Corvallis groups hope for Buddhist temple

by Kyle Odegard, Albany Democrat-Herald, May 11, 2013

Corvallis, Oregon (USA) -- Corvallis has about five or six Buddhist groups that meet for meditation and study, but they’re somewhat hidden and scattered throughout town.

That might be changing soon.

The Corvallis Zen Circle is leading an effort to create a local temple, and has formed a religious nonprofit to raise funds for the new facility, said its founder, Abby Terris.

Two other Corvallis Buddhist groups will use the temple regularly, added Terris, who is known as Mushin in the Buddhist community.

“We really do need a place that’s larger and more versatile,” Terris said.

Len Coop belongs to Drolma Samten Chuling, which will be part of the new temple, and he was excited by the possibilities.

“There’s a lot going on nowadays, but most of the groups are very small, and they’re not very institutionalized. They’re very informal,” said Coop, an Oregon State University associate professor of entomology.

Terris said a centralized location with more space would make it easier for people to get involved.

“When you have a place, then more people come,” she said.

Terris said interest in Buddhism has increased greatly since she moved to Corvallis 20 years ago.

According to census records, Buddhism is the fastest growing religion in the United States, said James Blumenthal, an associate professor at OSU who specializes in Buddhist philosophy.

Blumenthal added that his OSU classes on Buddhism always fill up and students are enthusiastic.

“People in their late teens, early twenties, they are exploring different ideas, different cultures,” Blumenthal said.

According to Terris, the temple would need about an acre of land, and would include a meditation hall and a memorial garden, where people can come and spread ashes of their loved ones.

“We’d like it to be centrally located, but accessible easily and safely by bus and bicycle. There are a lot of people in the community who want to use this that aren’t car dependent,” Terris said.

The facility also could draw people in from Linn County and the coast, and serve as a venue for visiting Buddhist teachers.

Anytime a Buddhist speaker or expert talks in Corvallis, the event is well attended, Coop said.

The facility’s name will be the Sangha Jewel Temple. Sangha refers to the community of practitioners, as well as the community of all beings.

And the Buddhist community in Corvallis feels welcomed by the greater community, Terris said.

“Even people who aren’t Buddhist express a lot of support for us creating a meditation hall here,” she added.

We Need Your Help to Train the
Buddhist AI Chat Bot NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)

For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your name in the payment slip. Thank you.

Dear Friends in the Dharma,

We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.

Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:

One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.

How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.

For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.

Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.

Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.

Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.

Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.

Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!

May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,

With deepest gratitude,

Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team

Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau

We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.

If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv

Search Buddhist Channel

Corvallis groups hope for Buddhist temple

by Kyle Odegard, Albany Democrat-Herald, May 11, 2013