加国五台山大雄宝殿将于2019年10月5日落成开光！

  多少人翘首以盼，呕心沥血，多少人慷慨解囊，祈福祷告，终于得到诸佛菩萨加持。在北美建造适应新时代，体现中国文化特色的弘法中心，两代高僧孜孜以求的梦想时刻即将来临！今天，我们终于迎来加国五台山大雄宝殿落成的光辉时刻。加国五台山大雄宝殿的落成，是加拿大佛教史上一座丰碑。加拿大佛教会湛山精舍将隆重举办五台山大雄宝殿落成全堂佛像开光大典。我们在此对加国五台山的建设历程做一回顾。

  湛山性空长老深谙其中幽微，在1967年年来到加拿大弘法之初就发宏愿，希望有朝一日在加拿大这块土地上建设加国佛教名山。当时性空长老便购置四块石头，刻上四大名山的菩萨之名号于其上，供奉于湛山精舍墙外。三位长老认为只有发扬文殊菩萨之大智，普贤菩萨之大行，观音菩萨之大悲和地藏菩萨之大愿，加国佛教事业才会兴盛昌隆。后来达义大和尚得知长老的宏愿，他秉承师志带领湛山四众弟子不畏艰难发起创建加国佛教四大名山，因缘正是如此。

  2004年年，达义大和尚受三位长老之命，来到加拿大辅佐各位长老，并承担启建加拿大佛教四大名山。多年来，这一壮举，得到了加拿大三级政府和中国驻加拿大大使馆及驻多伦多总领馆，中国国家宗教局，中国佛教协会，中国佛教四大名山，江苏省佛教协会的鼎力支持，并得到世界各地的佛教四众弟子和护法居士的慷慨捐款。

  湛山精舍从无到有，从小到大，发展到今天，成为加拿大汉传佛教最大的寺院。达义大和尚发愿秉承师志，继往开来，带领湛山四众弟子不畏艰难创建加国佛教四大名山，正是出于这样的悲心宏愿。

  加国佛教四大名山，位于加拿大第一大城市多伦多东北部的彼得堡县和Kawartha Lakes city，丘陵错落有序风景优美。工程拟在四个方位分别建五台山，峨眉山，普陀山和九华山，总占地面积1350英亩（约计9000中国亩）。

  整个工程分期进行，首期工程是加国五台山工程。

  五台山大木结构园区将由大雄宝殿，观音殿，地藏殿，文殊殿，天王殿，大山门等组成仿唐大木作结构群，不仅在于服务华人社会，给下一代传承了中国优秀文化，也是在西方国家展示中华文化的魅力，更是弘扬佛教慈悲精神的平台。

  五台山的一期工程是大雄宝殿，它的第一层是混凝土结构，占地面积5万平方尺，将用作艺术馆，生活区和办公区;第二层是休息区;第三层一万平方尺的仿唐朝大木作结构作为佛殿;另外观音殿5000平方尺，地藏殿5000平方尺，石雕大山门30米宽，15米高，回廊环抱也是采用中国传统的寺院建筑特色

  建设历程

  加国五台山工程自2011年5月奠基开工以来，得到了加中两国政府和民间的高度赞扬，特别是各方善信的慷慨捐助，因此工程进展顺利。工程有各种项目种类，是由加拿大本地和海外多家公司参与完成的，充分体现东西文化冲击与融合的结晶。

  早期与两个加拿大公司合作完成修路，挖湖，浇筑大殿地基等项目2013年完成了大雄宝殿五万平方尺的基础混凝土结构工程; 2014开始进入组装大雄宝殿的清点阶段。

  整个五台山的建设不仅仅是寺院殿堂的建造，五方文殊师利菩萨和五爷圣像，均是来自中国五台山捐赠。与中国五台山同根同源，法乳一脉。

  2016年6月29日至7月14日，湛山精舍开山宗长，九十三岁的性空长老和加拿大佛教会会长达义大和尚率团赴中国迎请佛教四大名山香火。此次迎请成就加拿大佛教四大名山殊胜法源，其活动规格之高，规模之大，参与人数之多，可谓史无前例，盛况空前。正在兴建中的加拿大四大名山与渊源深厚的中国佛教四大名山实现香火对接。此举将对汉传佛教在北美的传播产生深远的影响。

  2016年10月29日，93岁的性空长老和达义大和尚带领35位嘉宾和近百名信众来到加拿大五台山首次朝礼组装完成的弥勒佛石雕像。加拿大国会参议院胡子修参议员和夫人闻讯也赶来朝拜。

