Final Project- Michael Lu

(Photo of Mendo State Hospital)(URL:http://www.pacificsites.com/~rparker/msh1.jpg)

The property in Ukiah which is now the City of the Ten Thousand Buddhas was formally the site of the Mendocino State Hospital, which was founded in 1889. At that time, all the buildings were first class, and there were three gymnasiums, one swimming pool, a fire station, and many more facilities, which totaled to over seventy buildings. It was such a magnificent place, at least until there was the shortage of water. The hospital had no other choice but to close down, and it was up for sale. The Venerable Master realized that the site was ideal for cultivation, so he visited the valley three times and negotiated with the seller many times.Finally in 1974, Dharma Realm Buddhist Association purchased the property and established an international monastery for propagating the Buddhadharma there. The city comprises 488 acres, and is a beautiful tourist place and is a very good place for cultivation, considering the quietness and "old-fashionedness".

In the beginning, there was a shortage of water. The Venerable Master Hua solved that predicament; allegedly, the Venerable Master told the workers to dig in a place where they had already digged before, and water came from there. For more details, you can read Tom Johnson's post on “CTTB Well". The Thousand Hands and Thousand Eyes Guan Yin Bodhisattva Opening Light Ceremony was on 1979, and the Opening of the Dining Hall, the Buddha Hall, the Mountain Gate, and other structures and buildings was in the year 1982. The Instilling Goodness Schools were founded in 1973, and the Developing Virtue Schools were founded in 1976, along with the Dharma Realm Buddhist University. Many events happened between 1979 and 2010 at the City of the Ten Thousand Buddhas, and this great wayplace is currently the "center" of American Buddhism. Yet, how did this place start from a rundown, abandoned hospital to such an adorned and magnificent place?

There is only four words required: The Venerable Master Hua. I heard from somewhere( sorry, no source, and is paraphrased) of the Venerable Master saying,"Such a large and vast wayplace, The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, did not just come into existence from nowhere; it was created by all the years that I bore suffering and pain; that is where CTTB came from!" I feel, personally, that the Venerable Master's virtue and conduct took across living beings. That is why, even after 15 years has passed since the Venerable Master entered Nirvana, that all the monasteries the Venerable Master established are not only still standing, but are even flourishing day by day! Also, the Venerable Master used his three great vows as a basis for teaching beings in America; propagating the Buddhadharma in the West, translating Buddhist sutras, shastras, and other texts into English, and establishing education. With this steong foundation, he was able to take disciples, tell them to translate sutras into different languages, and establish DRBU, IGS, and DVS, allowing Buddhists and young students to get educated. Why education? The Venerable Master once said," Education is the nation's best defense." With education, one will know what is proper and deviant, and one then can help contribute to the Buddhadharma. Here's an example;some of the seniors of DVBS this year were notty, unobedient, and disrespectful when they first came here. But after two, three, four, or five years, they have become filial, respectful, and virtuous. Thus, coming to this school will allow one to be a good person, and for them to benefit the world in the near future.

Here is the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas that the Venerable Master gave to us:

(URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN2NU0NoNVM&feature=PlayList&p=8D46E6DDF8C08BBA&playnext_from=PL&index=35&playnext=2)
We can never repay the kindness and compassion that the Venerable Master gave to us, yet, the best we can do as obedient disciples is to emulate the Venerable Master, and quickly become Buddhas. This way, we will not hamper the Venerable Master, and we will be able to benefit all living beings, thus allowing the Venerable Master to be full of bliss and happiness.