Upon meeting a monk or nun in the temple, please join your palms and greet them with: "Dharma Master, Amitabha Buddha!" When departing, say "Amitabha Buddha" rather than a "Goodbye." Please keep this respectful practice in mind!

The monastery is a pure and sagely Way-Place. As such, smoking is completely unsuited to this sacred environment. Neither should we walk about inside wearing slippers, leather shoes, or clogs, nor should we consume food while walking and scatter the remains. Such actions directly violate the pure regulations of the monastery.

The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas is of utmost importance in the life of all Buddhists. Upon entering a Buddha Hall, Buddhists or visitors must pay respect by means of paying homage, greet, making obeisance and bowing to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas!

A lay disciple is not supposed to stand in the middle of the hall, browsing around, while making obeisance to the Buddhas. It is considered rude to treat the images of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas with the intention to scrutinize them as art pieces.

A Buddha Hall is a Holy Place where people must restrain themselves from chitchatting or make noise. Unruly people who insist on talking loudly, loitering and worst of all, lying around as they like, are behaviors that go against the monasteries' rules.

Some children treat the Buddha Hall as a playground by running around and touching everything within their reach. Consequently, parents are fully responsible for instructing their children on proper conduct.

Parents who understand the benefits of practicing the Buddha Dharma should encourage their children and youth to learn Buddhism. By encouraging them to participate in Dharma Assemblies and listen to Dharma talks, parents can guide them to learn from the Buddha Dharma, helping them become filial children and upstanding citizens.

As a pure dwelling, the monastery is protected and upheld by the deities of the Eight Groups of Dharma Protectors. Anyone who spits carelessly promotes the spread of disease through unhygienic habits. Such offenders harm the sacred Sangha Gem, carrying heavy karmic consequences that will lead to falling into the hell realm and undergoing the retributions of acute suffering.

It is against the rules of monastery if followers or visitors, place their umbrellas, raincoats, hats, handbags, purses and other personal items on the offering table. They must place them at designated location that is suitable to place their personal belongings.

Layman who wishes to make obeisance to the Buddha must do so by standing on the right or left hand side of the hall. The middle of the hall is a designated honorable position which is assigned for the Abbot of the Monastery.

The adorned Buddha Hall is a holy place to be respected; therefore, lay disciples are expected to dress appropriately. It is not advisable to wear miniskirts, shorts, or low-cut and bare-back blouses, as such attire shows a lack of respect for the solemnity of the Buddha Hall.

We must understand that making obeisance is the highest form of respect we can show to the Buddhas. Therefore, we should wash our hands and cleanse ourselves before bowing to them, never acting carelessly. Indeed, if one sincerely bows to the Buddha just once, offenses as numerous as the sands of the Ganges will be eradicated.

We should avoid consuming meat before reciting sutras or bowing to the Buddha. In addition, chewing gum while praying to the Buddhas is considered deeply disrespectful.

For one to display a solemn appearance with great respect while making obeisance to the Buddha, a person has to stand upright, eyes and mind focus and place his palms together firmly. 

For those who are new to the Monastery and do not know the correct way in making obeisance to The Buddha, they should consult the Dharma Masters or those who stand beside them. It is not advisable to conduct in a superficial or insincere manner.

Do not walk in front of individuals bowing to the Buddha, as it distracts them from their practice. This behavior is also looked upon as inconsiderate and disrespectful.

We should wash our hands before handling a sutra. It must be held respectfully with both hands, as if the Buddha were standing right before us. The preferred posture for recitation is kneeling, but it is also acceptable to either stand or sit.

The Buddha sutras are the Dharma Gem, which is protected and upheld by the deities of the Eight Groups of Dharma Protectors. We should never place them on the floor, leave them dangling off the edge of a surface, or lay them with their front covers facing downward. Doing so violates proper conduct and is a serious sign of disrespect.

At the monastery, we must never walk in front of the Sutra Recitation Assembly or take photographs in complete disregard of the ongoing service. Doing so disrupts the harmonious atmosphere of the adorned temple and constitutes disorderly conduct.

Remember, when carrying a Buddha image with both hands, you should refrain from bowing to others or exchanging greetings. The image must always be held above the waist.

The altar is meant solely for placing Buddha images and ritual offerings. Personal belongings must not be placed on this table, as doing so constitutes a disrespectful offense against the Triple Gems!

While at the monastery, we must never take anything without permission. We must not take food from the kitchen or fruits from the altar to consume. Doing so constitutes the offense of stealing—specifically, stealing offerings meant for the Permanent Dwelling that have been contributed from the ten directions!

