I've always been curious about meditation and decided to give this place a try based on other Yelp reviews. My husband and I enrolled in the Level 1 Meditation class, which is free, and lasts for 12 weeks. It definitely is a commitment, but we attended all but one class (due to Thanksgiving break) and really found it so enjoyable and fulfilling. To note, this is Zen Buddhism that they are teaching, so if you are particular about that, it's something to consider. The Shifu who runs the class is really insightful and funny. (I think he's absolutely endearing!!) He made the classes fly by. The way they go is that the first half of class is dedicated to teaching you the basics of Zen meditation (chanting, sitting, walking). The second half is lecture in the dining hall, otherwise known as Dharma talks, which teach you a lot of the practical and traditional aspects of Zen Buddhism and meditation. Overall, going here has helped my hubby and I connect a lot better and learn how to handle stress in a more calm way. We definitely would have joined the level 2 class if we hadn't moved up north. I try to visit and meditate here whenever I am in the South Bay :) read more

I've visited many temples in the past due to my Buddhist mother dragging me, but this temple is the only one that I really enjoy and actually will go on my free will. :P I took the level 1 meditation class in English, which I find is really rare. The other temples that I've been to only speak Chinese or Vietnamese. I don't understand Chinese very well, so I was very happy to find English courses here. The teacher is Shifu JianYing, who is a happy and funny monk. The atmosphere is very warm and welcoming. The lectures are enlightening, fun, and enjoyable. I highly recommend taking the class if you have time (once a week for 2 hours for 12 weeks), and it's free too! :) read more

I love this Zen center, everyone here are nice and friendly. It's peaceful environment which helpful for meditation. I do appreciate the best Dharma lectures giving by Shifu Jian Hu, helping me to understand more about Buddhism. They also provide outstanding Zen meals. Top all of that, I am learning how to see things as they are, gaining awareness, and mindfulness. Amituofo read more

Chung Tai Zen center classes are available on the Zen Center Website and are free to guests. I completed level one classes which were a combination of chant, meditation, and foundational teachings of Buddhism as well as a Q/A session at the end of class. Free meals were also provided after class (please bring your own silverware and bowl). A Zen Center in the midst of a fast paced, ultra-competitve, and often detached community is an infinite blessing in helping to slow time and shift the focus in order to clear the strain created by this pressure cooker we live in-Silicon Valley. The teachings also provide a lens through which to view reality and make sense of it, which is a priceless gift to the community. I am very grateful for the work of this wonderful place and would give it my recommend for all. read more

My daughter and I have been going here for about a year now, I think? The kid's class is sort of late (7:30pm-9:30pm), but we love it so much that it's never been an issue. I stay to participate and learn more than my daughter does, lol. We come at 7:00 so that we can share the vegetarian meal. If I could cook like that every night, I assure you, we would be vegetarian! Yum! I have also taken a parenting class here. There really is so much wisdom and love that I feel honored to be there. We are "white" and don't speak Chinese, but we have never been treated as outsiders or anything of the sort. All are welcome and treated warmly. I love love love it. read more

I finally tried their regular lunch. They served buffet style with just 5 to 6 dishes to choose from. The dishes taste great and they are vegetarian for Buddhists. When the monks approach, everyone steps aside from the food line. I don't know if that is a rule or just courtesy. Silence is observed during meal time. Everyone just chews away. People occasionally whisper only when they need to communicate, but definitely no chatting. If you go with a friend of opposite gender, you don't need to worry about the silence rule because male and female visitors are seated in separate sides of the hall. Sign language will work well in a distance. The meal is free, but they have a donation box next to the buffet. There is really no peer pressure for you to put anything in the donation box because most people are frequent visitors and they have already donated in volume long time ago. Your donation is really driven purely by your belief in karma and basic social decency. BTW, after the meal, you are expected to take your utensil into the kitchen and wash them in the sink and then put on a shelf to drip dry. read more

This was open to the public for its grand opening ceremony yesterday (all day Sunday). It wasn't highly publicized, but the local Chinese and Taiwanese expat population knew about it well before and came here in droves. Parking was a bit of a disaster but the center volunteers and staff did a great job to locate additional space to accomodate the masses. Brand new facilitiy that looked like what might have been a former high tech company, based on its layout. There is a small daycare room for parents to leave their kids behind for babysitting, as well as a separate room for future community events/classes (including arts and crafts for kids) Many politicians state and local did not miss a beat to attend the grand opening and give their warmest congratulations (Hillary would not have been caught dead here because nobody would have been able understand her Kentucky Fried accent anyway). Oh yes...how can I forget. Food offerings. Everyone got a small vegetarian bento for lunch (free) as well as water and numerous cups of the classic sour plum drink that was very authentic Taiwanese (suan mei tang). Not a huge fan of this as I've had horrendous renditions of this before, but I did take a sip and was quite impressed with the flavor. Please note that as "gourmet" as I am, I was not here because of the food and drink (please, I'm not THAT shallow). Chung Tai Zen is from what I understand a 100% import and transplant of a very well known sect of Buddhism all the way from central Taiwan (near Taichung). Even the huge bells were flown in from there, along with furnishings and many smaller fine details. This new center is a very welcome addition for the South Bay. Drop by and check it out sometime. read more

