chùa Phước Huệ temple. It is a Vietnamese Buddhist temple. Though I don’t know much of the history of the kind of temple besides its lineage, which is Tianti Buddhism which emphasizes the Lotus Sutra.

Going to temple is a beautiful, happy, and enlightening experience. Every time I leave, I leave with this smile on my face and a sense of happiness and satisfaction. Walking in the beautiful garden filled with statues and flowers. Entering the temple as you bow and come into such a welcoming and peaceful atmosphere. Slipping on a robe and sitting down for meditation and listening to the head monk’s discussion. It’s all a wonderful and exciting experience that everyone should experience. Finding your “home” temple, going regularly, participating and being a part of the Sangha is something every Buddhist should do and experience.

There are many benefits to going to a temple. First and probably the most important, the learning experience. The head monk always gives discussions accordingly to his audience and situations. Especially if people bring their children with them, the monk will speak in a way that the youngsters can understand. Another benefit is just having a Sangha. Your community of fellow Buddhists who are there to help and guide you with your practice and answer any questions you may have. You should always treat your Sangha as if they were your family.

Every temple is different with different services, routines, chants, etc. My temple’s main chant service part is mostly from Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Chanting from the Heart: Buddhist Ceremonies and Daily Practices. They don’t announce this, but because I have the book and noticed, “Hey, this looks familiar!” The temple skips the very first part from the book and replaces it with the Great Compassion Mantra with a Thousand Hands and a Thousand Eyes Dharani. We go into the chants after the monk has given his discussion, after the chants we all join for a vegetarian meal.

I am so very glad and happy I have found a Sangha. My only regret is that I didn’t find it sooner! I aspire to one day (once I’ve paid off all my debt, which will be a while!) to be ordained as a Monk and live a happy monastic, enlightening life.

I hope everyone has the fortunate opportunity to find, visit, and become part of a Sangha! The feelings, aspirations, rewards, and knowledge you gain from it is like no other, and is truly an amazing experience.

Smile and be well!