Dharma Realm Buddhist University’s main campus is located at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, one of the oldest and largest Buddhist communities in the Western hemisphere. Named “a sacred site” by National Geographic, the City’s 700 acres of meadows and woodlands are home to countless critters big and small, as well as a Buddhist monastery, a K-12 school, and an organic farm. Located in Mendocino County (2 hours north of San Francisco), the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas was founded by Venerable Master Hsuan Hua in 1974 and is one of the first Chan Buddhist temples founded in the US.
History and Founder
One of the most eminent Chinese Buddhist masters of the twentieth century, the Venerable Master Hsüan Hua (Xuanhua, 1918-1995) was a monastic reformer and the first Chinese master to teach Buddhism to large numbers of Westerners. He is the ninth patriarch of the Guiyang (Weiyang) school of Chan/Zen Buddhism. He founded the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas to create a center for sharing Buddhist teachings. He also founded the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, which includes over 20 monasteries across the US, Canada, Australia, and Asia.
Master Hua's Vision
During his long career he emphasized the primacy of the monastic tradition, the essential role of ethics in education, the need for Buddhists to ground themselves in traditional spiritual practice and authentic texts, and the importance of respect and understanding among religions. To attain these goals, he focused on clarifying the essential principles of the Buddha’s original teachings, on establishing a properly ordained monastic community, on organizing and supporting the translation of the Buddhist canon into English and many other languages, and on the establishment of schools, monastic training programs, and programs of academic research and teaching.
Experience the Monastery
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Visit City of Ten Thousand Buddhas
Campus is open every day to the public from 8 AM to 6 PM.
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Attend a Retreat
Immerse yourself in life at the monastery and come for a weeklong retreat or join an online class.
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Enjoy Vegan Food
Our delicious vegan restaurant is open for lunch Thursday through Monday, from 11:30 AM to 3 PM.