My kid been going to this temple since he was 5. It's a beautiful Temple that give you the inner peaceful and calmness, the temple is very clean, the peoples here is very friendly, Zen Center have kids free class every Saturday from 7:30pm-9:00pm. Parents are allowed in the class with their kid. The center provided free food at 6:30pm. Families very enjoy the food and the peaceful here. read more

Chung Tai Zen Center - Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale - Counseling & Mental Health Near Me - Sunnyvale, California

See all

If you are interested in becoming a calmer and more mindful person, this is the place to go. So far, I've taken the Level I Buddhism class here and have found it to be extremely applicable to the stresses of modern Silicon Valley life. The instructor and head monk of these courses is very eloquent and is able to relate complex Buddhist philosophies to your life. His background is quite intriguing actually, undergrad at Caltech and a PhD at UC San Diego and also, at one time, he worked as a computer scientist in industry. I think that his very logical train of thought is one of the many reasons why he is able to so precisely convey these Buddhist concepts to the students here. Anyways, I highly recommend checking this place out. The free vegetarian dinner here is also very nice and the meditation class is relaxing yet painful since my leg always falls asleep here. Also, this place is completely free although donations are welcome. Another great thing is all the free texts and audiobook lecture CD's that they provide here. It's been a great addition to my morning commute. read more

What a beautiful gift to the community! Chung Tai Zen Center is an incredibly well-organized and well-run organization, open to anyone who comes seeking wisdom. I'm half way through the free Introduction to Zen (Ch'an) Buddhism class that meets each Saturday morning and always look forward to coming back to a place that is warm and welcoming. The Abbot, Venerable JianHu Shifu, teaches my class and is a wonderful person to learn the the teachings of Ch'an Buddhism from. He is incredibly intelligent and wise, yet humble, with a gentle sense of humor. You can tell that everyone really wants to be here, which makes it a great place to come back to. read more

I'm not much of a Buddhist. I come from a Catholic background and later re baptist myself as a Christian. I was invited to the Zen Meditation Center by my boyfriend. I hesitated coming here because I thought they will force me to learn the teaching of Buddha but I was wrong. The Zen Meditation is a center to learn how to be self aware, have awareness for your surrounding and other people through meditation. I have been coming for a while now and enjoy coming and look forward to learning more about meditation every week. My boyfriend comes here every Monday to have dinner before attending our meditation class. Everyone here, the staff including the people who visit the center are all very friendly, kind and thoughtful. I can't wait for the grand opening of the additional Zen Center across the way from us. read more

See all

A great place for people who want to find peace of mind and true happiness in their life. Free Zen meditation class will be started in early May. www.ctzen.org/sunnyvale read more

We have attended the Buddha's Birthday Celebration Ceremony for 2 years. It happens every year in May. My family of 3 generations really enjoyed it. I am a beginner in Zen practice. The rest of my family came for the culture and traditions; however, we were all very touched and benefited by the visits. We will start to come often and hope to start practice here on regular basis. read more

Always warm, abundant and welcoming. All faiths are welcome and you should come for lunch and dinner for their donation-based buffet. Note: be sure to bring your own bowl and utensils for the lunch and dinner. It's a great place to learn some of the basics of the type of buddhism Boddhidharma spreaded from India to China. They have free meditation classes for you to take, which typically lasts for 12 weeks. Also a very health-conscious and minimalistic space. read more

It is great to have a sanctuary near where you live, so no need for treading long ways just to have access to a place like this. They have regular classes, and also free Sunday meditation sessions open to the public. The place is beautiful, the energy is incredible, and I feel luck to be so close to it. read more

Looking for great vegetarian food? Stop by the Chung Tai Zen Center for a delicious and healthy vegetarian meal. The food is cautiously planned by the volunteers to make sure you get all the five different colors of vegetable in order to get all the nutrients. The cook's menu is very diverse. You can taste food from different countries including Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, America, etc. Let me name some of the delicious ones, Satay, " Yong Tofu", Curry, Sushi. Price? It is PRICELESS; It is your wish how much you would like to donate after you have a great meal. Why wait? Stop by and have a bite! read more

I just love this place and it made a great difference in our lives! The meditation classes are outstanding. The Shifu's or monks are very kind and everyone is very nice to you. They teach the ancient religion wisdom in a modern way. They not just talk about Dharma and Buddha's life but also how to apply it in the modern day-to-day life. Just a few classes and listening to their teachings have helped us to be calmer, more focussed and to not get agitated by daily events. One can also volunteer for cooking food. It helps to understand how to cook vegetarian Chinese food. Their food is "Sattvic", which means Pure in Indian language--- they cook without using any meat, garlic or onions. It is extremely nutritious and tasty. The food leaves you feeling light and with more energy throughout the day. I have seen them using 6-8 pounds of bok-choy for cooking just one dish for a meal! They also maintain a lot of discipline here and if you are not sure how to go about things, you can ask the volunteers. They also don't expect you to pay for anything..everything is earned by donation and goodwill; just like it is in Indian/Buddhist culture. They also celebrate many days..one was the Chinese New Year..it was great! One should definitely check this place out. read more

