Local Culture - The Mahayana Buddhist Temple in South Cairo

SOUTH CAIRO — Any driver passing by 710 Ira Vail Road can’t help being transfixed by the brightly colored shanmen style gate that stands sentinel against a long driveway into an incredible countryside that blends Eastern influence with the beauty of the Catskills. This remarkable property which started out as a small family’s country home has transformed over the years into the beautiful and sacred Mahayana Temple Retreat we know today. 

Founded by Annie Yu-Tang King Ying and her husband James Ying in 1971, the Mahayana Temple in South Cairo is but one of three different religious sites the couple began after arriving in the Eastern United States from California and remains the oldest Chinese Buddhist Temple operating on this coast. “They came over to Los Angeles in 1962 from Taiwan, and it was very difficult back then for a Chinese family to purchase a house in America” begins Molly Chen who oversees administration at the temple and leads its guided tours, “So next they tried here on the East coast and managed to buy a building for themselves in what is now today the Disney Store of Times Square”. 

Despite the fact that Annies family back in China were wealthy, she pursued enlightenment through Buddhism and the surrender of material or what are sometimes referred to as “Earthly” pleasures and possessions.It was for this reason that when Annie and her husband had settled in New York City she was surprised to learn that although there was a strong Buddhist following within the area, there were no temples for worship, and so she began plans to make one of her own.

“She would hold prayer in the back of the shop at first, eventually transforming a second store space they purchased into a bigger venue for that” continues Molly. “But still there was not enough room for everyone in attendance”. “For something like this you need somewhere more remote, more quiet” she explains. It was at this juncture that the Yings decided upon using property that they had acquired upstate for a rural residence as a base for a more spacious and placid temple of prayer citing that “One person’s happiness is not true happiness”.

Annie even moved into the original home they had on the property full time to personally oversee construction of the temple using local contractors from the community. Once the temple was completed both Annie and her husband serving as founding co-chairmen welcomed parishioners from Albany, Manhattan, and all around the Hudson Valley to practice Buddhism in the light of the Ying’s generosity. Famous monks from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Korea were invited to the temple to speak and offer guidance to the property's many visitors of the time. “Chinese Buddhists are not so welcome in places like Myanmar” says Molly. “One of the monks who came to teach at the upstate temple still had bullet marks in his hat that were quite shocking to see!”  

Molly herself was working for the famous Kempinski Hotel in Beijing when she answered a job offer to help with merchandising the Epcot Center’s Chinese Pavilion at Walt Disney World in Florida. “There was not a whole lot of understanding for the products they were selling there, so they hired us to help promote them and it was through those connections I eventually made my way up to the Disney Store in Times Square and came full circle with the Ying family” explains Molly. 

Mahayana is an older Sanskrit term that means “Great Vehicle” and promotes a wide array of different teachings and practices gathered from many Buddhist philosophies. Kwan Yin Hall, one of the original buildings from the site’s inception located at the right hand side of the Main Hall, has been scheduled for renovations in the upcoming year. The temple will also be celebrating the Lunar New Year this month with a series of events that welcome guests to attend. The ceremonies will be an up close opportunity for visitants to explore and celebrate the Buddhist culture that the Ying’s have established here in Greene County, starting with a chanting ceremony for the Thousand Buddhas that has been scheduled for Friday the 21st and continuing into Sunday the 23rd over three days where followers will devote each one towards looking back at the past, understanding the present, and planning for the future. On Sunday the 23rd there will also be a traditional prayer to Buddha for protection while entering into the new year of 2025. These events will commence at 8AM and continue throughout the day until 5PM near sunset.

The grounds offer a peaceful trek through a natural setting along a large pond beset by a seven storied tower recognized as the Jade Pagoda that offers sweeping views of the land from its top floor. A stone memorial opposite of the pond describes the lives of the Ying family as well as the temple's history next to the Joy Cottage that once served as the families residence on the property currently operating as a short term rental for travelers to experience this rare and tranquil establishment overnight. The temple's Main Hall includes a cafeteria that serves authentic chinese cuisine, a gift shop that offers charms and fortunes, and of course Mimi the shrine's famous temple cat! “In Japanese culture, cat’s love chasing shiny objects and are thought to bring good luck with money,” Molly laughs. “Visitors to the temple are always excited to see Mimi and we heard that she is even trending on social media sites like YouTube now thanks to all our guests”. 

The Ying's surviving son, Dr Nelson Ying is a scientist with a doctorate in nuclear physics as well as a philanthropist and business entrepreneur with a well decorated reputation at the Orlando Science Center in Central Florida. When reached for comment on this remarkable legacy he says “After a lifetime of thinking about and practicing Buddhism, I have barely scratched the surface”. “All I can say is that practicing Buddhism has allowed me to smooth out the ups-and-downs in my life”. 

 “I do not spend the whole day meditating as I have read that some practitioners do; nor do I even spend an hour a day doing meditation” Dr. Ying continues.

 “I would sometimes think deeply about aspects of Buddhism, write it down, and then attempt to follow-through by applying them to my daily life”.