NYC - Chinatown: Mahayana Buddhist Temple Standing tall across the Manhattan Bridge, the Mahayana Buddhist temple is the largest Buddhist temple in New York City. Located at 133 Canal Street, Mahayana is one of the two primary sects of Buddhism, which place more emphasis on the teachings of Buddha. The temple was built to honor Mrs. Annie Ying’s 83rd birthday. Its main goal is the liberation and enlightenment of all conscious beings. Love, kindness, compassions are stressed in this form, and Mandarin is the main language used in the temple. The temple contains a sixteen foot golden statue of the Buddha sitting on a lotus, with a blue neon halo glowing behind him. It is one of the largest statues of Buddha in New York. Around the hall are numerous depictions of events in Buddha’s life. At the side of the entrance is a large golden incense holder burning incense before the image of Guan Yin (bodhisattva). There are also benches available for visitors to rest. Public services are held on weekends. It is usually carried out with all the formalities such as drums and bells. Fortunes are read inside the temple every day for a dollar. The exterior of the temple was inspired by Chinese architectural designs. Two giant golden lions protecting the temple from evil spirits guard the main doors. It is also customary for homes belonging to traditional Chinese families to be guarded by stone or bronze lions. / VFL.Ru