This place is not for disabled. I came here with my wife on my push scooter that I get around on because I am not able to walk. I was immediately asked to leave by a man dressed like a monk, told me that "the floor is fragile". He told me that I was not allowed to attend the class and not allowed to get onto the entry way. The handicap ramp in the front is totally misleading. read more

Everything here is free, paid for by your dana contributions. The food is healthy, if a little greasy. It satiates and nurtures and the fact that it's free is almost unparalleled in most places! The beginner meditation classes are very helpful. The meditation hall is a pleasant place to practice. There is a large library of Chinese-language texts. The abbot is very kind and helpful. Volunteer service is a good experience. This place is a service to its community in a lot of ways. read more

I've been attending the meditation and Buddhism classes here and have enjoyed it. The monk who teaches the classes is down to earth and makes the lessons relatable and understandable. The courses are well organized, and they've got great volunteers who make newbies feel very welcome. I also like that the students here are pretty ethnically diverse compared to other centers, and those who run the center don't seem overly focused on collecting donations. They provide free vegetarian dinners here that are pretty tasty. I only wish the classes ended on time--they usually run over and makes for kind of late night when you have to work the following morning. read more

I like this place. Everything is beautiful in here. The people that work here and the monks are very welcoming. I come sometimes to meditate or to drop in on a lecture class and find it very beneficial. The food is also great.....really tasty. read more

I love this place! I go to meditation and classes. Also volunteer sometimes on the kitchen!

Visit once, a lady who named Jill is fantastic person. She spend an hour with me for just introducing everything for me even I was just walked-in. Appreciated for that. read more

I've been going there many years and appreciate the teaching by all the Shifu. The volunteers are great and contribute their time to make this temple function well for the public. It's a good place to learn wisdom and practice team work. read more

This place is amazing. I never thought I would be taking classes form a Buddhist center. The level one class had at least 80 people in it on the first night! People from all cultures and walks of life attend these classes. You do not have to know anything about Buddhism to attend. The abbott who runs the center and teaches the classes is wonderful. He has a great sense of humor and uses well designed lessons that everyone can understand and relate to. This center does everything it can to keep up with a contemporary society, yet still teach and preserve Buddhist traditions. I just passed the level two class and I'm now moving on to the level three class. The meditation techniques and philosophy I have learned have been invaluable. This center also offers a class for kids and teens! I think this is a must do for anyone wanting a new perspective on life. read more

A kind community welcomed me with free and tender heartedly-prepared Sunday lunch - I first heard of them from a new friend I met at a Bay Area tech meetup who invited me and nicely offered to share tupperware (bring your own bowl!). The folks there have a wonderful library (asked them for free books after lunch), prayer/meditation rooms, and offer zen classes, and community-minded, accepting people. Right next to an Iranian Christian church were I saw kids enjoying their day by the playground. Felt right at home, in the diverse and religiously tolerant, open-minded Bay Area community where I grew up. read more

I've been here for a total of three times - first time was 2 years ago. I came with my friends because we wanted to "bai-bai" (I think it was for Chinese New Year). Beginning from last week, I've come here every Wednesday to join their beginner meditation class. The session lasts for 2 hours starting from 7:30 to 9:30 PM. Classes have been great - I enjoyed every session. We usually do about 30 minutes of meditation and there will be Q&A time before we listen to the monk's presentation on Buddhism. The reason I came here was because I haven't been able to sleep for quite some time and one night, it just popped to my head that perhaps meditation would help me resolve my issues (I was heavily stressed out and couldn't find answers). After some research, I found out that classes here are free and open to the public. They also serve vegetarian dinner at 6:30PM before the meditation class. Everything is free but they do have a donation box and you can donate how much ever you want. So far, I have found these sessions really helpful - I feel my mind becoming more peaceful (maybe it's psychological, but hey, it's working). A lot of their teachings have given me answers/guidances to my problems. I must sound like some fanatic, but seriously, I am not. I guess I'm just a 20 year old girl who needs some guidance in her life - if you guys ever feel that way, maybe you should give meditation a try - it works for me. Other interesting facts: - the organization originated from Taiwan - the monk that taught the meditation class (in English) has a great sense of humor - parking can be quite difficult to find sometimes - everyone there is really nice, friendly and helpful read more

If you're seeking more in life, wish to become a calmer and better person, or if you're just curious about Buddhism in general, this is the place to go. I was fortunate enough to spend some time with the abbot of the Zen Center a few months ago, and that in itself had a tremendous impact on me that I will never forget. read more

I have attended the levels 1-3 classes and learned so much. It's been a while since I've gone and can really tell in my life the difference it can make. My heart is ready to return. They are very welcoming and kind spirited. Try it you won't be sorry. read more