Hua Zang Si

Hua Zang Si is a temple of authentic Buddhism in the United States based upon all exoteric Buddha-dharma and the esoteric Buddha-dharma of Tibet. Hua Zang Si practices and teaches the dharma expounded by Sakyamuni Buddha. Buddhist disciples at Hua Zang Si cultivate themselves in strict accordance with the orthodox Buddha-dharma as contained in the Tripitaka (the sutras or discourses, the monastic discipline, and the commentaries or treatises) as well as the esoteric scriptures. The temple respectfully upholds the rules laid down by Sakyamuni Buddha and teaches living beings in accordance with the 84,000 dharma methods handed down by Sakyamuni Buddha.  Therefore, Hua Zang Si is different from other temples that propagate only one sect within Buddhism. Strictly complying with the Buddha’s teachings, our temple contains the teachings of all of the various sects within Buddhism. Our viewpoint is not limited to  particular sect. Some of the main dharma teachings of our temple include the following: the dharma method of the Pure Land sect in which Amitabha Buddha’s name is chanted, Zen meditation, the instantaneous and gradual realization methods, the essence of visualization of the Hua-yen school, methods of the consciousness-only or Fa-hsiang school, the four types of yoga as taught by the esoteric schools, the essence of Mahayana methods, and samatha or stabilizing meditation as taught by the Hinayana school. Eminent monastics and laypersons of great virtue will teach these dharma methods based upon the disciple’s particular karmic conditions.  Hua Zang Si was legally constructed with the permission of the local government. It is an impressive-looking temple within the city of San Francisco. The Sakyamuni Buddha Hall is on the first floor. On the second floor, there is an Amitabha Buddha Hall. In that hall there is a large circular mandala on which a Yun sculpture depicting Mt. Sumeru is placed. In that Yun sculpture are sariras (sacred relics) of the Buddha for worshipping. The third floor contains a library of Buddhist scriptures. The temple’s statues of Sakyamuni Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, Maitreya Bodhisattva, and Skanda Bodhisattva are very dignified-looking Buddhist statues. The magnificent statue of Amitabha Buddha is an extremely solemn sight.