The History of Mahayana Buddhism

Mahayana Buddhism originated in India and is believed to be associated with some of the oldest known existing branches of Buddhism. The temple our group visited was devoted to this philosophical way of thinking, and its practices. More than half of all Buddhist practitioners participate in the Mahayana tradition, making it the largest major tradition of Buddhism existing today (Statistics on Buddhism). In the course of its history, Mahayana Buddhism spread from India to various other Asian countries such as " China, Japan, Korea, Tibet and Mongolia" (Mahayana Buddhism). The Eastern States Buddhist Temple of America, Inc., founded in 1962, is the oldest Chinese (Mahayana) Buddhist temple on the eastern coast of the United States. It was founded by Mrs. Annie Ying, and funded by her husband Mr. James Ying. The Ying family, originally from China, faced many immigration hardships when coming to the United States. They understood the plight of Chinese immigrants, and sought to make those in the New York area feel at home by making the temple.

In 1947, the quota of allowed Chinese immigrants at that time was only 105 Chinese per year due to the Immigration Act of 1924. After their arrival into the United States, the Ying family tried to settle down in Pasadena, California. Right after World War II, when the United States was not the most hospitable place for Asians and certain other minorities, the Ying family returned to China. They ended up encountering the communist revolution. Then they relocated first to Hong Kong and then later to Taiwan. While in Taiwan, Mr. Ying established the Triangle Feather Company.

In 1955, the Ying family immigrated for the second time to the United States. This, again, was not easy considering the Uni...

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...uch as a begging bowl or robe, or important Buddhist scriptures. Commemorative stupas are built to commemorate events in the lives of Buddha or his disciples. Symbolic stupas are built to symbolize different aspects of Buddhist theology. Votive stupas are constructed to commemorate visits or to gain spiritual benefits, usually at the site of prominent stupas which are regularly visited.

The temple’s main chamber contains a massive statue of the Buddha. Along the walls of the chamber are numerous paintings related to the history of the Buddha’s ascension. Underneath each painting is a historical excerpt of the Buddha’s ascension, and each painting is numbered and ordered chronologically along the walls. The tone these paintings set makes it clear that the Ying family, and indeed all those involved with temple, greatly value the Mahayana traditions and philosophies.