A warm and welcoming temple. So beautiful and congregation was very sincere, and the vibe is very…read moreserene and peaceful.

Review on the 65th Annual Obon Festival…read more In comparison to the Artichoke Festival, Obon was a mile ahead in terms of ambiance, events, and attractions but suffered tragically in the food. Perhaps, I had expected too much and should have realized that it was going to be your typical Americanized Japanese Cuisine instead of authenticity. Here were a few faults I saw, Ice Cream/Strawberry Shortcake: packaged Hostess Shortcake topped with sliced strawberries. If they actually made their own shortcake it would have been cheaper, less artificial and tastier. Beef Teriyaki: poor quality meat, minimal flavor, decent grill Tempura: under fried, flavorless, bad batter, expensive and no tempura sauce; truly a disappointment Sushi: spam musubi, don't know how they managed to ruin it Chicken Teriyaki: good portion was the only highlight....meal was heated in microwave, chicken appeared to be boiled then tossed in a teriyaki sauce (brand found in Costco) with soy sauce. Truly a disappointing meal Lumpia: poorly fried, soggy center, and bland Kushi-Katsu (pork katsu): amazing golden brown exterior, great crunch texture but pork needed more seasoning Pros No entrance fee!!! -Program w/ a map (shows thought and organization was put into the festival) -Walk around offering free tea to drink -Water/Soda area was inexpensive, only $1 -Cookies: appeared homemade, inexpensive ($1 for 3) -Plethora of Entertainment -Decent exhibits and gift shop -Portion of proceeds went to help with Japan Relief Overall Thoughts While there is plenty of things to see and do don't come here looking to satisfy your palate because you surely will be disappointed.

When i was about 5 yrs old my father and 4 friends moved to Carmel to build this temple. I remember…read moreplaying by a river with two of the boys who also were living on the property during the build. We lived in these dome shaped Yurts with wood construction covered with a heavy plastic. Very cold in the winter. It was an adventure for a kid my age. Almost like a long camping trip. I believe we were there only one season. That was a long time. I dont remember a lot but my father has some great pictures. Most of the construction process and the builders hoisting up these very large beams. Some of around the camp and of the builders. I'm now in my 50s and would love to visit this magical place again. I will be taking all the photos with me to compare.

Sambosa means "Three Jewels," and stands for the Buddha (teacher), Dharma (the teaching) and Sangha…read more(spiritual community.) This tranquil Temple was created in the early 70's, and is the first Korean Buddhist temple ever built in the U.S. They opened their doors to the public and on opening day, 400 people, including the mayor of Carmel and other prominent monks, flooded Sambosa. The Temple has had its shares of ups and downs, including an unfortunate fire in the 1980's that burned down the main Dharma Hall. But it has withstood the test of time and still remains a graceful and quiet symbol of peace in the Valley. The current abbot is Bom Hugh Sunim, and his teachings explore his particular vision of a nonsectarian approach to religion, philosophy, and life. My mother was friends with one of the followers of the Temple, and being the same age as her twins, we often played together. It's a beautiful place to reflect and slow down, even if you are not a practicing Buddhist...although it seems like the ideal religion for every walk of life.

I came to Tassajara to try zazen meditation and after hearing it recommended by a friend who lauded…read morethe experience, the onsen, and the amazing food. I only stayed one night and I wish I'd stayed longer because it was an amazing experience! I drove down from SF and, starting at 7am on Saturday, it was only 3 hours and 30 minutes, including the last hour on the gravelly dirt road that others have complained extensively about. I lost reception about 1 hour and 30 mins before arrival. The last 15 miles was indeed a bit treacherous, but nothing insurmountable. Upon arrival, I went on some short hikes, ate lunch (salad and soup), went to the Narrows / watering hole (so fun, but a bit difficult to get to if you're not comfortable scrambling on rocks), went to the meditation introduction at 4pm, did another small hike, returned for dinner (the nut loaf was AMAZING!!), and then went to the dharma talk by an abbot from city center. I finished the day with 40 mins in the onsen. The food was indeed incredible - so good, I purchased the Tassajara cook book, and I've never bought a cook book before in my life! The summer nights are a bit deceptive: it was hot when I went to bed at 10:30pm, but when I woke up at 5:15am it was freezing cold! I went to the morning zazen meditation: it was a little intimidating doing it with the monks and the students, but everyone's very nice and happy to help if you get confused about what to do. The soji (temple cleaning) after was fun too, just 15 mins in the kitchen. The breakfast was amazing as well: scrambled egg whites, oatmeal, fruit, and scones. The bread here is AMAZING! They also let you pack bag lunches if you plan on spending the day out and about rather than coming back in the middle of the day to eat. Overall, an amazing experience. Being detached from the internet and phone reception was incredible: it gave me the opportunity to focus on the people around me and really make friends. It's a testament to this place that everyone I met had been coming here for 40+ years!

