On March 10th, Ven. Chandima, founder of the Nagananda International Institute for Buddhist Studies in Sri Lanka, an institution that embraces the teachings of all three vehicles of Buddhism (www.niibs.lk) — visited the United States for a week-long trip. Twenty years ago, during a previous visit to the United States, Ven. Chandima Thera personally paid respects to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and received teachings.

Upon his arrival, he first visited the Holy Site to chant sutras and pay homage, followed by visits to the H. H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Cultural and Art Museum, Holy Miracles Temple, Holy Heavenly Lake Buddhist Town, and then the Benevolence Temple in Las Vegas. During his visit, Ven. Chandima presented a statue of the Buddha expounding the Dharma to the Buddhist Town, symbolizing another auspicious devotion for the spreading of true Buddha Dharma in the Western world. Ven. Chandima will lead the Sri Lanka Buddhist Culture and Education Foundation — rooted in the Three-Vehicle teachings — to build a sacred Buddhist Relic Pagoda at the Buddhist Town. The Foundation will also bring a sapling from the original Bodhi Tree and the Pāli Tripiṭaka scriptures to Buddhist Town. Going forward, the Buddhist Town will assist in establishing a Dharma Center at Nagananda International Institute for Buddhist studies. We will also invite the university's professors to join the effort in translating the Dharma discourses and sutras of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, so that the true Buddhist teaching will be available to the English-speaking world as soon as possible.

Ven. Chandima will lead a delegation at the end of May to participate in the Buddha's Birthday Dharma Assembly organized by the World Buddhism Association Headquarters. From June 3rd to 4th, the delegation will attend activities at Buddhist Town and introduce the project planned at the Buddhist Town. From June 5th to 6th, they will join a pilgrimage event at Holy Vajrasana Temple in Sanger, CA. While there, Ven. Chandima will co-host a Blessing Prayer Ceremony with Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche. He will also visit Hua Zang Si and San Francisco, and participate in activities in Northern California. Ven. Chandima is proficient in Chinese, Sanskrit, Pali and English, and we warmly welcome everyone to join in the exchange!

The June events at Holy Heavenly Lake are scheduled for June 3rd–4th

• June 3rd:

          5:00PM: Outdoor barbecue

          8:00PM: Meditation session and optional overnight camping

• June 4th:

          9:00AM-12:00PM: Wiser ball Friendship Tournament and Cultural Exhibition 

          12:30PM-4:00PM: Three panel discussion sessions & outdoor bazaar.

          4:30PM - 5:30PM: Releasing of lotus prayer water lanterns, praying for world peace,

                                           human aspiration for enlightenment, and the dispelling of all calamities!

For more details, please go to  Online registration is welcome. You may also call Buddhist Town directly and ask for Joanna for further information and assistance with arrangements.