By: Natasia

History-

In 1975, Governor Robert Ray helped the refugees settle after the Vietnam War. Over 2000 Tai Dam people came to Iowa from Laos. In 1979, Governor Robert Ray helped victims of the Vietnam War settle again. This time it was South Vietnamese people. This community originated in a house on 27th Street and in 1998 they established their own temple, Chua Hong An, on Martin Luther King Boulevard. In 2007 the community gained a new facility that offered them room to grow on Southwest 9th Street. 

Practices/Services-

Weekly service from 2-4 pm every Sunday where you must take off your shoes when entering. This service consists of dharma talks and chanting meditations. Believes that the Pure Land is right here, so the community must work to manifest its reality. Devoted to Amita Buddha, who is the Buddha of immeasurable light and life, will be borne upon death and it’s easier for them to attain final Nirvana. Believes in the final Nirvana and how devotion to Amita Buddha and saying the name Amitabha makes it easier to reach Nirvana. Also, attends to the dead because of the belief that the deceased are still a part of the community. 

Distinctive Qualities-

The temple includes a classroom where the younger population learns Vietnamese Buddhism and the language and culture. There is also a tea room that is dedicated to visitors. Also, Thay, their teacher/master is granted his own suite. This temple has a statue of Siddhartha Gautama who is the historical Buddha and also the statue of Quan Am towers over the building and around her are 12 smaller statues of her personage which correspond to the 12 signs of the Vietnamese zodiac.

Demographics- 

This community is mostly made up of Vietnamese people. 

Branch- 

This community practices Mahayana, which is a form of Buddhism practiced in East Asia. More specifically this community practices a mixture of Pure Land and Zen Buddhism.