China Buddhist Association

In a narrow window at sidewalk level at 245 Canal St. is the statue of a Buddhist figure. At first glance, most people might guess that it is the bodhisattva of compassion, Guanyin in Chinese (Avalokitesvara in Sanskrit). In fact, however, it is the bodhisattva of great strength, Dashizhi (Mahasthamaprapta). They are oft-​confused look-​alikes. Yet Dashizhi has the tell-​tale vase in her headdress, whereas Guanyin almost always has a seated Buddha. In the door to the right under the name «China Buddhist Association», & then winding up the stairs past the poster of Amitabha to the 2^nd floor landing, & behind the door off to the right, one will find this moderately large mainstream Chinese Buddhist temple known as Fawangsi.
On the main altar is a very large seated alabaster Shijiamounifo (Sakyamuni Buddha). To the viewer’s left is a standing temple guardian Weituo, to the right a Longtou Guanyin (Avalokitesvara) standing on a dragon’s head spewing water.
To the right of this main altar is a shrine to the Healing Buddha Yaoshifo (Bhaisajyaguru), accompanied as always by red slips of paper. At least on recent visits, the background recorded chant was «Namo» («Hail!») followed by this Buddha’s full name, as written above his shrine «Xiaozai yanshou Yaoshifo» («The Healing Buddha who eliminates disasters & extends life»).
On almost all of the remaining wall space are beautiful vertical scrolls of Buddhist figures or calligraphy, mostly by the former resident Dharma Master Miaofeng. Along the left wall of the main room is a bookcase with free Buddhist literature & often, devotional cards. This is one of the best temples to find pamphlets in Chinese or English.
To the left of the main altar is a doorway leading to a back room with a shrine to the bodhisattva who helps those who have passed away, Dizangwang (Ksitigarbha).
This is probably the best temple to find examples of the most common mudras (hand gestures symbolizing various important moments in the life of the Buddha Shijiamouni). You will have to search, but you can find the following 6:
dhyana/​meditation,
bhumisparsa/​calling the Earth to witness (to his enlightenment),
dharmacakra-​pravartana/​turning the wheel (preaching the 1^st Sermon),
vitarka/​teaching,
abhaya/​fear not, &
varada/​giving.
As a resident monastery, the monks & nuns conduct 6 am & 4 pm services daily, which anyone can observe or participate in. Services especially for the public are held at 11 am every Sunday & on the day of every new moon & every full moon.

Look for the Kwan Yin statue in an enclosed case and to the right is the door leading into the hallway up to the temple. Upon entering to the left is a reception area where depending on time and/​or day you may find a monk/​nun or even wonderful friendly female laypeople to greet you. If you are not sure of what to do? JUST ASK (they love to guide you). The main altar consist of three large buddhas and altaer bearing flowers, fruits, oil lamps, incense and incence burner. On sundays and feast day you may also find food offerings. To the right of this grand altar is the Mediciene Buddha altar with all its offerings. also around this main sanctuary you will find literature in chinese and english, a small gift shop filled with buddhist items.
Now there is a door to the left of the grand altar which leads to the Di Jiang Wang Buddha (buddha of the afterlife) and wals filled with the names of many ancestors. This altar is also furnished with offerings.
There is a kitchen off of this back sanctuary which serves a light meal after sunday chanting service and on feast days.
The people here are very friendly and approachable so please feel at ease and know that this is a Compassionate place and no question or inquiry will be put off.

Two days before leaving for NYC, the idea to visit the temple that my dad use to go to popped it my mind as anytime we were unsure about a big decision when we lived back East, we would ask God for guidance. Since it had been 20+ years since we left, my dad just vaguely remember it being on Canal and either Lafayette or Center so I started looking online. I came across a few on Center that I thought might be it but when I gave him the description, he said that wasn’t it. But thanks to trusty Unilocal,I came across Lesie’s pictures and it seemed to match his description of the big Guan Yin inside so thank you Unilocal and Lesie for helping me find the temple that held such sentimental as well as religious significance for me.
As Lesie mentioned, it is hard to find this temple if you aren’t looking for it as it’s on the 2^nd floor and there’s only a small sign on the door. It is quite large in comparison to the one I go to in SF though. I went in, lit some incense (1 per person but I completely missed that sign and did 3), made a donation, talked to the people who worked there for a little while and just sat there for about 20 minutes in peace. Even though I was expecting it to be completely changed and maybe became Mandarin speaking, upon walking it, saw that the workers and even the patrons were the old school toi san speaking Chinese making me feel right at home and wondering if any of them knows my dad.
It was nice to come up here 20+ years later after my family had and see that it hasn’t become just a tourist attraction like many other temples.
Their hours are 8:30−6 (not sure it’s the same hours daily or if those are only the weekday hours).

I am not religious, so my visits to temples are usually Lunar New Year visits.
Compared to the one Centre Street, there are no crazy lines to get into the temple (supposedly their lucky charms actually work). It’s hard to find this temple if you’re not looking for it, but once you get inside, it’s nice and warm with free tea. You can get incense and pray if you want, and there’s plenty of seating for those getting their first Buddhist meal of the year. Usually it’s rice, lo mein noodles, vermicelli, tofu, gluten, and mushrooms. Management changed recently and it looks like most of the new priests/​priestesses are from Taiwan.