Guang Ming Buddhist Temple

Those who speak ill of our/​others’ teachers, practice and lineage, be they ‘high’ monks, lamas, or ordinary students, we must be aware of them and let it pass into one ear and then out from the other. Have compassion for that person, do not engage or ask any more questions and smile and let it go. If others comment that there is something wrong with our teachers and practice that we have already forged a samaya with, then what can stop others from saying they can be wrong also even if they may be high ranking monks or simple students. When does it stop? Either all the gurus are to be respected and the bond between them and their students held sacred or we must be a perfect omniscient living Buddha to criticize, judge and talk negatively and check who is ‘genuine’ and not ‘genuine.’ Would a perfect Buddha do that anyways? Who in true Buddhistic practice can run around proclaiming they are a living Buddhas and condemn others? People who are incredible examples of selflessness such as Mother Teresa proclaims herself to be a simple nun or a pencil in God’s hand. H.H. the 14^th Dalai Lama always says that he is just a simple Buddhist monk although more than fourteen million Buddhists of the Tibetan Tradition believe him to be Avalokitesvara. Panchen Lama who tirelessly worked for others never called himself Amitabah although so many believed him to be.
So once we are able to criticize another practice, teacher, tradition, deity, center, temple, church, student, etc. then we leave ourselves open for criticism and schism, because in the end who is right and who is wrong? Leave people in peace. When we criticize another tradition/​practice/​teacher it also shows that we are perhaps highly insecure about what we are doing so we need more people doing what we are doing to feel ‘right.’ Or give us security maybe? Only study, reading, practice, holding vows and attending Dharma talks to get knowledge is what will really give us security in our practice based on sound logic. A person like that never criticizes others but rejoice, because when you reach a higher state of practice and knowledge, you see the oneness/​sameness of the goal, only method differ and rejoice at the skillfulness of the masters in offering diversity to different sentient beings. We would never want to harm another being. Otherwise one would create the karma of being separated from one’s own teacher and teachings, unable to practice and gain results, anger and fear increase in the mind and great insecurities due to resultant karma of schismatic actions of speech and mind. People who have taken refuge or accepted another to be their teacher or practice, we must encourage them towards what they have already committed.
When we appoint ourselves as the ‘spiritual police’ to ‘take action’ against the people following ‘wrong’ lamas and ‘wrong’ practices, we create something very dangerous. We create tremendous disharmony, doubt and aggression. We breed and justify intolerance which is the opposite of Lord Buddha’s infallible Dharma. We must search into ourselves and check the level of our own practice, our motivation. If our motivation and practice is supreme and perfect, then very skillful methods are extremely necessary to guide others. People’s spiritualities are very delicate and must be handled with care combined with compassion. Do not criticize their practice, teacher or tradition in any way. You just need to police yourself. Just remain in your practice and resolve to gain full enlightenment to benefit them in the future. Spiritual policing should be left to Mahakala, Setrap, Palden Lhamo, or maybe other Enlightened Beings perhaps.
I was asked, after the fact, to not perform any puja, water bowl offering or even ringing of bell and handling of my own dorje. Respectfully this is the temples rules. However, I wish they would have had a sign that state the no personal instruments of worship are permitted and use of theirs is also forbidden. I did a water bowl offering, prayed, meditated and did a puja for something very personal. I felt really happy and calm then to be told my practices are not acceptable at this temple hurt my feelings. Best of luck to Guang Ming Temple. I am not speaking ill of them at all. Just should have been handled more appropriately. The Venerable didn’t even talk to me about the issue. She had a young man (who didn’t introduce himself) tell me while he was speaking with the Venerable on his cell phone. My feeling were hurt and I was shocked. But I still have compassion, hope, love and a personal understanding of the teachings of the Buddha.

What can I say about this temple that hasn’t been said already? I came here one Thursday afternoon with a friend and was greeted inside near the entrance by a very nice woman who volunteers at the temple. She handed us some pamphlets and advised us that we could either do our own self-​exploration of the temple, or she could give us a guided tour. We opted for the guided tour and I am glad we did. We were given an extensive tour of the temple and received much info about the daily goings-​on there, its history, and Buddhism in general. I was even given a demonstration on how to properly bow/​prostrate before The Buddha inside the shrine room at my request. After the tour was done I went for a second go around, this time to take pictures and allow myself moments of silent contemplation. Once that was over, I helped myself to a whole plethora of Buddhist literature offered for free at the temple. Before leaving, I said a silent prayer and made an offering of incense at the incense burner located outside the front entrance as well as a donation to the temple. Overall, this was a beautiful place that is doing great things for the community and for the spreading of the Dharma. I look forward to returning one day for the Sunday service and vegetarian luncheon afterwards. I highly recommend giving Guang Ming Temple a visit!

