When I first came to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in the summertime, it was gorgeous. There were colorful flowers and green grass everywhere.

When I first saw the gate of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, it seemed like a representative of Eastern culture. At night, the lamps around the gate shone like bright stars in the darkness. The first place we visited was the reception room. It was like a microcosm of the entire City, containing its quintessence.

But the holiest place of all was the Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas. No matter which of the four doors we entered through, we were dazzled by the golden splendor. The splendor came from the golden Buddha images covering the four walls and from the golden image of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva with a thousand hands and a thousand eyes at the front of the Hall. Huge murals of the majestic Four Heavenly Kings covered the walls outside each of the four entrances. Behind the hall was a statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. There was an incense burner made in China and a large brass bell in front of the Buddha, and many fresh flowers on the altar. With the fragrance filling the air, it really seemed like the Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Those were the places I visited the first time I came here. They left a deep impression on me, and I thought the whole City must be even more beautiful than the little bit that I saw.

The Jewelled Repentance before Ten Thousand Buddhas
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　By Kitty Kuo (age 18)

The Jewelled Repentance before Ten Thousand Buddhas is my favorite practice. The harmonious praises calm my scattered mind and fill it with peace and joy. The sound of the Dharma instruments impress upon me the splendor and nobility of Buddhism.

The name of each Buddha carries inconceivable meaning. Although some names are quite short, such as Bright Light Buddha and Pure and Clean Buddha, if we can understand each Buddha's name, we will not have to remain in the wheel of rebirth in the Saha world.

I don't know when I'll be able to come back to the City again. In my last year here before I graduate, I want to make the best use of this opportunity and bow as much as I can, praying that everything will go smoothly for me in the future.