So, I’ve actually made a whole new site dedicated to listing Chinese Buddhist temples in the United States (and hopefully Canada too one day), it’s at sfzen.org/usa and let me know if it’s helpful in finding these sanghas! Of course, by Chinese, we don’t mean politically connected to mainland China, but rather, the form of Buddhism historically associated, and includes a widespread diaspora of ethnicities and backgrounds, including from Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and more. (This is my 2022 update.)
Sorted by state:
California: ——
City of Ten Thousand Buddhas / Dharma Realm Buddhist University, Ukiah CA, 2013
CTTB and DRBU are home to Tathagatha Monastery, Instilling Goodness Elementary School and Developing Virtue Secondary School (IGDVS), Buddhist Text Translation Society (BTTS), and the headquarters of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association
萬佛聖城 / 法界佛教總會 (前身為中美佛教總會) / 法界佛教大學 | Vạn Phật Thánh Thành / Đại Học Phật Giáo Pháp Giới
(More Photos Coming Soon and Link to Album Coming Soon!)
DRBA and CTTB have several websites in different languages, you can find links to many of them at www.drba.org
Hsi Lai Temple, 佛光山西來寺 , International Buddhist Progress Society / Fo Guang Shan (Buddha’s Light International Association), Hacienda Heights CA, 2009-2010
https://photos.app.goo.gl/PnrbHYMtTH1K5yqY7
Berkeley Buddhist Monastery / Institute for World Religions (法界宗教研究院‧柏克萊聖寺 ) , Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, Berkeley CA, 2013
https://photos.app.goo.gl/m1ALVyfKeFW47es18
This old (historic?) church building transformed into a Buddhist monastery has got character!
Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale, (中台禪寺 – 太谷精舍 ), Chung Tai Chan, Sunnyvale CA, 2014
https://photos.app.goo.gl/4pJ77NuPPCjbPH6s9
2022 Update: The premiere Chan (Zen) meditation center in the South Bay and Peninsula, the Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale building is a former industrial/commercial single story one, next to an Iranian church, a Hindu temple, and a Korean church. They have expanded into the building next door and as of 2022, are renovating this first building. The land is now literally worth millions since Apple built a magnificent office right across the street.
The City of Dharma Realm ( 法界聖城) , Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, West Sacramento CA, 2013
This branch nunnery of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas is a former resort motel. Plans are to construct a large new temple, but as of 2022, they haven’t materialized yet.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/gik91Mjesn7BouDN7
Gold Mountain Monastery ( 金山聖寺 / Chùa Kim Sơn ) , Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, San Francisco CA, 2013
Cantonese-speaking nuns at the DRBA branch Buddhist temple in the heart of San Francisco Chinatown, which sits atop a Bank of America. Storied history of mysteriously and spiritually attracting Caucasian (white people) meditators who became devoted practitioners (many later ordained) under the late Dharma Master Hsuan Hua.
Gold Sage Monastery ( 金聖寺 / Chùa Kim Thánh ), Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, San Jose CA, 2013
This San Jose Buddhist temple is DRBA’s South Bay branch – situated high up on a hill, the views are magnificent outside, while the practice remains virtuous and unwavering inside!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/GY6RLGRDyj1gfEX17
Norras Temple (美州佛教會)
As traditional and historic as you can get, this little Chinatown temple is on the second floor of an old walkup building on Waverly Place, with the English translation of Buddhist Association of America.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/9FCJ4EBR78mPHcjz7
Florida: ——
Guang Ming Temple, 佛光山光明寺 International Buddhist Progress Society Central Florida (Fo Guang Shan / Buddha’s Light International Association), Orlando FL 2012
This new build temple is quite impressive, and conveniently located near the Orlando International Airport as well!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/aM7KrT3eKAQ88GeFA
Georgia: ——
Dharma Jewel Zen Monastery 法 寶 寺, Chung Tai Chan 中台禪寺美國亞特蘭大分院, Atlanta GA 2013 (new temple building planned)
Situated in a renovated church (the building’s last incarnation was a Korean church), the Atlanta branch of Chung Tai Zen Center, one of Taiwan’s largest Buddhist monasteries, opened a new addition in 2017.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/G31ZEdpsGin6v6r77
2018 Veggie Festival: https://photos.app.goo.gl/VRFzrW4PWe3V6uTx2
2019 Veggie Festival: https://photos.app.goo.gl/9h4SzNTxz1tdTnYn9
Mietoville Temple, Amitabha Buddhist Pure Land Association 淨宗學會, Norcross GA 2013
The Atlanta Pure Land Center has been around for 30 years, and opened its own home in a former medical office building in 2015.
