The Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas

An American monk, Heng Shun (Eternal Ease), spent much time before he became a monk in searching for his ideal teacher. Failing to find one, he could only go to Asia to prepare. Later he returned to the U.S. and sought to find a center of Buddhism that would cause him to willingly stay.

Although Buddhist materials and holy books are quite common in the United States and those who can discuss the ideas and doctrine many, when one wants to go one step further and study, it is not easy to find a teacher and a place.

Only when he saw followers of the Sagely City, with their extremely strict observance of Buddhist practices, and the ascetic spirit of the teacher, did he decide to end his wandering and stay.

The Sagely City is located in Talmage in California. It is far from urban areas, has no resplendent temple of gold and jade, no fancy buildings or ornamentation, and not even the weaving of wanderers generally to be found at Buddhist holy places. It is more like a quiet farm.

Though this place is called "peaceful, quiet, tranquil" by its neighbors, it has attained considerable fame.

Twelve years ago, two American followers who emerged from here, in a gesture seeking world peace, spent two years going from the Gold Wheel Sagely Monastery in Los Angeles, to the Sagely City 800 kilometers away--by the method of prostrating themselves every three steps. They slept on the roadside and ate what was given to them. This brought renown to the Sagely City.

Last September, its fame spread when the Ukiah Daily Journal reported that a girl of Jewish descent educated in the Sagely City's affiliated secondary school had been admitted to Harvard, Stanford, and Berkeley.

Twenty-seven years ago, Master Hsuan Hua, responding to the requests of followers who had immigrated to the U.S., came from Hong Kong to San Francisco and established the Gold Mountain Sagely Monastery. Because the temple was located in busy San Francisco, Hsuan Hua sought a quieter location for cultivating Buddhism; after a five-year search he purchased land from the state in the Ukiah Valley near Ukiah City. The Master hoped that this spot would become a beacon of Buddhist enlightenment shining on all, and renamed it "the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas."

Because Hsuan Hua maintained the idea that it was better to have only two or three believers every year, but to have them truly set roots and not leave the path, than to have many people come to pray but not really understand, the first few years the center took little initiative in contacts with the outside world aside from classes in Buddhist studies and discussion of the great books of the Mahayana branch by the Master.

Under the instruction of the Master, the followers live a life of strict observance of Buddhist practices. They sleep five hours a day, eat one meal a day and live on a strict routine. Aside from classes, there is only reading the scriptures, meditation, and translating. . . . Aside from discussing the classic books in class, the work places of the sexes are separate, and conversation is prohibited.

Some might find this method inappropriate to the new world. But contrary to expectations, the Master has among the highest number (over 30) Western followers of any Buddhist organization in the U.S. There are even specialists with M.A.s or Ph.Ds who can read Sanskrit or Pali.

There is reason to the saying that teachers are hard to find. In the short history of Buddhism in America, there are many cases of people masquerading as teachers, even so far as including "sexual liberation" or failing to prohibit alcohol to attract followers. This not only led astray some sincere would-be followers, but created skepticism about Buddhism.

Hsuan Hua says that he by no means excludes adaptation to local conditions, but that this does not mean that one simply opens the door to all comers. How can one tell true from false? He maintains his original thoughts: "No matter where, one must still do one's duty, and do as followers of Buddhism should do, then things are fine."

One major "duty" at the Sagely City is translating. The Master believes that translating was important to Buddhism becoming a major stream of thought in China, and the materials must be translated to spread in the West. Work is underway on translations not only in English but also in German, Italian, and Spanish.

Education is also important. The Master believes that habits in American society are in urgent need of change and that the root of the disorder is that education is not properly done. The Developing Virtue Secondary School and the Instilling Virtue Elementary School were established after getting permission from the state government. They are free and accept students of any nationality. Followers of the Sagely City are teachers; besides the ordinary curriculum, students also study filial piety, loyalty, and other Chinese ethical philosophy, and do t'ai-chi-ch'uan exercises and meditation.

"The teachers at the Sagely City want to teach students how to become good people who can tell right from wrong," says Shari Epstein, the girl accepted by top universities. At her school, everyone knows that the most important things are honesty and being an ethical person.

In the past, Ukiah residents were dubious about the Sagely City. Not only do they now accept it--most of the students there are local residents. There are more and more groups asking the Master to come to give classes or lectures; some even take the initiative to open sites to spread the teachings, and the Sagely City currently has five centers in North America. Two abbots in Taiwan also offered him sites on his visit there two years ago.

Now 80, Hsuan Hua says his purpose is not to convert all Americans to Buddhism. "Those who are destined to, let them come." The most important thing is that each person be a good person in his or her own beliefs.

[Picture Caption]

If there wasn't this gate there, you'd never know you were about to enter a Buddhist holy place.

Disciples at the Sagely City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in class discussing how best to translate Buddhist holy books.

After a morning service, students at the middle and primary schools affiliated with the Sagely City return to the classroom.

Master Hsuan Hua believes that the study of Buddhism starts with being an upright person.

If there wasn't this gate there, you'd never know you were about to enter a Buddhist holy place.

Master Hsuan Hua believes that the study of Buddhism starts with being an upright person.

After a morning service, students at the middle and primary schools affiliated with the Sagely City return to the classroom.