We had visited the Kathina ceremony here this past weekend 11/04/24-11/05/24 and love the beautiful…read moretemple and temple grounds that was built here. Everyone were very friendly, especially to those out-of-state people like us who didn't know what to do or how to help out. Every temple carries a different way of how they want to do things and we didn't want to be in the way of the organizers. There were plenty of places to sit at. Once the monks finished eating, they had opened up the buffet line for all guests. I was amazed at how efficient the lines were. No one made the food trays messy, there were lots of foods left over for everyone, and the line went by very fast. The community really came together to also cleaned up afterwards. It's very serene here and I can't wait to visit again in the near future.

I'm not a Buddhist, but I just wanted to raise awareness of this place for those (especially in the…read moreCambodian community) in Jacksonville who are. This is a very sacred location, and it is not uncommon to see monks walking the grounds here. According to this site http://tinyurl.com/99sm84 the large Buddha statue inside and the statues outside were brought from Cambodia. The temple was built according to strict Buddhist rules. More info here: http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/043005/neR_18598073.shtml My rating is based purely on the beauty of this place (take a look at the pictures). http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/_7UW3VykM9xZhCFUmrMTfw/l http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/kkhn9vrHMRiynvpOrZFi0Q/l http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/GoNz5rKsNMCE2H75LkWEAw/l http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/YbWNlB_o_4SshnYGlAbujg/l http://static.px.yelp.com/bphoto/8DSY1YOfOx-S-7U_AAm4AA/l I went to a Cambodian ceremony a few months ago (with a friend), but we did not attend it here. We did have to take off our shoes before entering the inside of the temple as a respect to their culture.

This Buddhist temple has been around for a very long time (I believe it opened as early as 1990)…read more And I've been coming to this temple since 2003. It was different back then. Now they have innovated and changed a lot of things for the newer generations. The old folks are still going every Sundays. There aren't that many young kids nowadays. The people are very nice and passionate, as well as respectful.

This center offers Modern Buddhism, geared for busy people. Classes include guided and silent…read moremeditations, brief teachings on practical application of Buddha's wisdom, and discussion. Everyone is welcome, especially new meditators. Retreats, workshops and pujas (chanted prayers) are scheduled regularly. Located in a small strip center, it offers a beautiful and peaceful meditation room and dedicated people. Only open at scheduled class times. Has bookstore.

From the owner: Meditation classes and practical Buddhist teachings, retreats and workshops…read more Everyone welcome!

"Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without." -Buddha…read more Having just driven from Starke where I saw the first Atheist Monument in the USA, it was interesting to come to Gainesville and tour this wonderful peaceful retreat. It's quiet, it's beautiful and it's a serene atmosphere that is perfect for meditating or just clearing one's mind of the daily struggles. The temple grounds feature majestic Buddhist sculptures, including a 33-foot-long reclining Buddha, a 28-foot-tall seated Buddha, and a 45-foot-tall Avalokitesvara, a bodhisattva who embodies compassion. The statue depicting a young Buddha atop a solid granite globe was installed in 2019. All were hand-crafted in Vietnam and carefully installed here in Florida. It is free to visit. The paved walkways are handicapped accessible. There are benches throughout to provide the opportunity for peaceful reflection. Do be aware of the wildlife. [Review 353 of 2025 - 2005 in Florida - 23915 overall]

Running around town with my mom recently, we decided to explore some parks in town that we had…read morenever been to. I came across Tu Vien a Nan in my exploration of Google Maps, and figured that was something that might be interesting, so off we went! The grounds are well kept and the statuary is impressive. Numerous very large statues devoted to the Buddhist faith have been erected in the park, with a number of different areas designed for peaceful meditation and prayer. Just walking around the grounds is a pleasant experience, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves for the hour or so that we were there. I highly recommend going here for an hour or so of peace.