  加拿大第一大佛 - 加国国五台山弥勒菩萨像的开光庆典于2017年6月19日圆满举行弥勒菩萨雕像高13米，重700吨，每块原石有2.4立方米;仅头部就重达27吨，为一整块石头雕刻而成，气势巍峨，法相庄严。

  2017年，加国五台山的建设也取得了阶段性成果。大雄宝殿木结构顺利吊装开工，组装工程进展顺利。一个多月内36根大柱子竖立起来，并架上横梁，安上斗拱，速度惊人，中国唐代大木作结构的建筑艺术在加拿大得到了完美的传承。

  由中国五台山捐赠五方文殊师利菩萨圣像，于2017年3月29日运抵加拿大，并在年内完成焊接组装圆满落座。文殊菩萨来到加拿大可谓历经艰难，先后经历五年多的设计和加工，一个多月的海上运输，6个集装箱，12个小时的卸装，再申请16位工人来加组装，终于如期完成。加拿大五台山五方文殊师利菩萨铜像，每座高13米，分别供奉在五个山峰的平台，圣像庄严。

  2018年6月24日，多伦多地区大雨瓢泼，但一百多公里之外的加国五台山风和日丽。加拿大五台山举行东台文殊师利菩萨圣像开光大典。多伦多地区的华人信众和五台山当地的彼得堡居民五千多人从四面八方赶来参加了盛典。虽然籍贯，语言和肤色不同，但参加庆典的所有人都充满敬虔，充满法喜。

  达义大和尚说，今天宝像圆成，功德圆满。大和尚祈愿文殊菩萨分身北美，登座示教，大放光明，赐慧送福，普降吉祥。

  九十五岁高龄的湛山精舍开山性空长老满怀喜悦，现场开示他说：「今天这里佛光普照，龙天护佑，是佛力加持的恩德，是大家愿力的结果。」

  来自佛教其他传承和中国国内寺院的高僧大德专程前来参加盛典，并一一诵经祝福。当天出席开光典礼仪式的嘉宾有藏传佛教的宁玛派法王子孟松古千仁波切，新加坡的法喜长老，越南甘露王寺的惠明法师，藏传佛教噶举派扎西顿珠喇嘛，索南堪布，佩玛堪布，新加坡的传显大和尚，藏传噶举派吐古达瓦仁波切，柬埔寨的Dhammo住持，尼泊尔的崇义堪布，以及江苏扬州戚墅寺住持慧明大和尚，镇江东霞寺住持慧海大和尚，镇江竹隐寺住持妙忍大和尚参加了开光典礼。

  五台山市市长Scott McFadden亲临开光现场发表了热情洋溢的讲话，一同前来参加的还有多名当地议员。

  2018年8月15日，五台山大雄宝殿举行隆重的上大梁仪式，多伦多三大语系的高僧大德出席了盛典出席嘉宾有：斯里兰卡南传佛教的Ven.AhangamaRathanasiri长老，越南的南传佛教Ven.Thich Hue Minh（惠明长老），斯里兰卡的Bhante Saranapala，藏传佛教的Lama Tenzin都发表热情洋溢的贺词，钦佩性空长和达义大和尚的悲心宏愿，赞叹湛山两代人所作的艰苦卓绝的努力为佛教在世界的传播做出了伟大的贡献。

  2018年9月30日，达义大和尚亲自带领600多四众弟子三步一拜朝礼加国五台山。达义大和尚带领信众在加国五台山的山门，从早上10点开始，经过6个多小时的三步一拜，最后于下午5点到达东台文殊菩萨圣像处。

  湛山三步一拜活动从2011年发起，已经成功举办了七届。七年来，朝山人数从十几人，到几十人，再从几十人到今天的几百人。参加者无不法喜充满，感应不断。这次三步一拜之所以人数明显增加，是因为近年来湛山在信众中推广的是实修，所以年轻人比例明显增加。另外，加国五台山的建设进度加快，大雄宝殿开光在即，许多人抽出时间前来五台山，在礼拜的同时也想一睹这座罕见的仿唐木结构建筑的风采。

  2018年冬，为了大殿能够在2019年顺利举行开光大典，五台山工人们不畏严寒，冒着风雪为大殿的木结构铺上了红润的外衣。大殿的屋顶也已封顶，即将铺上铜瓦。届时，众多信众法师所抄写心经的铜瓦将覆盖整个大殿，为佛像遮风挡雨，为民众祈福消灾。

