A cultural and economic asset to the Ukiah community
With its classes, retreats and conferences, the institute will be a cultural asset to its neighbors. The project will also be an economic asset, both during the construction phase and as a destination site. The Institute will be a distinguished addition to the attractions of Mendocino County as a spiritual and architectural landmark. The Institute is designed to be self-sufficient in order to minimize impact on the land and on local services. It will be a non-vehicular campus; all traffic to the site will be routed via Talmage Road to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, where visitors and residents will be able to park and transfer to shuttles. Hidden by the ridge to the west, the new buildings will not be visible from Talmage and Ukiah.
The founder of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association possessed a magnitude of spirit and vision that continues to deeply inspire people of all cultures and nationalities.
Founded in San Francisco in 1959 by the late Venerable Master Hsüan Hua, the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association emphasizes religion, education, publishing, and social service in its work to preserve the spiritual heritage of Buddhism in the western world. The Association now operates 28 branches in six countries. It directs primary and secondary schools, Dharma Realm Buddhist University and religious training programs. Through its Buddhist Text Translation Society, it has published hundreds of Buddhist scriptures, explanatory commentaries, and essays, in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Spanish.