Xa Loi Temple 2003. Hồi Ký Chùa Xá Lợi. Đầu Năm 2003

Xa Loi Temple 2003

Beginning in the year of 2003, Venerable Thich Bao Thanh and a group of close students bought a 33 Acre farm in Frederick, Maryland USA. This farm was to be built as a Buddhist temple to teach meditation, spiritual practice and for community activity.

There was a very old barn that was abandoned for a long time.

Hồi Ký Chùa Xá Lợi. Đầu vào năm 2003.

Vào đầu năm 2003, Thầy Bảo Thành và một số đệ tử đã cùng nhau mua một nông trại rộng 33 mẫu tại quận Frederick, thành phố, Buckytown, tiểu bang Maryland, cúng dường lên Chư Phật để kiến lập một ngôi chùa hầu phục phụ cho sinh hoạt về phật pháp và cộng đồng

Nông trại này bị bỏ hoang đã lâu; nó chỉ có một cái chuồng bò thật cũ kỹ siêu vẹo. Bên trên chuồng bò người ta dùng chứa cỏ.

In side the upper level, there was a lot of trash left there for many years and It looked dirty .

Trong chánh điện hiện thời, lúc đầu rác rưởi khặ́p nơi nhìn thật hoang phế.

In the lower level, manure was more than 3 feet high and all the structures were broken.

Tầng dưới của chuồng bò cột kèo đổ nát, phân bò cao cả thước. Đây là nơi để cho bò trú ẩn khi mưa gió và bão tuyết.

At the outside were a broken barn, old cars, many tires and trash everywhere. The grass was tall and many broken trees.

Ngoài sân, xe cũ, vỏ xe và thật nhiều rác rưởi cùng chuồng bò cũ kỹ đã bị xập nằm ngổn ngang khặp nơi.

However, Ven. Thich Bao Thanh and his close students were very happy to have this farm. it was bought for $350,000.00 US. Monthly payment was $2,350 US. Master Bao Thanh had to work a full-time job for more than 10 years in order to just cover the monthly mortgage. We worked very hard but all happy because we all knew this would become a peaceful Buddhist temple, for religion and cultural programs and a place of refuge for the community very soon.

Tuy vậy, Thầy Bảo Thành cùng các đệ tử thật hạnh phúc khi đã mua được nông trại này. Nông trại này mua với giá là $350.000 US và mỗi tháng trả cho nhà Bank là $2350 US. Để có tiền trả nhà Bank mỗi tháng, Thầy Bảo Thành đã phải liên tục đi làm đủ mọi công việc bảy ngày một tuần, không ngừng nghỉ trong suốt mười năm. Dù lao lực khổ cực, Thầy luôn vui vẻ và hánh phúc vì thầy biết một mai đây, nông trại này sẽ trở thành nơi thật an bình cho mọi người lui tới.