My husband and I held our wedding here the other day and everything was perfect. It was so beautiful. From the beginning, the people of Guang Ming Temple were very inviting and only wanted us to enjoy our wedding. They were very giving and detail-​oriented. Everyone told me how much they enjoyed the ceremony and how nice everyone was at the temple. I had a lot of people who told me that they want to consider looking further into Buddhism now. Thank you so much to everyone who helped us make this day so wonderful.

My husband and I had gone with our son to the temple. He had a school paper to write about this beautiful temple. Little did we know what a wonderful experience we would have attending the temple with our son. They took us on a tour of this beautiful temple also showed us the garden and the memorial garden where people they loved ones to rest. He also gave us a class on the history of Buddhism and what Buddhism is really about. After it all we enjoyed a wonderful vegetarian buffet served by the wonderful volunteers!
You must experience it for yourself!

A magnificent place for both gawkers looking for a taste of Asia and for serious students of the complex Buddhist philosophy. This monastery, open daily except on Mondays, has a vegan tea/​snack room, bookstore and library, meditation hall, main shrine room, dining hall, a memorial hall /​columbarium, and classrooms. For the tourist, a large statue of the seated Shakyamuni Buddha is the unmissable centerpiece of the main shrine room, while other statues and calligraphy and Chinese artwork adorn many nooks of this impressively-​built monastery.
For those more interested in learning about Buddhism rather than merely touring, Guang Ming Temple (part of Buddha’s Light International /​International Buddhist Progress Society) has weekly classes in either English or Chinese, for both novices and experienced practitioners. They also have regular cultural activities, such as a Chinese school, a Young Adult Division that goes on outings and community service events, vegetarian cooking, children’s courses, Tai Chi /​yoga, etc, as well as bigger festivities on Chinese or Buddhist holidays. Call or visit the website for more information. On Sundays, there is a traditional Chinese Buddhist chanting service and dharma-​talk in the main room, as well as meditation and discussion groups in English in other rooms. If you go on a Sunday, be sure to check in at the main desk to the right of the lobby entrance for more information, and to be directed to the appropriate area by a welcoming volunteer.
The library has an English, a Spanish, and a (small) Portugese section in addition to the more expansive Chinese collections, as well as some DVDs. Most are on compassion and the engaged action of humanistic Buddhism in modern life.
Overall, this monastery, the largest Buddhist temple in Florida, is a place to find peace and serenity, and a bastion representing part of the religious diversity in our country. Come visit to admire the artistic nature, but stay and join a class to learn more about what the Buddhist artwork — and what life — means.

Amazing place, check it!

Since 1998 I have always dreamed of taking some serious Buddhism classes. Tonight was my first class at the Guang Ming Buddhist Temple. Without going on and on about how great it was, it was FABULOUS! Howard, our instructor was very sweet, knowledgeable, and easy to understand. He also had a good sense of humor. I worried that there would be few people in the class & Temple, but there were between 30 & 40 students there all as eager as I am to learn more about this wonderful religion. We started with a half hour meditation which felt like 10 minutes, and then we had 90 minutes of classroom time. I can’t wait till next week. To say that I loved my time there is an understatement. Try it, you might like it! I am pretty sure that Christianity is in my past. I rather be enlightened. There was no hassel for donations, and class was free.

My husband and I were driving down Hoffner towards Semoran after an odd trip from the new Walmart. This temple seems to have magically appeared, because we had never seen it before!
A few weeks later I went with a friend of mine who was visiting from out of town… He was game for exploring this temple, which really looks as if it were plucked from China and plopped in the middle of nowhere Orlando, Fl!
The exterior is beautiful, and has a well maintained courtyard with several Buddhist statues. The sanctuary inside is contemporary, and allows believers to wear their shoes (we assume, because we did not see shelves for shoes), and I don’t think you have to kneel or prostrate at this temple because the floor was hard and tiles and there were low lying cushioned benches for people to sit on. The temple also has a small gift shop with prayer beads, books, and statues. As well as a large tea shop. All of this is run by a very nice staff of volunteers and monks.
The second level of the temple has classrooms, and two small gallery spaces where they displayed a photography exhibit and a Buddha statue exhibit.
If you check out their website they have various classes that are taught here everything from Yoga, Tai Chi, and Indian dance, to adult Chinese and Buddhism 101 classes. I am not sure how much classes are, but I am sure the fee is nominal and goes straight to the temple.
**If you read their description on their website they also mention they are Chinese form of Buddhism.