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On February 22, 2026, Kongshan Temple joyfully hosted the Lunar New Year Pilgrimage for the Year of the Horse. The theme of this year’s assembly was "Offering of Prajna," featuring ten distinct types of offerings. The event was meticulously designed with profound spiritual meaning, seamless proceedings, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. The assembly commenced with a New Year discourse by the Elder Venerable Juhui. The Venerable shared an inspiring story of a novice monk whose

At the dawn of 2026, we were delighted to welcome volunteers from LIFE CAMP (International Bliss and Wisdom Youth Life Growth Camp) for a temple visit. Having just completed their four-day youth camp at Honor's Haven, the group traveled to Kongshan Temple for a spiritual pilgrimage. Around 1:00 PM, approximately 50 students arrived at the mountain gate. As they walked up toward the Buddha Hall, they were greeted by the serene, snow-covered landscape of Conch Lake. For those f

The North Star shines brightly in the night, guiding lost travelers back to their path—and the Lamrim Study Group is our home. During the main session of the Gratitude-to-Guru Dharma Assembly in New York, more than 20 students courageously stepped forward, making a vow to serve as Class Leaders for new Lamrim Study Groups. This deep love for the Lamrim, profound gratitude towards our Guru, and the commitment to help sentient beings leave suffering and attain happiness will su

The first snow fell on December 3rd, blanketing the earth in pure white. We pray that the Ten Virtuous Deeds (Pure Dharma) may fill the human world. This is the first accumulating snow of the year at Kongshan Temple. Overnight, the world became flawlessly white. As our Venerable Teacher praised in writing, "The Ten Virtuous Deeds, pure and flawless, adorn life like snowflakes." By drawing near to virtuous mentors and listening to the authentic Dharma, we learn to create posit

This was the Venerables' first official day moving into Kongshan Temple. On the way to the temple, they initially planned to stop at a gas station to inflate their tires. Unexpectedly, right after adding air, one of the tires blew out. Fortunately, there was a repair shop nearby. A Venerable walked over and asked the owner for help. The owner was incredibly kind; he immediately rushed to the site with a jack and other tools. He then took the tire back, repaired it, and person

One day, a Venerable from Kongshan Temple was driving along a nearby country road when they unexpectedly encountered a family of geese enjoying an outing. As the goose parents began to lead their little ones across the road, vehicles traveling in both directions came to a stop in silent, perfect unison. It was already quite warm in New York then, perhaps the parents were taking the goslings for a swim or playtime! From this small moment, we can see that not only is the local

Kongshan Temple officially closed escrow in early May 2024, followed immediately by its first cleaning Dharma Assembly. Over a hundred lay practitioners attended that day, including students from New York State and many who traveled great distances from other states, all gathering to witness and participate in this historic moment. The name "Kongshan Temple" was personally bestowed by the Teacher. It was inspired by the poem Mountain Dwelling in Autumn Dusk by Wang Wei, spec

Over the decades, since the Venerable Guru began lecturing on the Lamrim and established study groups, the foundation, and the campus, the Teacher has been tireless in continuing this legacy by setting up the monastic and lay five-major-treatise curriculum and giving teachings on the two stages of Calm Abiding and Special Insight. After decades of effort, our curriculum is now well-established. However, one key matter that the Teacher has frequently brought up in recent year

The late lay practitioner Shen Jiazhen fervently hoped that the Venerable Guru would establish a monastery and the monastic community in the United States to benefit practitioners with karmic connections in North America. Understanding the Guru’s intention and vow, the Teacher has been actively striving to establish Kongshan Temple in the U.S. At the same time, the Teacher has been contemplating how our organization can take a further step toward internationalization. For nea

In January 2024, the Teacher personally convened several meetings in New York, inviting key monastic and lay executives—including senior monastics and chief administrators. Prior to this, even the Venerables closest to the Teacher were unclear why the Teacher insisted on traveling to the U.S. to look at land despite being physically exhausted. It was during this meeting that the Teacher slowly unfolded this profound history... The story traces back decades: the very first pla

Perhaps the most enchanting feature of Kongshan Temple is the great lake! This 7-acre lake is situated on the southern side of the entire property, and circling it completely is no easy feat, usually taking half an hour to an hour! The lake was originally only half its size: half was naturally formed, and the other half was later excavated by the previous owner. When viewed from above, it perfectly forms the pattern of a Conch Shell, which carries the auspicious significance

Walking west from the Buddha Hall, down a small path, one arrives at a two-story wooden building with red exterior walls. In the future, this will serve as the main venue for debates, Dharma practice assemblies, and Dharma events. The space can accommodate approximately one hundred people. When the Teacher visited Kongshan Temple, they spent a particularly long time inside this wooden structure, returning more than once to quietly sense its atmosphere. It was precisely in thi

Initially, the land the New York lay practitioners requested the Teacher to visit was not the site that is now Kongshan Temple. The Teacher visited several properties in total, personally walking through each one to sense its atmosphere and determine which location would bring the greatest benefit to the Dharma and the most advantage to the disciples' practice. When the Teacher first arrived at the site of Kongshan Temple, they lingered for a very long time. Not just the Teac

Throughout the summer of 2023, the Teacher remained on the island, leading the monastic community to receive the lineages of Ornament for Clear Realization , Treatise on the Middle Way , and Treasury of Abhidharma from the two great mentors, Akha Rinpoche and Triba Rinpoche. After these teachings, the Teacher instructed everyone on how to integrate the studied scriptures with the Stages of the Path and personal physical and mental practice. The Teacher dedicated nearly all t

Currently, the entire Kongshan Temple property spans 205 acres, equivalent to about 83 hectares, and is located in Dutchess County in upstate New York, approximately a 1.5-hour drive from New York City. The previous owners of this land managed it with great care; consequently, the landscape and interior furnishings are very well-maintained. The primary structures currently include: a monastic residence resembling a traditional Sanheyuan style courtyard, a Main Hall , a Dharma

Driving north from the heart of New York City, the dazzling phantoms of Times Square still linger in the mind. But in an instant, the scene swiftly shifts, seemingly transporting you into a boundless new world... This is upstate New York, an earthly paradise graced by the sounds of birds and the scent of flowers. After a few winding turns, it feels as though you have returned to the embrace of emerald mountains. A dense network of lakes and rivers supplies fresh water to the