A gate of three arches located welcomes
visitors to the City of 10,000 Buddhas. In
the 1930s, this complex served as a state
hospital and featured over seventy large
buildings including three gymnasiums, a
swimming pool, fire station, and incinerator
with underground connections for electricity,
water, and even air-conditioning. A severe
drought in the 1970s forced a closure of the
facility when all efforts to drill a well failed to
find any water. After purchasing the facility, the Venerable Master Hua directed an
effort to dig down more than 100 feet, and
water was finally discovered. An elementary,
secondary school and the Dharma Realm
Buddhist University are now housed within
the City. The Administration Building
registers and welcomes visitors, and features
an exhibition room, museum, and book
and gift shops. Of all the treasures of the
City, the most memorable is the Jewelled
Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas, which is
where the assemblies of disciples gather to
attend daily ceremonies. Although the hall
was once an indoor basketball court, it now
features a massive wooden Buddha with a
thousand hands, and the walls are covered
in compartments. These alcoves house
10,000 Buddhas, all created by Venerable
Master Hua himself. Day visitors can enjoy
the campus every day from 8am to 6pm; the
restaurant from 11:30am to 3:30pm every
day except Tuesday; and the gift shop and
bookstore on Monday, Thursday and Friday
from 1-5pm.
WHERE: 2001 Talmage Rd., Ukiah