You might think that BRO is on a foreign road trip when you see these images, but that’s not the case. This Vietnamese Buddhist temple is being built a stone’s throw from the Broadway Market. I spoke to Tin Tam at the center who explained that the stone monuments were commissioned to be carved in Vietnam and then shipped to Buffalo, where they are in the process of being assembled to create a spiritual oasis where people can gather and celebrate important occasions.
The outdoor temple is breathtaking. I am still in awe of what I have just seen on Fillmore Avenue. The work is stunning and goes a long way toward creating cultural awareness within the community. The building that coexists with Tu Hieu Temple was formerly a police station, and was converted to a place of worship in 1998.
You can see that the interior is now dedicated as a place of worship and serenity. Tin Tam tells me that the temple is open to everyone to worship and invited me to attend a ceremony on Sunday at 10am (for anyone who might be interested). The center’s website will one day have English translations.
In the meantime, it took no time for me to understand the beauty, the grace and the spiritual nature of Tu Hieu Temple. I’ve never seen anything like it before, and can’t wait to go back and experience its awesome energy again. Whether that is simply as a casual observer, attending a meditation session or even attempting to experience a hint of Buddhist enlightenment. A visit to Tu Hieu Temple is a humbling experience that I will never forget (photos do not do the temple justice).
Chua Tu Hieu Temple | Buddhist Cultural Center of Buffalo | 647 Fillmore Ave | Buffalo, NY 14212