  据悉，大雄宝殿上梁合榫之后，即将开始内装修，铺设铜瓦和园林建造等系列工程。从过去的荒山野岭到今天的殿堂耸立，佛像安座，佛塔林立，似乎遥不可及的梦想今天终于一步步成为现实。

  加拿大五台山大雄宝殿开光大典将于2019年10月5日举行，届时，人们将一睹这座仿唐大木结构古建筑的杰作。它将屹立在加国五台山的山顶上，它不仅是一座建筑，而是象征着汉传佛教在北美弘传的里程碑。

  加国五台山能有今日之成就，离不开北美湛山两代人的传承，从三位开山宗长的志愿到今日达义大和尚把它变成现实。数十年如一日的信念造就了今日的里程碑，也成就了常人所不能及的目标。

  建成后的五台山将是一个全新的佛教花园，有「五台八景十六点」之胜他们依次是：

  一，五台

  东台文殊师利菩萨（聪明文殊）东平台文殊菩萨菩萨

  南台文殊师利菩萨（智慧文殊）南平台文殊菩萨菩萨

  西台文殊师利菩萨（狮子吼文殊）西平台文殊菩萨菩萨

  北台文殊师利菩萨（无马文殊）北平台文殊菩萨菩萨

  中台文殊师利菩萨（孺童文殊）中央平台文殊菩萨菩萨

  二，八景

  仿唐大雄宝殿主佛殿（唐代建筑）

  五台山艺术馆加拿大五台山佛教园美术馆

  灵泉湖智慧湖

  大山门正门

  弥勒大佛快乐佛（弥勒佛）

  五爷财神庙财神神社（五叶）

  五台第一泉 - 财源泉繁荣春天

  莲花生大师圣像莲花生大士（8世纪佛教大师）

  三，十六点

  1.文殊菩萨广场Manjusri Bodhisattva

  2.观音菩萨广场观世音菩萨（观音）

  3.地藏菩萨广场Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva

  4.普贤菩萨广场Samantabhadra Bodhisattva

  5.七宝如意塔七个充满希望的佛塔

  6.福寿双塔Bliss＆Longevity Twin Stupas

  7.姻缘树爱之树

  8.灵泉湖广场Wisdom Lake Square

  9.48愿吉祥佛塔48誓言吉祥佛塔

  10.杨柳观音柳树观音

  11.福寿池Bliss＆Longevity Pond

  12.山神土地庙山神地神

  13.放生池Life Liberation Pond

  14.文殊顶文殊峰

  15.文殊菩萨救人灵迹文殊菩萨的神奇救命之地

  16.唐朝六祖惠能大师圣像陈慧能大师，陈氏六世（6世纪佛教大师）

  建成后的加国五台山是一个集宗教，文化，艺术，教育，环保，旅游等多功能的文化园区将弘扬佛教的慈悲精神，展现中国汉传佛教的文化特色;传播中国的传统文化;丰富加拿大的多元文化内涵，推动加拿大旅游业的发展，并架起友谊的桥梁。

  加拿大佛教会湛山精舍在加国筹建佛教四大名山，不仅得到了海外华人的鼎力支持，也得到了当地政府和主流社会及中国驻多伦多总领事馆的肯定和赞扬。中国佛教界和国家宗教事务局各位领导一致认为，这是架起中加两国友好往来的桥梁，更是中国传统文化在北美发扬光大的典范，所以受到了中国佛教界，官方和各界人士的认可和赞叹。

  因工程浩大，加国五台山继续需要社会各方善长仁翁发心支持。您的捐献和支持是加国五台山的动力和增上缘。九十六高龄的性空长老和达义法师十分感念大众的发心和护持，故每逢初一，十五，诸佛菩萨圣诞的法会都在佛前亲为捐款的功德主诵经祈福和功德回向。全部功德主名号将勒石永志。千秋大业，功德无量！

  It is coming … the Grand Opening Ceremony of the Main Buddha Hall will take place on October 5, 2019!

