Austin Xiangyun Temple Zen Garden Beautification Team Reaches First Milestone

And Volunteers Unite to Create a Tranquil Meditation Path

Reporter: David Huang — Austin

On January 10, the Zen Garden Beautification Team of Austin Xiangyun Temple reached an important milestone and held a warm celebration ceremony that afternoon in the temple garden. The event expressed gratitude for the volunteers' long-term dedication and marked the successful completion of this phase of the project. A total of 16 participants from diverse cultural backgrounds joined the celebration.

The Zen garden beautification project was initiated and led by local volunteer Derrick. Together with team members Will, Joseph, Urraca, and others, they worked almost every week without regard to weather, starting early in the morning to shovel soil, remove weeds, level the ground, and lay pathways. What was once a cluttered area has gradually taken shape through their efforts. The entire project was completed solely by volunteers, without hiring outside labor, fully embodying the Fo Guang spirit of "cultivating through labor and supporting the temple through action."

During the event, Derrick's mother made a special trip to show her support. She expressed appreciation for her son's joy and personal growth through studying Buddhism and volunteering at Xiangyun Temple, and personally experienced the temple's harmonious and peaceful atmosphere. Derrick then guided everyone on a tour of the completed and planned pathways, sharing the team's vision for the future. The team hopes the path will become a serene space for walking meditation, seated meditation, and yoga practice, allowing body and mind to settle peacefully in nature.

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