Zu Lai Temple, Buddhist temple in Cotia, Brazil.
Zu Lai is a Buddhist temple in Cotia, Brazil, set on wide grounds with gardens, meditation rooms and stone warrior statues at the entrance. The complex combines large buildings with carefully kept outdoor areas that invite walking and quiet reflection.
The temple opened on October 5, 2003, after Master Hsing Yün received land from the Chang family in 1992. This founding marked the first Fo Guang Shan monastery across all of Latin America.
The name translates as 'the Buddha that is coming' and refers to Maitreya, the future Buddha rooted in Buddhist teaching. Visitors today can join public ceremonies where monks chant in traditional robes and the hall fills with incense smoke.
The temple opens Tuesday through Friday at noon and on weekends at 9:30 AM, with all visitors welcome until 5 PM. Free parking is available on site and a restaurant serves vegetarian dishes.
The architecture combines elements from Tang Dynasty palaces with modern Western building techniques, creating a synthesis of Eastern and Western design. This blend appears both in the curved roofs and in the materials chosen for stability and accessibility.
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