  After patiently waiting over the years by many communities all over the world, eagerly helping each day by many supporters from all walks of life, generously donating over time by many friends both local and overseas, and with the blessings of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Canada (WSBGC) is coming to fruition. The great vision of the three founding venerable masters of The Buddhist Association of Canada Cham Shan Temple is one step closer to fulfillment. Build and they will come … this is the vision, to build the largest single Buddhist complex outside China for the promulgation of Chinese Buddhism in North America, 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 traditions and culture, contributing further to multi-culturalism in Canada. It is also a significant chapter in the history of Canada, as Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Canada will play an important role in promoting local tourism and stimulating economic development in the local regions, and the aroused interest of its Tang-Dynasty style architecture will put the local regions on the world map.

  In 1967, the 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.

  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, and to spearhead extensive efforts to fundraise for their construction. From a humble beginning with nothing, to its current position being the largest 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 generous donations from the public, the sangha and the laity. This is a great project undertaken with great vows and great compassion for the benefits of all communities.

  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 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 (WSBGC) is the first site to be developed on 530 acres of land. The ancient Chinese construction technique of large wooden interlocking brackets called “dougong” is being used to construct the wooden structures of the Main Buddha Hall, the Manjusri Hall, the Samantabhadra Hall, the Avalokitesvara Hall, the Ksitigarbha Hall and the Heavenly Kings Hall. When completed, these wooden temples will have significant architectural recognition in the world.

  The main concrete building under construction consists of 50,000 sq. ft. on the first level, designed for exhibition, activities and administration. The mezzanine level will be used for restrooms and change rooms for prayer services. The Main Buddha Hall is a wooden structure sitting on the top level, occupying 10,000 sq. ft.

  The Main Buddha Hall is styled after the UNESCO World Heritage site East Hall of the Foguang Temple in Wutai County, Shanxi province of China, which was built in 857 C.E., 1162 years ago and still standing today. Most of the wooden materials being used are high grade rosewood imported from Laos, and other materials such as camphor and yew. The Main Buddha Hall was constructed in China, then taken apart and shipped to the Canadian site in many big containers, ready to be re-assembled onsite. Additional constructions onsite will be the 5000 sq. ft. Avalokitesvara Hall, the 5000 sq. ft. Ksitigarbha Hall, the 7000 sq. ft. Heavenly Kings Hall, and the 30-metre wide by 15-metre high stone-carved Main Entrance Gate, all constructed using ancient Chinese architectural techniques built according to the traditional Chinese temple guidelines.

  1990 – 1350 acres of land were bought in Peterborough County and City of Kawartha Lakes for the construction of the Four Great Sacred Buddhist Gardens in Canada.

  July 2007 – Approval was granted for the land at Ski Hill Road to be rezoned for Buddhist worship. This is the first site to be developed, and is named Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Canada.

  2008 – Planning and purchasing of materials began. Discovery of three active underground springheads gushing with water led to the eventual excavation of Wisdom Lake.

  September 2010 - After three long years of detailed planning, involving over thirty application processes, formal agreement on the scope of the construction was reached with government officials.

  March 2011 – The building permit was granted for the first stage of the construction, which is the Main Buddha Hall.

  May 28 2011 – Ground-breaking ceremony, attended by government representatives from both Canada and China, and sangha representatives from the Four Famous Buddhist Mountains of China. In particular, Venerable Miaojiang from Mount Wutai of China, when attending the ceremony vowed to donate five statues of Manjusri Bodhisattva, each 9.99 metres tall, endorsing “No Distinction Between the Two Mountains”, symbolizing “Same Root Same Heritage in Buddhism”.

  June 2013 – completion of the foundation for the Main Buddha Hall.

  May 2014 – start of inventory stock-take of the Main Buddha Hall wooden structure. It was a mammoth task to identify and correctly assemble all the pieces again! Also, the 6-metre high statue of the Sixth Patriarch of Chan arrived onsite from China, generously donated by Ven. Master Chuan Zheng of Nanhua Temple, the Ancestral Monastery of Chan Sect.

  2015 – the concrete base of the grand stone statue of Maitreya Buddha was completed. Work to build a Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Square by Wisdom Lake began and completed a year later.

  June 29 to July 14 2016 – Elder Master Sing Hung and Ven. Dayi Shi led a delegation to China for “Passing of the Torch” held at the Four Famous Buddhist Mountains of China. Many attended these significant historical ceremonies, as they validated the heritage of the Four Great Sacred Buddhist Gardens in Canada, and strengthened the position of Chinese Buddhism in North America, with a long-lasting impact on its future propagation.

  October 29 2016 – The 13-metres high, 700 tons stone-carved Maitreya Buddha was fully assembled, and took its rightful place facing the Main Entrance Gate to the site.

