Thượng Hạnh Buddhist Monastery

This is a well-maintained monastery worth visiting if you’re looking to meditate or take a break from the hustle and bustle. I met Thai, a friendly and welcoming volunteer, who invited me to several free programs such as the Friday night meditation group in English and the Sunday service, which includes vegetarian food. He also shared their future expansion plans, including a larger temple, and gave me a tour of the main hall and gift shop. Visitors are welcome to explore the grounds or use the zen room for quiet meditation. The only caution is the condition of the public street, Woodlawn Rd, leading to the monastery, which is quite rough, so drive slowly, especially if you have a low-profile car.

This place is a hidden gem! Peaceful quiet with a kind and lovely staff. A wonderful gift shop with jewelry and gifts. They have group meditations with provided food and drink for free. A great place.

An amazing retreat minutes from the hustle and bustling city. Free to visit, which is a huge bonus! Walking the gardens and forest was a real treat! I left feeling calm, centered, and at peace full of love and gratitude!

The garden is really beautiful and relaxing. We met the people who take care of the garden, they are really nice and very welcoming.

Thuong Hanh Buddhist Monastery is a place of deep peace and spiritual nourishment. From the moment you arrive, you can feel the calm energy that surrounds the temple grounds. The monks and volunteers welcome everyone with kindness and humility, creating a space where visitors can truly find stillness and compassion within themselves. The sound of chanting, the fragrance of incense, and the beauty of the gardens all come together to inspire mindfulness and gratitude. I’m deeply thankful to the community that maintains this sacred place with such care and dedication, it truly embodies the spirit of harmony and compassion. :)

Peaceful and calm place to be. If you plan to visit this place , please be mindful and make sure to maintain a sense of peace & silence. It a beautiful monastery set in calm surroundings. Please be mindful to maintain that peace. At the time we visited the monastery , we were the only visitors. And so , it was a very serene experience for us. We paid our respects inside and took time out to sit in peace at the garden beside the monastery. You can meditate there if you like. The sound of birds and streaming water creates a sense of tranquility that makes you forget your surroundings and just compels you to submit to the calmness. The person attending to us informed us of meditation classes on Friday mornings. We also purchased few items from the gift shop. All in all , a very calming experience ✨️

Beautiful monastery and very close. Wonderful and welcoming people, a great place to get away from the noise and to re-ground yourself. They hold evening meditation groups on Friday from 7-8PM and have a service on Sunday followed by lunch. Please come and find yourself along with other amazing people and inner peace. You won't regret it!

Very peaceful. Temple folks (Vietnamese I think) were very warm and welcoming. We were asked if first time visit and then given directions around the temple. Enough seating arrangements in the shed so no concerns while moving around at 1 PM. Lunch was offered complimentary. It takes little adjusting to the taste but the soup was plenty for a person and with a variety of vegetables. Adequate parking space very close to the building. Over all we spend about an hour at the place and would probably visit again.

A monthly sanctuary retreat for us here in McKinney. What a gift we have here in our very own backyard of North Texas. Lovely. Peaceful. Serene. An environment in which to connect to self, nature, presence, being and all that is and may be, or not be. Blessings to all. May you be well.

This is an awesome place to come visit, it's so peaceful and relaxing! Every Friday night at 7pm there is an English speaking meditation group that welcomes everyone from all nationalities and religious backgrounds to come practice meditation & mindfulness. On Sundays at 10:30am there is service followed by a free authentic Vietnamese lunch, plus food for sale to take home! Also there is an amazing gift shop with a variety of take home pieces that are great gifts for holidays, birthdays and home decor! Well worth the experience, Come check it out!

The temple is very beautiful with big Buddha statue and the Zen garden. Very peaceful, highly recommended!