International Buddhist Progress Society

This place is beautiful. My friend tells me that Buddhists have to live anywhere below the temple, and this one seems to have been built on the highest ground in Hacienda Heights. We arrived walking, and on the Chinese new year, so that the sherif department was out directing traffic and keeping all the wild and crazy visitors from hurting themselves and others. We walked up the first wide flight of stairs and there’s the wonderful sense of spaciousness framed by a blue and white sky and the intricate craftsmanship of the entrance arc. The grounds were ornate with a blow up elephant, other figurines, lights strung all about, and hundreds of other hanging lanterns and things. We went up a second wide flight of stone steps and came to the entrance of the first temple where all and sundry are welcome to come pray in peace, surrounded again by the most intricate carvings and statues. The formidable thing is to get the sense of spaciousness in a place where not a single inch of décor has gone unattended. It’s something to behold. Beyond the first temple are the grounds with its massive courtyard, enclaves of statues, souvenir store, covered walkways, cafeteria, information center, and then the main temple, which is a bigger, still more impressive structure than the first. Front and center is big, beautiful and golden Buddha, flanked by other deities and the evermore intricate carvings and decorations in every bit of space available. Perhaps it’s because the walls hold everything, and the floor remains clear, that the sense of space pervades.
The cafeteria served a vegetarian buffet of noodles, steamed veggies, curry potatoes and soup that was nutritious and delicious. I had such a good time here, and hope to return soon.

Anyone seeking some momentary peace and tranquility should check this place out.
Very Zen, very soothing…
I got there a bit too late to try out the Vegetarian meal, but I aim to head back to check that out too.

A nonprofit organization, locally, the IBPS is best known as the formal name of organization that runs the Hsi Lai Temple, the centerpiece of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order in Southern California. The organization’s headquarters is in Taiwan.
Although most of the people who go to Hsi Lai Temple are Taiwanese or Chinese, a number of English-​only speakers (this includes 2^nd generation Asian-​American people who don’t speak Chinese, as well as non-​Asians) go there, too.
If you want to learn more about Buddhism, check out their website at
or the Hsi Lai Temple site at
. The IBPS website seems to have some broken links (particularly in the English section, but the Hsi Lai Temple website is quite robust).
Check out the Unilocal Review of the Hsi Lai Temple: