Hsi Lai Temple

Name

Hsi Lai Temple

Legal name

Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple

Website

https://hsilai.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Buddhist Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

Keywords

• Buddhist religious services
• Buddhist education programs
• Monastic retreats
• Religious ceremonies
• Buddhist community services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hacienda Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations from Supporters: The temple relies on voluntary donations from the Buddhist community, including monthly or annual supporter memberships (護法委員), general temple donations, and sponsorship of specific religious activities. Donations support temple operations, educational programs, and charitable activities.
2. Educational Program Fees: Revenue from structured educational programs including TAG School (三好學園), Hsi Lai Buddhist Academy (佛光西來書院), Buddhist Retreat (英文書院), and summer camps. These programs charge modest fees to cover materials, facilities, and food.
3. Retreat and Ceremony Fees: Fees from specialized programs like 短期出家修道會 (Short-term Monastic Retreat) including education fees ($120 per participant) and optional accommodation fees ($200), plus 供僧道糧 and merit registration fees for ceremonies.
4. Ceremony Merit Registration: Revenue from registering for religious merits including 光明燈法會, 大悲懺法會, 超薦法會, 供齋花果, and other ceremony-based offerings through online registration forms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hsi Lai Temple is the first regional headquarters (別院) of Fo Guang Shan in the United States, operating as a Buddhist temple that delivers weekly and seasonal Dharma ceremonies (Sunday Communal Cultivation, Memorial Dharma Service, Light Offering Dharma Service, Great Compassion Repentance Service), Buddhist educational programs spanning children to adults (TAG School, Hsi Lai School, Hsi Lai Buddhist Academy, Hsi Lai Buddhist Retreat, Short-Term Monastic Retreat), cultural programs (Buddha's Light Youth Symphony Orchestra, Foguangyuan Art Gallery), and charitable community services in partnership with local nonprofits. Services are delivered primarily at the Hacienda Heights temple facility and supported by online streaming, online merit registration, and online donations.

Product overview

Hsi Lai Temple operates as a multi-service Buddhist temple under the Fo Guang Shan organization, offering a diverse portfolio of religious services, educational programs, and community activities. The core offerings include regular Dharma ceremonies (週日共修法會, 超薦法會, 光明燈法會, 大悲懺法會) held on a weekly and monthly schedule, major annual ceremonies (孝親報恩梁皇法會, 瑜伽焰口法會, 供僧法會), and specialized retreats (短期出家修道會, 八關齋戒修道會). Educational programs span all age groups: TAG School for children ages 5-11, the Hsi Lai Buddhist Retreat for ages 16-35, the 21st Hsi Lai Buddhist Academy for young adults ages 18-35, and the North American Humanistic Buddhism Academy offering online courses in multiple languages. Cultural offerings include the Buddha's Light Youth Symphony Orchestra and Foguangyuan Art Gallery. The temple also provides donation and membership services (護法委員, 線上功德箱) and live streaming of services via YouTube.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 三好學園 (TAG School): A character-building program for children aged 5-11 focused on the Three Acts of Goodness (做好事、說好話、存好心) - teaching good deeds, good words, and good thoughts.
• 西來書院 (Hsi Lai Buddhist Academy)
• 西來英文書院 (Hsi Lai Buddhist Retreat)
• 北美人間學院 (North American Humanistic Buddhism Academy)

Products and services

• TAG School (三好學園) An 8-week character-building program for children ages 5-11 that cultivates creativity, social skills, and leadership through Buddhist teachings and the Three Acts of Goodness. Donations cover snacks, facility use, materials, and overhead.
• Hsi Lai Buddhist Retreat (佛光西來英文書院) A two-week immersive English-language program introducing participants ages 16-35 to authentic Chinese Buddhist monastic life, Buddhist practices, Humanistic Buddhism, meditation, calligraphy, and communal work.
• Hsi Lai Buddhist Academy (西來書院) A program for young adults ages 18-35 providing opportunities to learn and experience Buddhism, featuring courses on Buddhist introduction, scripture study, meditation, Buddhist etiquette, and outdoor activities.
• North American Humanistic Buddhism Academy (北美人間學院) An online learning platform providing Buddhist education in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, with courses on Buddhist practices, scripture study, meditation, and tea meditation across North American Fo Guang Shan temples.
• Short-Term Monastic Retreat (短期出家修道會) A week-long program allowing laypeople to experience monastic life, including meditation, Buddhist studies, and monastic etiquette. Sessions for adults (ages 18-60) and youth (ages 10-14, male). Education fee: $120; Accommodation and meals: $200.
• Sunday Communal Cultivation (週日共修法會) Weekly Sunday gatherings for collective Buddhist practice including sutra chanting, meditation, and study, held every Sunday at 10:00 AM in the Main Hall.
• Memorial Dharma Service (超薦法會) Weekly memorial service held every Sunday at 2:00 PM in the Main Hall for deceased loved ones, performed to dedicate merit and pray for rebirth in the Pure Land.
• Light Offering Dharma Service (光明燈法會) Monthly ceremony held on the 1st and 15th of the lunar calendar at 10:00 AM, where devotees offer lamps to Buddha for blessings, peace, and protection.
• Great Compassion Repentance Service (大悲懺法會) Monthly repentance ceremony held on the second Friday of each month at 7:30 PM, based on the Great Compassion Mantra and practices of Guanyin Bodhisattva.
• Filial Piety Ullambana Dharma Service (孝親報恩梁皇法會) Annual eight-day ceremony held August 9-16, featuring the Liang Emperor Repentance text, chanting of the Earth Store Sutra, and ceremonies for ancestors.
• Yogacara Offering Service (瑜伽焰口法會) Ceremony held on July 19 and August 16 for delivering food to hungry ghosts and offering merit to deceased, based on the Yogacara sutra.
• North America Ullambana Sangha Day (北美洲盂蘭盆供僧法會) Annual ceremony held on July 19 to offer food to monks, honoring ancestors and practicing filial piety during the Ghost Month.
• Buddha's Light Youth Symphony Orchestra (佛光青少年交響樂團) A youth orchestra that performs Buddhist music and cultural programs, marking special occasions such as Fo Guang Shan's 60th anniversary at venues including Whittier College's Ruth B. Shannon Center.
• Foguangyuan Art Gallery (佛光緣美術館) Art gallery showcasing Buddhist-inspired artworks and cultural exhibitions, hosted at the temple site.
• Sangha Food Offering (供僧道糧) Year-round fundraising program to support monastic living expenses, including clothing, medicine, and food provisions for monks, with options to sponsor as Sponsor, Robes, Medicine, Food, or joyful giving.
• Dharma Protector Membership (護法委員) Monthly donation program where members support the temple's operations for a 1-year term at $10/month or more. Includes name display on merit board, dedication prayers during major ceremonies, and temple assistance for family events.
• Online Merit Box (線上功德箱) Online donation system accepting contributions via PayPal for supporting temple operations and Buddhist charitable activities.
• Online Streaming Service (線上直播服務) Live webcast services for Dharma ceremonies and classes via YouTube, allowing remote participation from practitioners worldwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves multicultural community with bilingual Chinese/English programs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Foothill Unity Center (FUC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2026Foothill Unity Center is a non-profit charitable organization in Monrovia, California, serving the San Gabriel Valley community. Hsi Lai Temple volunteers regularly participate in food packaging and distribution activities, especially during holiday seasons. FUC distributes food and social services to 1500-2000 families monthly, totaling 3 million pounds annually. The partnership exemplifies the temple's commitment to community service and charitable work.
• Hai-Hua Cultural Foundation (海華文教基金會)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026Taiwan-based cultural foundation supporting overseas Chinese language education. The foundation sends volunteer teachers to Hsi Lai School for educational and cultural exchange programs, providing Chinese language instruction and cultural activities for the temple's youth programs.
• National United University, Taiwan (國立聯合大學)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026University in Taiwan that sends volunteer teachers to participate in Hsi Lai School's summer teaching program, providing cross-cultural educational experience for students and supporting the temple's Chinese language education mission.
• Wenzao University of Foreign Languages, Taiwan (文藻外語大學)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026Foreign language university in Taiwan participating in volunteer teacher exchange with Hsi Lai School, supporting Chinese language education and cultural exchange programs.
• Fo Guang Shan (佛光山)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFo Guang Shan is the global Buddhist organization that founded Hsi Lai Temple as its first regional headquarters (別院) in the United States. The temple operates under Fo Guang Shan's guidance, following its 'Humanistic Buddhism' (人間佛教) philosophy. Fo Guang Shan provides doctrinal guidance, educational resources, and connects Hsi Lai Temple to the worldwide network of Buddhist temples and BLIA chapters.
• Buddhist Light International Association (BLIA) Los Angeles AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal chapter of the international Buddhist lay organization that supports temple operations, community outreach, charitable activities, and cultural programs. BLIA members volunteer at temple events, participate in community celebrations, and organize charitable initiatives.
• Hsi Lai Buddhist Youth Symphony Orchestra (佛光青少年交響樂團)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth orchestra associated with the temple that performs concerts showcasing Buddhist culture and music. Holds major performances at venues like Whittier College's Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, celebrating occasions such as Fo Guang Shan's 60th anniversary.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• City of Ten Thousand Buddhas: Large Buddhist temple and monastery in Talmage, California, operating under the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association. Comparable to Hsi Lai as a major Chinese Buddhist temple in California offering religious services, educational programs, and community outreach to a similar demographic.
• Chuang Yen Monastery: Buddhist monastery in Carmel, New York, operated by the Buddhist Association of the United States. Comparable as a major Chinese Buddhist temple in the US offering religious services, retreats, and educational programs to a similar Chinese-American demographic.
• Dharma Drum Retreat Center: Buddhist retreat center in New York affiliated with Dharma Drum Mountain, offering meditation retreats, Buddhist education, and community programs. Comparable as a Chinese Buddhist organization operating retreat and educational programs for Western practitioners.
• Tzu Chi USA: US branch of the Taiwanese Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, operating charitable and humanitarian programs similar to Hsi Lai's community outreach efforts. Comparable as another major Taiwanese-rooted Buddhist organization with significant US presence and charitable footprint.

