The Pluralism Project at Harvard UniversityCenter Profile
Chua Luc Hoa Boston Buddhist Culture Center (2013)
Vietnamese (Buddhism)
7 Greenwood Park
Dorchester MA 02122
Phone: 617-436-6084
Websites:
About
The center offers weekly services in Vietnamese each Sunday at 11 A.M. for Dorchester's growing Vietnamese population and for a small number of Chinese, Laotian, and Cambodian Buddhists from around Boston.
Description
Demographics
Just off historic Dorchester Avenue, where Vietnamese markets alternate with Irish pubs, Chua Luc Hoa dominates the residential streets of Greenwood and Park with its impressive garden and towering statue of Kuan Yin.
History
Bao Truong serves as the spiritual director of the center. Although Bao is not trained as a monk, he lived in a temple in Vietnam from age 3 to age 20. Shortly after arriving in the United States, Bao began organizing this temple under the guidance of Thic Guiac Duc -- a Vietnamese monk, Professor at UMass Boston, and President of the Vietnamese American Buddhist Congress. Together, their vision is to "positively change the nature of the neighborhood through Buddhism."
Building and Services
Although the building suffered a major fire before the community purchased it in 1994, the light-blue triple-decker has been renovated and now includes a main temple/meditation hall as well as a kitchen, dining and office space, bedrooms, and an altar honoring deceased relatives. The community plans to expand the temple with a permanent bandstand for outdoor services. Summertime celebrations, such as the Vietnamese Mother's Day, often draw hundreds of people and overflow the center. For larger ceremonies, the community has invited monks from California and India to worship with them.
Activities and Schedule
According to Thich Giac Duc, Vietnamese temples are unique in their attempt to blend elements of Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. Specifically, Sunday services at the Dorchester temple may include Zen meditation, chanting from Pure Land Buddhism and elements of Tibetan Buddhism. In addition to the weekly 11 A.M. Sunday service, Chua Luc Hoa also offers a children's class in Vietnamese language and culture at 1 P.M. each Sunday attended by 30-40 children. Daily offerings of rice soup to the ancestors of the community begin at 5 P.M. and last about half an hour. The center remains open to the public for meditation all weekend. Meetings take place on Sunday at 11:00 A.M. and the center is open for meditation throughout the Weekend.
Religious Leader and Title
Ven. Sa Mon Thich Tu Hue
Membership
30-40 regularly; 200-400 in attendance at large ceremonies
Ethnic Composition
Predominantly Vietnamese; 20% Caucasian spouses, Chinese, Laotians, and Cambodians