Progress Review

加國五台山工程回顧

The Grand Opening Ceremony of the Main Buddha Hall has taken place on October 5, 2019!
After patiently waiting over the years by many communities all over the world, donating over time by many friends both local and overseas, and with the blessings of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Canada has come to fruition.
The great vision of the founding venerable masters of The Buddhist Association of Canada Cham Shan Temple is one step closer to fulfillment.

加國五台山大雄寶殿已於2019年10月5日落成開光！
多少人翹首以盼，嘔心瀝血，多少人慷慨解囊，祈福禱告，終得諸佛菩薩加持。加國五台山大雄寶殿的落成，建造了適應北美新時代，體現中國文化特色的弘法中心。初步完成了兩代高僧孜孜以求的夢想！這是加拿大佛教史上的一座豐碑。加拿大佛教會湛山精舍已於2019年10月5日舉辦加拿大五台山大雄寶殿落成，佛像開光的大型慶典活動。
在此，對加拿大五台山的建設歷程作一回顧。

The Grand Design of the Project
工程概述

1350 acres of scenic land were purchased in Peterborough County and City of Kawartha Lakes, northeast of Toronto for the construction of the Four Great Sacred Buddhist Gardens in Canada, namely Wutai Shan, Emei Shan, Putuo Shan and Jiuhua Shan Buddhist Gardens. These parcels of land were chosen for their tranquility and the beautiful natural environment of the local regions. They are ideal ‘pure lands’ on earth for learning the Buddha’s teachings, to discover the true Buddha-nature within oneself and the path to enlightenment. They are also great places to build meditation retreat centres.

Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Canada is the first site to be developed on 535 acres of land. On this site, additional wooden structures such as the Manjusri Hall, the Samantabhadra Hall, the Avalokitesvara Hall, the Ksitigarbha Hall and the Heavenly Kings Hall will be built at a later date.

When completed, these wooden temples will have significant architectural recognition in the world. It will be the largest single Buddhist complex outside China for the promulgation of Chinese Buddhism in North America, and at the same time promoting Chinese culture and Tang-Dynasty style architecture, strengthening cultural exchange and friendship between China and Canada, uniting all branches of Buddhism throughout the world.

The opening of the Main Buddha Hall marks an important milestone in this iconic project, where “East meets West”, showcasing Chinese tradition and culture. It is a significant chapter in the history of Canada, as Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Canada will also play an important role in promoting local tourism and stimulating economic development in the local regions, contributing further to multiculturalism in Canada.

加拿大佛教四大名山位於安大略省東北部Peterborough County和City of Kawartha Lakes 之間的四塊風景優美之地，距離多倫多市區约
100公里。四大名山工程擬在四個方位，分別是五台山、峨眉山、普陀山和九華山，總占地面積1350英畝(約計9000中國畝)。其中，加國五台山工程，佔地約535英畝。

2011年，加拿大佛教會湛山精舍發起籌建加國五台山活動。最重要核心部分為建造五台山大雄寶殿。其唐代建築風格，仿照中國山西五台山佛光寺東大殿而造。七開間佛教殿堂，大雄寶殿等全部為木結構，未用一釘一鉚，完美展現了中國傳統建築藝術，表現出極高的匠人工藝。

經過近八年的努力，加國五台山仿唐式大雄寶殿於2019年10月初竣工，舉行了盛大的落成開光典禮。

建成後的加國五台山是一個集宗教、文化、藝術、教育、環保、旅遊等多功能的文化園區，將對加拿大經濟、文化、宗教、以及慈善事業做出重要貢獻。

The Beginning of a Great Vision
殊勝因緣

In 1967, the three founders arrived in Canada to propagate Chinese Buddhism, and hoped to find a suitable site for this important mission. A property was donated for the purpose of establishing Cham Shan Temple. The three founding venerable masters placed four rocks inscribed with the names of the Bodhisattvas outside the gate of Cham Shan Temple, to promote the wisdom of Manjusri Bodhisattva, the practice of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, the
compassion of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva and the resolve of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, hoping that the teachings of the Bodhisattvas would flourish in Canada, and the Buddhist followers will be showered with blessings and protection from the Buddha.

湛山三位開山長老在1967年來到加拿大弘法之初就發宏願，希望有朝一日在加拿大這塊土地上建設加國佛教名山。當年，性空長老購買四塊巨石，刻四大名山菩薩之名號於其上，現今供奉於湛山精舍山門之外。他認為唯有發揚文殊菩薩之大智、普賢菩薩之大行、觀音菩薩之大悲和地藏菩薩之大願，加國佛教事業才會昌隆。後來達義大和尚秉承師志，帶領湛山四眾弟子不畏艱難發起創建加國佛教四大名山，因緣正是如此。

In 2004, Venerable Dayi Shi became abbot of Cham Shan Temple, and the torch was passed onto him to continue the great work of developing the Four Great Sacred Buddhist Gardens in Canada. From a humble beginning with nothing, to its current position being the largest single Chinese Buddhist complex in Canada, Cham Shan Temple has worked hard to build this monumental project, with fervent support from both the Canadian and Chinese governments, together with the generous donations from the public, the sangha and the laity from all corners of the world. This is a great project undertaken with great vows and great compassion for the benefits of all communities.

2004年，達義大和尚受三位長老之命，來到加拿大管理湛山精舍及其下屬道場，並開始實施加拿大佛教四大名山的工程建設。多年來，這一壯舉，得到了加拿大三級政府和中國駐加拿大大使館及駐多倫多領事館、中國國家宗教局、中國佛教協會、中國佛教四大名山、江蘇省佛教協會，以及世界各地的佛教四眾弟子和護法居士的大力支持和慷慨捐款。

湛山精舍從無到有、從小到大，發展到今天，成為加拿大漢傳佛教最大的寺院。不僅如此，達義大和尚更是發願秉承師志，帶領湛山四眾弟子不畏艱難，創建加國佛教四大名山，體現了達義大和尚的悲心宏願。加國五台山開建伊始，已顯示種種神跡，由此可知此山此水正是諸佛菩薩加持之靈地。此地四季分明，秋有落葉，冬有冰雪，夏有涼風，春有花開。

五台山有山有水有靈性，可謂靈山秀水。我們簡單地回顧一下幾件菩薩救人示現的不可思議的事情。