Emerging players

• Shambhala Mountain Center: Buddhist meditation center in Colorado offering retreats, teachings, and community programs. Comparable as a Western Buddhist organization providing educational retreats and meditation programs to a similar practitioner demographic interested in contemplative practice.
• Insight Meditation Society: Buddhist meditation retreat center in Massachusetts offering residential retreats, teacher training, and Buddhist education. Comparable as a major US Buddhist organization running structured educational retreat programs similar to Hsi Lai's monastic retreat offerings.

Broad incumbents

• SGI-USA (Soka Gakkai International): Large US Buddhist organization with extensive community centers, educational programs, and cultural events. Comparable as a major non-traditional Buddhist organization serving American practitioners with programs emphasizing peace, culture, and education similar to Fo Guang Shan's Humanistic Buddhism approach.
• Fo Guang Shan (Buddha's Light Mountain): The global parent Buddhist organization headquartered in Taiwan, of which Hsi Lai is a regional branch. Directly comparable as the broader network operator with hundreds of temples worldwide, sharing the same Humanistic Buddhism philosophy, programs, and educational curriculum.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hsilaitemple
• YouTubeyoutube.com/hsilaitemple
• Facebookfacebook.com/hsilaitemple
• Instagraminstagram.com/hsilaitemple
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hsi-lai-temple

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hsi Lai Temple