Unfortunately I have to avoid recommending this place based on conversations over the phone. I was…read moresuper excited to explore this awesome, unique temple and called today (May 2022) to see if they were still welcoming visitors. I was greeted with very terse, gruff dialogue over the phone that seemed frustrating and unwelcoming. BLUF, no, they aren't welcoming anyone this summer. They will also not be welcoming anyone in fall, winter (which is normal) and they said "try again next spring." For a religious place of worship that's refusing visits with no stated reason...for shame. The website says it is concerned about Covid, which is understandable, but "all are welcome." The attitude and rhetoric portrayed over the phone can't be further from acceptance or politeness. Thank you!

I came to visit Salinas Buddhist Temple to practice kendo. I didn't really know what to expect but…read morethe location was very beautiful to walk through. The kendo sensei were very meticulous when teaching and I learned a lot. I am very grateful for the hospitality I experienced and I hope to visit again when I'm in the area.

I don't know to much about Buddhism but the since of community is beautiful here. The older…read moreteaching the younger, one generation helping the other. The wife and I have been to this Obon Festival many times over the last 30 years. As far as the local Obon's go this ones pretty organized and clean. Lots of good things to eat, demonstrations to see and games to play. Of course there are larger festivals like San Jose and San Francisco but there much more crowded and then there's the drive. Last words...staying local today.

If there were such a thing as a Disneyland for Buddhism in an American setting, the closest thing…read moreto that would probably be the Land of Medicine Buddha (LMB) sanctuary, nestled in the picturesque Santa Cruz Mountains near the quiet town of Soquel. I mean no disrespect by this (the organization calls itself a "Dharma Wonderland"), as the narrative below will make clear. Our visit had a dream-like quality to it. It was a weekday, with no scheduled events. As we wandered about, we encountered few people. The handful we did encounter were all very pleasant, exchanging greetings and information with us, as if we were all kindred spirits. It wasn't clear to us initially where the physical boundaries of LMB were. Just as we thought we had reached the end, we discovered yet another temple or other point of interest ahead. Each temple was different, in terms of style, purpose and size, as well as architecturally. The most impressive for me was the 100,000 Stupa, the Mahabodhi Temple replica, which looked like something out of an Indiana Jones adventure movie. That's the 39-foot-tall replica of the 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi Temple in India, where the Buddha is said to have achieved enlightenment. But the most profound personal experience for me was provided by the Wish-Fulfilling Temple farther up the road. The gleaming golden Buddha standing off to the side emanated such a special aura of kindness and omniscience that I was inspired on the spot to do something I had never done outdoors before: I prayed. I prayed for several minutes, in fact (though I'm not even Buddhist). Prior to that, at other temple spots, we spun various prayer wheels, large and small. I pushed a large wooden column, suspended like a swing, into a heavy ornate bell several times. It emitted a "bong" that filled the surrounding wooded enclave with its strong yet soothing sound. Across from the bell was a gong, with two different instruments designed for striking it, hanging on either side. One had a solid soft plastic end to it, the other a fuzzy soft material obviously designed to produce a more muffled sound. Placards with background information and instructions for chants were posted in all appropriate places. I especially appreciated the fact that simplified versions of chants were provided, for those of us for whom the full chant phrases were too difficult to remember. Rustic benches made from split logs were available in various spots from which we could admire the views of the forested mountains nearby and in the distance. Most visitors will probably find the trail challenging -- if you hike to all the temples during your visit -- unless you're both young and in top shape. Here are a few other tips: * The road into LMB is one-lane only. If you meet a vehicle coming toward you from the opposite direction, one of you will have to pull off to the side to accommodate the other. This must be done very carefully, as the shoulders -- where they do exist -- are narrow and the drop from the side can be steep. * There is a food "truck" within the compound but it will not necessarily be open (it wasn't when we visited), so either bring your own food or plan to eat before or after you drive in. A vegetarian restaurant called "Pretty Good Advice" (covered in a separate review) is about 2.8 miles away from the entrance to LMB. * Read the information on the LMB website before going, to be able to fully appreciate your visit. We found no maps available at the compound, so I highly recommend that you print one out from the website. * At the very least, check the information on the LMB website before you drive there, to make sure it will be open. If an event is scheduled, keep in mind that parking is limited and make sure you feel up to the challenge. * You may not be approached by anyone to make the suggested $20 per vehicle donation but this can be done at the bookstore/gift shop near the compound's entrance (if you can't afford $20, then offer whatever you can). I have it on good authority that those who do so will be rewarded with good karma!

