A Buddha’s Gate Opens in the West

As Buddha’s teaching comes West,
Regardless of age and race,
With a direct mind one enters Reality.

The Gate opens far and wide,
With many Dharma paths,
All who follow will reach Spiritual Peak.

Many thousands of years ago, the Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. He realized that all sentient beings possessed an inherent Buddha nature but could not attain it because of their attachments and defilements. He devoted his life to helping others to understand his realization. Following the Buddhist teaching tradition, on October 10th, 2000, Venerable Master Wei Chueh established Buddha Gate Monastery in Lafayette, California. Since then, Buddha Gate has attracted local Buddhists as well as people of all ages who are interested in Buddhism and meditation.

The sangha of Buddha Gate Monastery, devotes their life toward helping all those who aspire to practice and incorporate Buddhism into their daily lives. The classes in Buddhism and Chan (Zen) meditation, both in English and Chinese, Buddhist liturgical ceremonies and meditation retreats are actively hosted, with the aim of purifying and calming preoccupied minds, and helping people to realize their true self-nature.

Venerable Master Wei Chueh had established Zen centers and monasteries across the United States, as well as in Italy, Australia, Thailand, the Philippines, Japan, and Taiwan. Currently, other U.S. monasteries and Zen Centers are located in Sunnyvale, Pomona, Houston, Atlanta, Seattle and Oklahoma City. In addition there are over 90 similar facilities in Taiwan. A pure and peaceful place for people to restore their calmness and wisdom.