  June 19 2017 - The consecration ceremony of the Maitreya Buddha a.k.a. Happy Buddha was led by 93 years old Elder Master Sing Hung and Abbot Dayi Shi, attended by many guests, sangha and laity.

  2017 year – a year with significant progress on the assembly of the Main Buddha Hall. The main horizontal wooden support beams together with 36 vertical support beams were erected, using numerous “dougong” interlocking wooden brackets. This display of the unique Tang-Dynasty style architecture has piqued many interests and won many praises from the local Canadian population.

  March 29 2017 – arrival of the five donated bronze statues of Manjusri Bodhisattva by Wutai Shan Buddhist Mountains of China, and they were placed at their rightful places, on the five platforms facing the five directions of the site. Their journey from China to Canada took over five years of planning and construction, travelling over more than a month by sea, arriving in 12 smaller containers and 6 cargo containers, and with 16 Chinese artisans travelling from China to work on their assemblies. A statue of Wealth God Wuye donated by Mount Wutai of China also arrived in Canada.

  June 24 2018 – Consecration and Blessing Ceremony of East Platform Manjusri Bodhisattva, attended by over 3000 visitors and guests from both the local regions and the GTA area.

  August 15 2018 – Blessing Ceremony of the Installation of the Main Roof Beam, attended by many political dignitaries, sangha representatives from the Mahayana sect, the Tibetan sect and the Theravada sect, together with the construction partners from China and Canada and visitors from both local and overseas.

  September 30 2018 – 3 Steps-1 Bow pilgrimage at Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Canada was led by Abbot Dayi Shi, starting from the Main Entrance Gate and ending at the East Platform Manjusri Bodhisattva. The journey spanned over 6 hours, starting at 10 am and completed at 5 pm. The first pilgrimage onsite was started in 2011, with a growing number of attendees each year, notably with more participants from the younger generations. With the imminent opening of the Main Buddha Hall, a larger number of participants are expected to join in this activity in the future.

  Year-end 2018 – in order to complete the assembly of the Main Buddha Hall in time for its grand opening in June 2019, all the artisans and contractors worked really hard, racing against time and braved the harsh wintry conditions, so that the roofing can be sealed off, ready to receive the bronze roof shingles. These roof shingles contain the written blessings by generous sponsors over the years, providing good shelter over the Buddha statues inside the temple, and showering the visitors with their well wishes. The outer walls of the building had also been dressed up with a lovely eye-catching red coating to protect the wooden structures.

  2019 – once the roofing has been completed for the Main Buddha Hall, work will begin on its interior. Plans have been made to start work on the landscape of the Buddhist Garden.

  When completed, the following are interesting places to visit at the Buddhist Garden:

  East Platform Manjusri Bodhisattva

  South Platform Manjusri Bodhisattva

  West Platform Manjusri Bodhisattva

  North Platform Manjusri Bodhisattva

  Central Platform Manjusri Bodhisattva

  Main Buddha Hall (Tang-Dynasty Style Architecture)

  Art Gallery of Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Canada

  Wisdom Lake

  Main Entrance Gate

  Happy Buddha (Maitreya Buddha)

  Shrine of Wealth God (Wuye)

  Prosperity Spring

  Padmasambhava (8th-century Buddhist Master)

  Manjusri Bodhisattva

  Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (Guanyin)

  Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva

  Samantabhadra Bodhisattva

  Seven Wish-fulfilling Stupas

  Bliss & Longevity Twin Stupas

  Tree of Love

  Wisdom Lake Square

  48 Vows Auspicious Stupas

  Willow Guanyin

  Bliss & Longevity Pond

  Shrine of Mountain and Earth Gods

  Life Liberation Pond

  Manjusri Peak

  Miraculous Life-saving Spot of Manjusri Bodhisattva

  Master Hui Neng, Sixth Patriarch of Chan (6th Century Buddhist Master)

  From a barren site in 1990, to creating a tranquil and beautiful sanctuary for everyone to come and enjoy has not been an easy journey. Facing many obstacles and hardships, from working on the finalization of the construction blue prints to the purchases of the materials, then onto the ground-breaking ceremony of the Main Buddha Hall, followed by another 3 years of visa applications for the Chinese artisans, the journey was filled with many challenges and test of our faith. This great vision is now one step closer to being a reality. The Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Canada is an important project, requiring large resources to complete. Your continuous support and generous donations will be greatly appreciated! May Buddha’s blessings always shine on you and your family. Good Health and Prosperity to you all.