The teachings of Buddha or Dhamma have been spread to every corner of the world. This is one of the main reasons Buddhist temples and monasteries are famous worldwide.
Sydney’s Buddhist temples are a must-see. One of the reasons behind the serenity is the enchanting interior, exterior, and magnificent beauty of the temples and monasteries, which can take one’s breath away and all the negativities if one chooses to follow Dhamma.
What are Some of the Buddhist Temples Around Sydney that You Should Visit?
We have compiled a list of renowned Sydney Buddhist temples that you must visit if you are in Sydney:
1. Mingyue Lay Buddhist Temple
A visit to the impressive Mingyue Lay Buddhist Temple, recognized as one of Sydney’s earliest known Chinese Buddhist temples, is not finished without stopping by. This Buddhist Temple, which began as a small building serving as a cafeteria in 1982, now stands strong on an area of approximately 16,000 square kilometers.
The Buddhist Temple, standing tall with its front facing the East and the back facing the West, is an excellent representation of the Buddhist Mahayana tradition. This temple is a must-visit while on a trip to Sydney.
This architecture lacks the tall, pointed spires found in Cambodian and Laotian Buddhist temples, as it follows 12th-century Chinese architecture. The building’s interior and exterior were constructed using materials traditionally used in Chinese temples.
The interior is at its finest, and for a small insight, the largest and most remarkable hall- the Main Shrine- accommodates thirty-seven bronze Buddhas made out of brass, brought from Thailand.
Location: 654, Cabramatta Road W, Bonnyrigg NSW 2177, Australia.
2. Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery of Sydney
The foundation stone for the Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery of Sydney was laid on August 14, 1999.
Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery has become famous worldwide since then, and it is also among Sydney’s most important Buddhist temples. The Sydney monastery was founded on December 10, 2007.
Their ideal setting for meditation and following Dhamma attracts people from everywhere, and all religions and cultures are welcome to know about Dhamma. They also hold special events in which people can take part.
Location: 105 Wisemans Ferry Road, Cattai, NSW 2756, Australia.
3. Bodhisaddha Forest Monastery
Opened on April 20, 2012, Bodhisaddha Forest Monastery offers a forest sanctuary for monks and laypeople to encounter and practice the Buddha’s path of spiritual development. The dwelling monastic community provides an exemplary setting for monks to nurture lives of introspection and kindness.
Not only for the community, but the setting is exemplary for the visitors, too. One can inherit the teachings of Buddha and establish qualities of kindliness, belief, and mindfulness through the Buddhist path.
Bodhisaddha Forest Monastery wishes to bring peace to individuals and the surrounding community’s lives and promote Dhamma. That is why it is one of Sydney’s most famous Buddhist temples.
Location: 295 Wilton Rd, Wilton NSW 2571, Australia
4. Bodhikusuma Buddhist & Meditation Centre
Established in 2002 and relocated and renovated since then, Bodhikusuma Buddhist & Meditation Centre is a non-profit organization whose mission is to make Buddhist teachings available to the broader Sydney community through daily meditation workshops, Dhamma classes, and the invitation of senior monastics from around the world to teach.
The interior is serene, a perfect place where everyone can gather for meditation practice and practicing Dhamma. They have a 54-year-old Buddha statue to make the temple look even better.
Location: Level 2, 203-209 Thomas Street, Haymarket, NSW 2000, Australia.
5. Lankarama Buddhist Vihara
Founded in 1992, Lankarama Vihara is a traditional Theravada Buddhist Temple. The temple highly promotes the teachings of Buddha or Dhamma. Three housed Sri Lankan Buddhist monks regularly conduct Dhamma sermons in Sinhala and English and meet the religious needs of the Buddhist community.
The temple offers a serene place for meditation practice. They offer many services and ways to get involved with the community and find serenity.
Location: 35 Oak St, Schofields NSW 2762, Australia.
6. Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple
Known as the largest Buddhist Temple in the Southern Hemisphere, the Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple‘s exterior is massive, and there is also a hill nearby from where you can get pretty views of Wollongong. You can visit it before you go to the main temple complex area.
The architecture is slightly different; the complex is a Chinese-style palace constructed using contemporary architectural techniques. The massive interior accommodates a museum, meeting rooms, conference, cultural, restaurant, and accommodation facilities.
It also accommodates two massive prayer halls that house numerous monumental Buddha and Bodhisattva statues
Location: 180 Berkeley Road, Berkeley, NSW 2506, Australia.
What should you not wear to a Buddhist temple?
Every place has a dress code, and though temples don’t have a written guideline of what to wear or not, one should avoid wearing shorts, tank tops, dresses that are above the knees, short shorts, mini-skirts, short skirts, torn jeans, see-through, vests, tight fitting trousers or leggings. Also, you must remove your hats and shoes before accessing any building on the temple grounds.
Last Updated on March 26, 2024 by soubhik
