Probably the last trip to the Sierras for 2017 was a journey of many contrasts. It started in the remains of the fire ravaged forest left from the South Fork wildfire that burned around 7,000 acres east of Wawona and the Yosemite National Park during much of August. The Yosemite Valley was still very hazy from the smoke. Smokey conditions were even a problem at the temple during this period. Since this was the end of summer, the waterfalls were ...

Students from China, Taiwan, and the USA came to spend a thirty-day retreat at the temple to do intensive study of the Dharma Discourses given by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and to read the rare and precious Supreme and Unsurpassable Mahamudra of Liberation text as well practice their dharma. Some were up before dawn to meditate at the site of the Holy Vajra Poles and then do walking meditation around the temple as shown above. They took turns cooking ...

Reba and Uma had ten baby peachicks arrive at their mountain home in Sonora, California, this year and as of July 22, nine have survived. Ladybird, a hand-raised chick from 2015 now has her own family, but lives in a protected cage under the garage porch. She was the first to arrive. The other two peahens were left to roam on their own, one with six babies and the other with two, but only after the resident cats had ...

Students came over the fourth of July weekend to participate in a XFVU Seminar covering five Dharma Discourses that have been designated as being suitable for beginning students and included a vigorous debate.  Several students continued the retreat, studying a preliminary translation of Learning From Buddha and other Dharma Discourses. They also worked on various temple projects and were able to travel to southern California to hear other Dharma Discourses that answered their questions.

Visitors to the temple took a day trip to nearby Yosemite National Park and enjoyed lunch at the grand dining hall at the Majestic Hotel (formerly known as the Ahwahnee Hotel). The abundant snow fall last winter is still feeding the magnificent water falls at the park.

Click here to see the same falls a few years ago during the drought.