Chuang Yen Monastery Tour (2)

Planted June 22, 2009
Modified May 1, 2010

Carmel, NY
Putnam County

The Box is planted on Route 301 in Carmel, NY.

Chuang Yen Monastery is a Pure Land Buddhist Monastery in Carmel NY on Rt 301. It's pretty easy to find now, there is a Buddha and sign out front - when I first started coming to this place there was only a painted rock with an arrow and the words were in Chinese :o)

The grounds are open to the public 9-5 daily except in the months of January, February and March. If you come on a Saturday or Sunday it's going to be much more crowded but they offer a vegetarian lunch by donation and its delicious! If you are interested in meditation or learning more about Buddhism they have a Sunday morning English program that starts at 9 AM with Meditation - a Dharma talk at 10 then a book discussion at 11 and of course lunch at noon.

Now that you have some info let's start our walking tour!

When you drive into the monastery head to the right to come to the parking lot. Park in the right side of the lot if you can. From the kiosk notice that there is a walking path between two Chinese lions that takes you directly up to your first destination - The Big Buddha Hall.

But the first Letterbox is on your way to this destination so walk up the path noticing the venerable disciples of the Buddha that are on either side of you. You'll want to find Sariputta Thera - he is on the right - Sariputta was known for his great wisdom. Over Sariputta's left shoulder you should see a glacial erratic, behind it you will find Box #1 - I like black for this stamp - after stamping in head up to the Big Buddha Hall - you will have to remove your shoes to enter and the front entrance may be locked if it's a weekday and you will have to go around the side door - to the left. I do recommend you go in and look at the largest indoor Buddha in the western hemisphere - he is surrounded by 10,000 little Buddhas - also take time to walk around the circle inside the base of the Big Buddha which has reliefs of 12 Bodhisattvas on the right and on the left a mural depicting the pure land.

After you leave the Big Buddha Hall you can check out the gift shop (if its open) and then head on to our next stop the Kuan Yin Hall, it's the building right next to the Big Buddha Hall - again you will have to remove your shoes to go inside - inside the Hall, enclosed in a wooden shrine, is a colored porcelain statue of Kuan-Yin which dates from the Ming Dynasty (about 700 years old). There is also to her left a wooden statue of Kuan-Yin dating from the Tang Dynasty (over 1,000 years old).

The building next to the Kuan-Yin Hall is the dining hall where you would go if it were Saturday or Sunday noon and you wanted to have some real Chinese vegetarian cooking.

After you leave the Kuan-Yin Hall, walk towards a "do not enter" road sign straight ahead (next to a no parking fire zone) after you get past the sign, look out to your right for a gate - head through this gate into a lovely little garden. This is a wonderful place for quiet contemplation.... If you have brought lunch with you this is a great spot to eat it (Do not bring any meat based food onto the property at the request of the Monastery) after you relax or eat look for a red bridge that will take you on a walk around seven jewels lake. Walk all the way around to the large statue of Kuan-yin. Make sure to look into the lake and see the Koi and turtles. You're not supposed to feed the Koi but people must because they always come swimming up sometimes with their mouths wide open!

Continue along a red railing around the lake to a uniquely shaped rock, it looks like a diamond/pyramid whatever it suggests to you it's obvious! Look under a flat rock behind it to find box #2. There is also a nice flat rock here to sit on while you stamp in. I like purple for this stamp.

Continue walking up the road taking your first left - you're walking behind the library - you should see another red bridge straight ahead - take that path until you come to a picnic table, taking a right here will take you back to the parking lot and your car - I hope you have enjoyed this little taste of Chuang Yen! It's one of my favorite places and I hope you enjoyed it too.

THERE IS NO INK OR ANY PENS ETC IN THESE BOXES, PLEASE RE-HIDE THEM REALLY WELL!
CHUANG YEN IS VERY BUSY ON THE WEEKENDS SO USE EXTRA STEALTH,
HOWEVER, REALIZE THAT AT A BUDDHIST MONASTERY NO ONE IS GOING TO BOTHER YOU ABOUT LOOKING AT ROCKS
PLEASE RESPECT THE SACRED NATURE OF THIS PLACE, I KNOW YOU WILL!

Record your find at LbNA or AQ.

CYA ON THE TRAIL!!!!
MushrooM :o)