Temple Etiquette

We are a Buddhist temple with a reading room and we warmly welcome everyone to participate in our regularly scheduled public programs. Visitors are also welcome during our open hours for personal practice, contemplation, reading, and reflection.

As a Buddhist temple, we have some basic etiquette and ritual-forms that we require visitors to observe. Many of these guidelines have been passed down from ancient times. Please take note of the following while you are our guest:

1. Please maintain a tidy, clean, and quiet demeanor.

2. No footwear or headwear is allowed in the shrine part of our temple.

3. Please dress modestly. Buddhist spaces require visitors to avoid tight and revealing clothing.

4. While seated, do not point your feet towards the altar or teacher.

5. Do not touch or move the sacred objects on the altars.

6. Our space is not for napping, sleeping, or meditating while lying down.

7. Only offer incense and tea lights provided by us and at designated places.

8. Tidy up after yourself.

While many different spiritual approaches are worthy and beneficial, Buddhist training particularly values cultivating skillful restraint and discipline. We invite you to see your time with us as an opportunity to practice restraint in your actions, speech, thoughts, and feelings. The Buddha taught that by doing this, we give ourselves the opportunity to experience release from suffering and unhappiness.

We rely on your generosity in all forms to keep Urban Dharma open and available to all interested visitors. Please help us in whatever way or manner that you can. Thank you for visiting.