We attended the June 3-4 events at Holy Heavenly Lake in Hesperia, California. This started on June 3rd with an outdoor barbecue by the lake and a meditation session led by Ven. Zhengda Jiaozun in a nearby field. Both events enjoyed a warm rain that ended in a lovely rainbow at just before sunset.
On the morning of June 4 we visited the site where we hope to build a community Dharma Center, The Holy Vajrasana Green Tara Temple, related hermit-caves for solitary retreats, and support facilities. We also attended a ceremony where Ven. Chandima, an honored guest from Sri Lanka, received a set of the published works of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. In exchange, he gave beautiful gold stupas to his hosts. There was also a Wiser ball Friendship Tournament and Cultural Exhibition held that morning followed by panel seminar discussions and an outdoor bazaar. The following video captures some of these activities. There was also a release of lotus prayer water lanterns that were prayers for world peace, human aspiration for enlightenment, and the dispelling of all calamities. Since we were unable to stay for that we do not have any photos yet of that activity. We needed to drive back to Sanger to prepare for the Bodhi Tree Blessing Ceremony conducted by Ven. Chandima the next day at the Holy Vajrasana Temple & Retreat Center.
One of the panel seminars focused on what is planned for Buddhist Town and the status of the various projects. The first phase consists of four major projects that will provide the core development of Buddhist Town: On the East side of the lake will be the United World Buddhism Association Headquarter’s (1) True Buddha Temple complex, the main feature of Buddhist Town. The Lotus Plaza can be seen to the north of the lake above the gold domed Ancient Buddha Hall of the True Buddha Temple complex. On the south edge of the lake is their (2) other project. Above the lake will be (3) Fa Chan Temple and Monastery, the future headquarters for the Benevolence Temple in Las Vegas. The circular building complex at the bottom of the site is the (4) Macang Yuan, the temple and monastery to be built by Macang Monastery in San Francisco.
Two projects from the second phase of Buddhist Town were also discussed at the seminar held at Buddhist Town on June 4: The proposed development of a Sri Lankan Center and our Holy Vajrasana Green Tara Temple complex. Two other developments from Japan and Taiwan were also mentioned, but were not presented.
Ven. Chandima presented what he plans on building at Heavenly Lake. He showed us renderings of the center and stupa he plans to build. He has indicated that the stupa will contain holy relics. He also plans on starting a branch of his school, the Nagananda International Institute for Buddhist Studies (NIIBS) at the site. He has also promised to bring Holy Bodhi Trees for Buddhist Town like the one we have at our temple.
I presented our plans for a site east of the True Buddha Temple complex that will start with a small dharma center and a few hermit caves for solitary retreats. A Holy Vajrasana Green Tara Temple is also planned for the site with additional hermit caves and support facilities. The plans for the site in three phases superimposed on a photo of the actual site are shown below. The circular structures are the plans for proposed hermit-caves.
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