Chua An Lac was started when Thich Thien Quang and an attendant left Chua Quan Am in Greensboro.  The temple was dedicated in January 2000 and has a membership of around 100, nearly all Vietnamese-American but also including a few European-Americans.  The monastery has about two acres of land, with a small house that serves as the temple, a smaller building used to house retreat participants, a (defunct) swimming pool, and a large open space used for larger holiday gatherings and rituals.  Efforts are underway to clear some of the undergrowth and install Buddha statues on the land.  

Inside the temple is a modest altar room, a hall for Dharma talks and eating, a kitchen, and a couple rooms used by the monks.  Services take place on Sunday mornings, from about 10:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  They begin with a thirty-minute Dharma talk in Vietnamese, followed by chanting of Sutras and prayers to Adida Buddha and bowing before the altar.  The most commonly chanted Sutras (sacred texts) are the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, the Avatamsaka Sutra, the Lotus Sutra, the Repentence Sutra, the Ksitigharbha Sutra, the Medicine King Sutra, and the Shorter Pure Land Sutra.  All chants are in Vietnamese, but the Sutra books have a roman phonetic presentation, allowing English-speakers to participate.  Sunday services attract about twenty people.  Afterwards everyone gathers for a vegetarian lunch.

On saturday mornigs there is a smaller service from 8 to 10 a.m.  The first hour consists of the Compassion Mantra, followed by an hour of silent sitting meditation (either silent recitation of the Buddha's name or following the breath).  These less devotional services only draw one or two people a week.  The temple holds monthly twenty-four-hour retreats, usually with approximately five participants, from noon on Saturday to noon Sunday.  Participants observe the eight precepts (no killing, lying, stealing, sexual misconduct, intoxicants, music, adornments, or comfortable beds, as well as strict vegetarianism), perform walking meditation while chanting the Buddha's name, and attend Dharma classes (in Vietanamese).

Because the temple is still new and the membership isn't large, the two monks work during the week at a local company that produces foam for children's car seats.

JW