Nestled in Hacienda Heights, Hsi Lai Temple was built to serve as a spiritual and cultural center for those interested in learning more about Buddhism and the Chinese culture. The Buddhist Temple encompasses over 100,000 square feet. The temple's objectives are to nurture Buddhist missionaries through education, to propagate Buddhism through cultural activities, to benefit society through charitable programs, and to edify the populace through Buddhist practices.

It's an amazing place with enormous Buddha statues and a main Shrine where Buddhist come to worship and others come just to look at the incredible grounds. It is the largest Buddhist Temple in the Western Hemisphere.

Hsi Lai Temple encompasses 15 acres and a floor area of 102,432 square feet. The temple's Ming (1268-1644 C. E.) and Ching (1644-1911 C.E.) dynasty architecture is faithful to the traditional style of buildings, gardens and statuary of traditional ancient Chinese monasteries. The ten-year planning and construction was completed in 1988. Hsi Lai means "coming to the West" and signifies the dedication of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order to spread the teachings of the Buddha to those in the West. The International Buddhist Progress Society, a nonprofit organization, is the chartered name for the temple. The organization's headquarters is in Taiwan.

In 1967, Venerable Master Hsing Yun, the founder, established the Fo Guang Shan (Buddha's Light Mountain) Buddhist Order, which is the largest monastery in Taiwan, encompassing over 600 acres. Fo Guang Shan is a Mahayana Chinese Buddhism monastic order. Mahayana in China has separated to 8 different schools: Tian-tai, Pure Land, Ch'an, Hua-yen (Avatamsaka), Fa-Shiang (Yogacaran), Sanlun (Madhyamikan), Dhyana, and Esoteric (Tantra). Fo Guang Shan belongs to Lin-Chi Ch'an School. For the past 30 years, the Master has been instrumental in expanding religious freedom throughout Asia.

The Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order, through a Humanistic Buddhist orientation, works to unite all Buddhist schools and sects; it also fosters and promotes inter-religious dialogue among all spiritual traditions through symposia, conferences and services. The objectives of the Order are to provide confidence, joy hope and convenience to people. The Order has also established more than 100 temples worldwide. More than 1,300 monks and nuns serve in the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order.

The main shrine is the most important building in the temple, and is dedicated to Sakyamuni, the historical Buddha. At the front of the shrine are three large Buddha statues: Sakaymuni Buddha is in the center; Amitabha Buddha is on the left; and the Medicine Buddha is on the right. The latter two Buddhas are especially venerated in Pure Land Buddhism.

Across the courtyard, the Bodhisattva Hall contains statues of the five main bodhisattvas and is entered through three doors representing the Three Jewels or Refuges (the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha).

Hsi Lai is a working monastery in addition to a temple, with a number of monks and nuns living in the complex. The monks and nuns of Hsi Lai provide a variety of classes and special events, including weekly lectures on Buddhism and classes as well as workshops on Chinese culture and language. There are weekly prayer services at Hsi Lai Temple on Saturdays and Sundays, including the recitation of the Diamond Sutra and Amitabha Sutra. Meditation sessions are also held, as well as week-long meditation retreats.

Hsi Lai Temple welcomes visitors and audio guides on a Walkman are available at the Information Center. Guided tours are provided for groups of 15 people or more (call ahead). The cafeteria serves a Chinese and Taiwanese home-style cooking vegetarian lunch buffet and salad bar for $5 from 11am to 1pm. There is also a traditional Tea Room. I used the audio guide which was a huge help in understanding the spirituality and the architecture and the vegan food buffet was very good.