Pujue si (Universal Enlightenment Temple)

Visit there today. Very peaceful place. We love there.

This temple (Pujue si or Pujuesi in Mandarin, Universal Enlightenment Temple in English), which first opened in the fall of 2012 in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn, has now (as of 1/1/2016) relocated to the Mapleton section of northeast Bensonhurst. As before, it is a breath of fresh air - clean, tastefully furnished with a blend of new & old, & completely devoid of any commercialism. With simplicity & understated elegance, it reflects the vision of its leader, a nun from China, schooled in Chinese Huayan (Flower Garland) & Jingtu (Pure Land) Buddhism at the renowned old-school complex at Mount Wutai in northern mainland China, where austerity is a way of life. Although services are conducted in only Mandarin Chinese, the attendant nun also speaks English & welcomes non-Chinese who wish to visit, meditate, or practice in this quiet oasis. She exudes an optimistic spirit of service in welcoming visitors to this temple. Whether Chinese or not, Buddhist of any school, or non-Buddhist - all are welcome. Unlike in many temples, nothing is for sale, & donations are never expected. As in traditional Chinese Buddhist temple architecture, there is a welcoming vestibule entrance area & shrines to compassionate Guanyin, the Healing Buddha (Yaoshifo), & the Savior of the Dead (Dizangwang pusa). Other notable statuary includes 2 traditional, seemingly menacing, but actually protective of the faithful, wooden doorguards (rarely seen in other NYC temples), a pair of cast iron lions, a large seated wooden "Happy Buddha" of the Future (Mile), a wooden, seated 7-faced 1000-armed Guanyin, a small but monumental, imposing wooden Guanyin seated in royal ease, a pure white standing Dizangwang, a seated Healing Buddha, & recently installed on the new Tang Dynasty-style main altar, a Huayan Trinity - Vairocana Buddha (Dari rulai) flanked by Samanatabhadra (Puxian pusa) on his 6-tusked white elephant & Manjusri (Wenshu pusa) on his blue lion. Amid carved wooden & lacquer panels, traditional Chinese wooden furniture, & a soaring 6-panel wooden screen carved with 18 luohan, 8 Immortals, flowers, & auspicious inscriptions, the temple is always decorated with fresh flowers, bamboo, & fruit. This is an tranquil oasis of peace & serenity. Regular services are held at 4 pm daily & 10 am on Sunday, when a communal vegetarian meal is also served in the basement kitchen-dining area. In addition to other services on all Buddhist holidays, other special services are also often held - some week-long. Especially for anyone interested in chanting & religious singing in other cultures, a visit to any service at this temple is recommended, if only to hear the leader's exceptionally fine voice. For the spirit, the eyes, or the ears, this is a unique local gem not to be missed.