On Sunday, August 2, 2026, in Carmel, New York, from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, nearly 25 BFF members and friends gathered at Chuang Yen Monastery for our annual guided tour and shared vegetarian lunch, deepening our experience, knowledge, and appreciation of Buddhism.
Highlights included time in the Great Buddha Hall — home to the largest indoor Buddha statue in the Western world, surrounded by 10,000 smaller Buddha figures — as well as visiting the Kuan Yin Meditation Hall, the koi-filled pond presided over by a beautiful Kuan Yin statue, and the monastery’s library with over 50,000 books on Buddhism, along with its gift shop.
A special thank-you to Mr. Lee, who generously helped arrange free dharma books for our group to take home.
Some reflections from our Sangha:
“I got so much out of this tour.”
“I feel like I got a delicious taste of Buddhist culture.”
“The giant statue and the surrounding 10,000 Buddhas were inspiring.”
We’re grateful to everyone who joined us for a meaningful day of community and reflection. Until our next journey together — may this stillness stay with you. Our next Chuang Yen Monastery Field Trip & Tour will be in Summer 2027. See our upcoming events and field trips on the calendar.