We should not act out of greed, nor should we use the monastery's amenities for our own convenience or comfort. If we need to use the telephone, we must pay accordingly or make a donation in the Blessing Box. Otherwise, even a small act of misuse can bring about great retribution. We must always be careful not to commit grave offenses through minor negligence!

Buddhists and visitors who receive a blessed gift from the Abbot or other Dharma Masters are encouraged to place a donation in the Merit Box. This gesture is a meaningful expression of mutual respect.

To create good affinity with all beings, vegetarian banquets are organized during Vesak Day celebrations and other Dharma Assemblies. After enjoying the meal, we should make a donation to the Merit Box, as this food is provided by the generosity of the multitude from the ten directions. We should never take these offerings for granted or consume them without giving back.

When receiving meals at the monastery, please line up orderly rather than rushing for food. It is our responsibility to strictly observe the pure rules without violation.

When speaking to a Dharma Master who is seated, we should stand respectfully beside them, and we must not sit down unless invited to do so. While standing, we should maintain an upright posture without leaning against walls or slouching, as improper posture is a sign of great disrespect.

When speaking to a Dharma Master, we should converse clearly, gently, and with a joyful heart, always maintaining a respectful manner. Furthermore, we must be careful never to interrupt the Dharma Master while they are speaking.

When the Dharma Master is giving a Dharma talk or instructions, we must not chat with those sitting beside us or fall asleep. This is considered disrespectful.

We must never use items belonging to a Dharma Master, such as their chairs, bed, utensils, or clothing. If we are ever unsure, we must always ask for permission before touching or using anything. This is a matter of basic courtesy and respect.

We must always use both hands when making offerings to the Dharma Masters. Never offer food that we have already tasted or eaten, as presenting left-over or tasted food is considered an offense of giving impure offerings.

Prior to entering the room of a Dharma Master, please knock on the door three times. If no response is given, recognize that the master may be working or resting, and depart immediately. Under no circumstances should you force entry into the room.

Please refrain from making formal obeisance to a Dharma Master while they are engaged in daily activities such as eating, resting, sleeping, writing, talking on the phone, or attending to personal hygiene. When crossing paths outdoors, formal obeisance is unnecessary—a respectful greeting is sufficient.

When making obeisance to a Dharma Master, we should do so by facing the direction of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, rather than bowing directly to the master's physical body. Bowing directly to the person is not in accordance with proper etiquette.

If a Dharma Master presents you with a gift to create wholesome affinity, always accept it with both hands. You can express your thanks by reciting "Amitabha Buddha." Never receive a gift with a single hand, as this is considered highly disrespectful.

When staying at a monastery, we must strictly abide by its regulations. For instance, lights must be switched off at the designated curfew. We must not turn them back on at our own whim to read or gossip, as this is not only wasteful but also constitutes a violation of the precept against stealing monastic resources.

Visitors leaving the monastery after a stay must not take any monastic items home. This strict rule applies even to minor objects like a needle or thread. Taking such items constitutes a direct violation of the precept against stealing.

In today's modern society, mobile phones are everywhere. For the sake of convenience, many people bring them into the temple, only to listen to the Sutra half-heartedly while managing their business affairs on their devices. Distracting oneself during a sacred teaching is a grave offense!

Please refrain from bringing personal audio devices, radios, or portable speakers into the monastery grounds. Listening to music or singing aloud disrupts the environment and disregards the presence of the Dharma Masters and fellow practitioners. Such behavior is considered a serious breach of temple etiquette.

Out of respect for the assembly, please do not attend recitation services immediately after exercising while wearing sweaty attire. Arriving at the shrine hall in inappropriate clothing disrupts the purity of the environment and creates unwholesome karma.

As a pure Way-Place, the monastery requires both long-time cultivators and newcomers to dwell together in perfect harmony. Those who understand the rules should kindly instruct the new arrivals. Never let arrogance take root by looking down on anyone—this only reveals a lack of true spiritual cultivation and fosters needless dispute. Instead of sowing seeds of blessing, one would simply be committing further offenses.

The merit and virtue of reciting Sutras are truly immeasurable, which is why we should strive to chant together in perfect harmony. We recite the Sutras so that our own ears can hear the words clearly, not to impress others with the quality of our voice. It is highly disrespectful to scream at the top of our lungs and disturb the assembly, especially if our volume drowns out the leading monastic. Therefore, we must remain deeply mindful of our behavior.

At times, disputes may arise within a monastery, but a wise person will always refrain from taking part in them. If someone approaches you to gossip about the faults or conflicts of others, you should simply listen mindfully and try to offer gentle advice. We must never fuel the fire by bringing up additional grievances, as doing so only creates more negative karma.