https://goo.gl/photos/bgWmvMeNJhZMvrok8
Thrice Yearning Ceremony 2017: https://photos.app.goo.gl/IJDDn0Anzv1vANUr2
Thrice Yearning Ceremony 2018:
part 1 https://photos.app.goo.gl/GC3hRTypiGGSLcrm7
part 2 https://photos.app.goo.gl/aKFAfhR2hbJqPt1aA
Pu Xian Temple 普賢寺 , Atlanta GA 2013
https://photos.app.goo.gl/cDuVpKvLvAv1TyUY7
Master Ming Kuang visit 2015: https://goo.gl/photos/Ljopi9YoHxZczbsX7
Tzu Chi Buddhist USA Foundation – Atlanta Service Center; Tzu Chi Academy Atlanta, 慈濟 Atlanta GA 2014
https://goo.gl/photos/op4LXr11xLKbYjNP9
In 2021, Tzu Chi Atlanta moved to a larger office complex near Norcross / Peachtree Corners, including the weekend Chinese school.
Massachusetts: ——
Greater Boston Buddhist Cultural Center, Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 (Buddha’s Light International Association), Cambridge MA, 2010
This prime location in between Harvard and MIT on Mass Ave near MBTA subway and bus stops, is no longer (it became a convenience store / restaurant afterwards) as in 2014 the Fo Guang Shan Boston temple moved out towards suburban Cambridge, near Alewife.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7PQBCiiKdiqHgzey6
Maryland / Washington DC Area / Northern Virginia: —–
Avatamsaka Vihara Buddhist Monastery,華嚴精舍 Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, Bethesda MD, 2011-2012
https://photos.app.goo.gl/AH1SPZ9v9B7RrswE8
Buddha’s Light International Association Washington DC Chapter, 國際佛光會華府協會, Gaithersburg MD, 2011-2012
https://photos.app.goo.gl/xwLuky6ZZUmQnVWz9
2022 update: This Fo Guang Shan chapter now has its own little space out in Gaithersburg Maryland.
Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association – 法鼓山 Washington DC Chapter, Rockville MD, 2012
https://photos.app.goo.gl/6xSx7XsKFyuZYjgL7
2022 Update: I believe this chapter of Dharma Drum has dissolved and is no longer; the nearest DDM branch is probably the Chan Meditation Center in New York City.
Tzu Chi USA Buddhist Compassion Relief Foundation 慈濟 – Washington DC Chapter, Reston VA, 2012
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RB3qNXyLbriEEhx57
US Zen Institute, 美國禪學講堂 Germantown MD, 2011
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ajAT7psz13HsMPur5
2022 Update: The new meditation center out in rural Maryland, named Amatavihara, will be opening soon and provide dedicated meditation facilities, in addition to the main temple near the Germantown MARC station. https://uszen.org/
North Carolina: —–
International Buddhist Progress Society (IBPS / Fo Guang Shan) BLIA North Carolina Temple, 北卡佛光山, Raleigh NC, 2014
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qpgMxFHGkLTJf7gv7
Texas: —–
American Bodhi Center, 菩提中心 Hempstead TX (Houston area)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ULD434XgugPNG2iRA
They say everything in Texas is bigger, and so this is Texas Buddhist Association’s 500+ acre grounds (to get to it, one of the world’s largest gas stations, Bucee’s, is at the highway exit) to be used as everything from a retreat center to children’s summer camp to memorial place for the departed (aka cemetery).
Avatamsaka Lotus Buddhist Society, Houston TX, 2012
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZE2FHsKEx2cLEBwR6
Chung Mei Temple, International Buddhist Progress Society (Fo Guang Shan / Buddha’s Light International Association), Stafford TX (Houston area)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/JaBSjmC7hgpJZtHz5
Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston, Chung Tai Chan, Houston TX, 2006 – 2013
I’ve always been a little surprised at how many different Chinese Buddhist groups are in the Houston area, but the Chung Tai Zen Center of Houston is perhaps the one with the strongest English meditation class program. They’ve also been renovating their facilities since these photos were taken.
Chung Tai International Retreat Center, Texas Chan Pagoda, 中台國際禪修中心, Shepherd TX (Houston area)
the humble beginnings (2008 photos):
and now (2013):
Jade Buddha Temple 玉佛寺, Texas Buddhist Association, Houston TX
The oldest Chinese Buddhist temple in Houston and indeed, likely in the entire Southern US.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/WkfDEVjRggkNoRbcA
Xiang Yun Temple, International Buddhist Progress Society (Fo Guang Shan / Buddha’s Light International Association) Austin TX, 2013
https://photos.app.goo.gl/dUTcytxSkqziv9S56
Virginia: —–
Ekoji Richmond Sangha (home to Richmond Zen, Pure Land Amitabha Society, Ekoji Pure Land Japanese, Ekoji Vipassana, Richmond Tibetan, Richmond Meditative Inquiry Group, and Ligmincha Richmond), Richmond VA, 2012-2014
The Rabbit's Horn 