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.

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.

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 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!

Excellent teacher and wonderful human! If you can attend any…read moreof the events on the calendar I highly recommend to go.

Excellent teacher, a beautiful safe space and such a kind community. I appreciate this place with…read moremy whole heart

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.

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.

Small temple in Morgan hill ran by female monks. Everything is spacious and they had a nice koi…read morepond.

Very small temple in san Martin. I was there on the first day of the lunar new year . Quiet too…read moremany people's so I can't take many pictures. I will come back another time

Beautiful place to visit hidden between redwood trees. Very quiet I would go back again whenever in…read moretown.

Very nice old place with friendly staff, this temple is clean and serene. Lovely environment to…read morevisit and contemplate life for a while.

Driven by a desire to visit this peaceful monastery, we drove 75 miles yesterday only to be met…read morewith total disappointment. The main entrance was completely chained up, and the grounds looked entirely deserted. While there are older mentions of a multi-year reconstruction project started around 2022, it is deeply frustrating that there is no current signage, status update, or warning for visitors. Their official website is primarily in Vietnamese, and the limited English sections make no mention whatsoever of a total public closure. If you are planning a trip here, please be warned that it appears closed to the public with no clear timeline for reopening or completion. I sincerely hope the temple management updates their online English platforms soon so other travelers don't waste hours on a long drive.

This Vietnamese buddhist temple is a great meditation center set on Mount Madonna in Watsonville…read morewhere the street ends on Summit Road, a scary drive for sure with seemingly endless twists and turns. When we got to the top, the sign said "closed due to construction work" but the gate was open, so we entered, and there was plenty of parking and we found several other visitors on site as well. The monastery and surrounding area were beautiful with tall trees, lots of greenery, so many buddha statues large and small, peacocks, deer, a gazebo, a restroom, areas for worship and prayer, and a dining area where we were invited to share a meal with the monks. But the place seemed lacking in maintenance and cleanliness, even considering that it was "under construction". To make matters worse, flies and mosquitos were abundant making it hard to have a snack outdoors. Also, though the animals on site added some charm to our visit, the cawing of the birds was relentless during the hour we were there. Besides that, the main draw was still the quietude in our surroundings. With the current "under construction" condition, I'm not sure it's worth the scary winding roads required to get here. That being said, it's a lovely place to visit, and I would certainly return on better days.

Shoreline has been my church home for 30 years. It's the perfect place for people who want to grow…read morein their faith, but also very welcoming to people who may just be seeking. The message is delivered in a way that is easily understandable. For me, I hear it as a practical application to my daily life. The pastors and staff make it a very friendly non-judge mental environment. From the minute you walk in you feel welcome. Shoreline is a large church but has many different Bible studies and events to get involved in. This is a great way to stay more connected through Shoreline. It's also a way to meet people who are of the same mindset and are wanting to enrich their relationship with Jesus. Besides helping me to grow in my faith, I have established lifelong friendships as a result of attending Shoreline. Nina Arman

From the outside, the church looks good. They give you donuts, coffee, and a good worship team…read more There are some good folks at this church who truly love Jesus. The church is a business and ran like any other mega-church business. I've been going to Shoreline off and on for the last three years. They have all the bells and whistles and look shiny and pretty from the outside. If you're looking for connection and support of a smaller church you won't find it here. Some of the events such as the children's program in the summer are not accessible to all kids. There are no scholarships and programs available for those less privileged to have access to the program as other privileged kids. I don't feel the church is inclusive of marginalized minorities to have the ability to resources as the privileged kids and think the church can do better here. There is no support for BIPOC kids who don't have the means to attend. These kids are excluded from the community and the pews. Also, there is no benevolence fund to help members who are suffering or in need. They have a food bank and give out clothes and nothing more for those in need who are sitting in the pews. There is no support structure in place for folks struggling in the pews and no acknowledgment from the church. Support does not always mean money and they want the tithe but you are not seen or heard as a member who is suffering. The more mega the less help you can expect from them. A church of 10 will go to the ends of the earth to help you. In a church of a thousand maybe someone will bring you a casserole. Which isn't surprising. There's less of a community in a more mega church. You're just a number. A church is a community and a community should help any members who are in distress - whether this be through formal existing "emergency funds" or through informal support from other members within the organization. If someone is in that sort of situation. The church should absolutely help provide for the needs of the member. It should have nothing to do with how much the member has given in the past. So in a nutshell you decide if this is a church you want to invest your time, money, soul, and heart into.