The Pluralism Project at Harvard University

History and Description

Temple Vietnam was founded in 1986 when a group of 25-30 Vietnamese people from the Boston area met weekly for prayer in one another's homes. It opened at its present site in 1991 and maintains ties with other Vietnamese temples in the state and with the international Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Although the temple does not have a resident monk, the spiritual leader is Thich Nguyen Hanh of Houston, Texas. The temple observes a form of Mahayana Buddhism that seeks to combine aspects of Pure Land Buddhism with the Zen tradition, according to one of its founders, Dr. Chi Nguyen.

Occupying a former day-care center located between Jamaica Plain's Forest Hills section and Roslindale Square, this temple is the first permanent place of worship for the area's Vietnamese Buddhists. It was remodeled in 1993 and now includes a temple/meditation room, a function room, a garden and a parking area. About 50 people come to the weekly services, but for larger celebrations, the temple accommodates 300-500 people. The temple's members, about 10 percent of whom are ethnic Chinese from Vietnam, come from across the greater Boston area. The temple is governed by a six-member board of directors and its president, Mrs. Bich Nguyen.

Activities and Schedule

Temple Vietnam offers bilingual services on the first Sunday of the month, meditation and Dharma talks, occasional Saturday meditation retreats, and, on Sunday afternoon, classes in which children learn the Vietnamese language, history, geography and tradition. Dr. Nguyen says that all forms of meditation are welcome. "What matters is not the method but if they bring you back to your true self." All activities are open to the public.

Meetings take place on Sunday at 11:00 A.M.