At 133 Canal Street in Chinatown, Mahayana Temple Buddhist Association is a Buddhist place of worship with a quiet main room and New York City’s largest Buddha statue. The golden figure sits on a lotus flower, with framed illustrations of the Buddha’s life and English explanations along the walls. You can pause inside for a moment of calm, observe prayer respectfully, or take a fortune slip in return for a donation. Its location also makes it easy to pair a visit with a meal nearby.
The Buddha statue and wall illustrations
The main room holds a golden Buddha seated on a lotus flower. The statue is 16 feet tall and was created by a local artist affiliated with NYU. Framed illustrations around the room recount the Buddha’s life, with short explanations in English.
The temple’s interior is a place for quiet reflection as well as a point of interest for visitors exploring Chinatown. Prayer music may be playing, and worship can be taking place in parts of the temple.
A place of worship in Chinatown
The temple campus occupies the former site of the Rosemary movie theater, which changed use in 1997. The campus was given by founder James Ying to his wife on his 83rd birthday.
A central body of water is part of the grounds. The temple remains an active place of worship, so give people space during prayer and wait before entering areas where a service is underway.
Perguntas frequentes
Is Mahayana Temple free to enter?
Entrance is free. Donations are welcome.
How tall is the Buddha statue?
The golden Buddha statue is 16 feet tall and sits on a lotus flower.
Can I get a fortune slip at the temple?
Yes. You can take a fortune slip in return for a donation; a dollar is suggested.
Are there English explanations inside?
Yes. Framed illustrations on the walls tell the story of the Buddha’s life with English explanations.