This really is a hidden gem. Land of Medicine Buddha Retreat had much more to explore and…read moreexperience than I expected. The hiking path was so beautiful, as I thought, but it also had things to see and read... and usually a place to sit while you ponder the Buddhist quote about life's philosophy. You pass not only tall Redwoods, but also a koi pond and tucked away buddhas from different Asian countries -- China, Tibet, India. There are also other areas to explore on the property, such as a meditation area, store and cafe, prayer area, drums and chimes, statues, and waterfall. There were also docents here and there whom you could talk to. (Note that the meditation area where the waterfall and statutes are located are fenced in and are only open at certain times.) There is a $20 entrance fee per car, but I think it is worth it for the upkeep of the property.

Santa Cruz Zeb Center is the loveliest, most serene space to meditate in Santa Cruz County. One…read morefeels immediately at peace upon entering the door. There is a lovely garden and benches in the back where one can spend time before or after meditation. As others have mentioned in their reviews, it's a very vibrant place as well, with the fullest range of offerings of any other Buddhist center in the county: morning and evening sits every week day and a Saturday morning sit, as well; Dharma talks follow meditation every Wednesday evening, and those are followed by tea and cookies. PLUS there is a full menu of events going on next door, in their "Sangha Home," including book groups, Dharma study groups, a Parent Support group, a Wellness Support group, an Aging Support group, an Art Group, a mostly-monthly Vegan Cooking Class -- oh, yes, and, of course a monthly Introduction to Zen group. And, if that's not enough activity to engage in when you're not meditating, they have a very active and engaged Earth Care/Climate Justice monthly group; march annually in the Santa Cruz and Pajaro Pride parades; and host the Japanese Cultural Fair activities, calligraphy, bonsai demonstration, and a kimono fashion show in their garden! Despite all the black clothing you'll see there, this is a very colorful and relaxed place! Check out their web site at sczc.org to see what resonates with you!

One doesn't ordinarily write of "Zen" and "buzzing with activity" in the same sentence, but this…read moreparadox drew me to Santa Cruz Zen Center. There'a lot going on: three daily meditations on weekdays and one on each weekend day; a regular schedule of Buddhist ceremonies; weekly lectures, study and discussion groups; calligraphy and other artistic workshops on weekends; visiting speakers; and community service projects. There are regular multi-day meditation retreats for those who want to deepen their practice. This place has three main teachers, and lots of long-time practitioners, so there are lots of opportunities to find a mentor (or mentors) whose practice fits your own. The facility is accommodating of all this activity yet still feels cozy. The community is large enough that it represents a range of interests, yet small enough that you don't feel lost. Wednesday is typically the most popular night, since there is a talk given after meditation. In my personal experience, though, this is not the easiest night to make a connection to the community, unless you're pretty outgoing. The established members are catching up with old friends, and not usually focused on reaching out to newcomers --- many of whom drop in only once or a few times anyway. And besides, rushing up to strangers with hugs doesn't really fit the relatively reserved spirit of Zen practice. So, if you are even slightly introverted, my advice about connecting with this community is to a.) sit regularly in the zendo --- people will start to recognize you, and you'll recognize those who share your schedule; b.) get involved in the center's more focused activities, like cooking for the homeless on Fridays, or one of the many study and discussion groups; c.) show up for the "intro to Zen" meeting on the 4th Saturday morning of any month, which is a great way to get oriented, meet a teacher, ask a bunch of questions about establishing a practice, and find out who else is new. [Full disclosure: I am (now) a member here, the things I've described are what led me to join this community.]

This place is usually packed around New Year Tet week otherwise it is very empty and quiet!…read more I likes coming here since it is very quite on weekday morning. For the last two years I have been coming here during the New Year week, everything is the same but it is a temple worship area so everyone respect others privacy. I hope next year they will do something different with the decor so it is not the same as every year.

Visited Tam Tu Metta Buddhist Temple and really liked the experience. The grounds are super…read morespacious and peaceful, with plenty of parking, which makes it easy to visit even when it's busy. The vegetarian food was great! I had a stir-fried noodle dish that was flavorful and satisfying. The line was pretty long, but it's understandable since the temple is still new and growing. You can tell there's a lot of potential as they continue building and expanding the space. During Lunar New Year, it was packed with people and full of energy, it's only going to get more crowded, lively, and community-filled each year as the temple develops more.

Hi everyone, when I first came to Santa Cruz I sat and meditated with many different buddhist…read morecenters and when I walked into Ocean gate Zen center I knew I found a Zen community. They were welcoming and compassionate. In my opinion it is the finest American Zen center in the US. The zen teachers are highly educated and credentialed. The sangha/community is also a very compassionate group and I have acquired many compassionate and caring friends. I would encourage you to attend one of the outstanding buddhist lectures you will not be disappointed.

ocean gate zen is a gem in Santa Cruz with 2 wonderful teachers and a welcoming ,vibrant and…read moreintimate sangha community. it is a safe place,a place of refuge