Buddhists believe that everything derives from the law of Dependent Origination; as a result, a significantly pleasant opportunity can be expected for all Buddhists around the world, including Buddhists within Vietnamese communities. Such a pleasant opportunity is the establishment of the White Sands Buddhist Center (WSBC), a 16-acre Buddhist monastery in Mims, next to the imposing Atlantic Ocean.

        I. Monastery and the Abbot

        Mims is a small, tranquil town covering 65 square kilometers located just off Interstate 95 about an hour’s drive east of Orlando, Florida, in the United States. The monastery stands on pure land, amongst a forest of grand old pine and oak trees planted among white sand dunes. This beautiful scenery paints an image right out of an oil painting. The white dunes signify an impressive history for the monastery as the land was once located below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean and formed only after the tide had receded from the land.

        The monastery’s driveway enters through two simple planters on either side of Knost Drive. A sign on each planter says “White Sands Monastery.” Knost Drive is a small pebbled road about 500 meters long through a canopy of pine and oak trees. Along the road, visitors will encounter signs hanging from the trees that read sayings like “All the way to Heaven is heaven” and “Every step of the journey is the journey.”

        Walking through and listening to the tranquil forest, visitors will feel that you they are taking a meditation shower or a spiritual washing. Visitors arriving during the day enjoy a drive under a dark leafy awning to a bright clearing lit by natural sunlight. There visitors will see a large stone protruding from the ground, on which the words Đạo Tràng Cát Trắng read vertically and White Sands Buddhist Center reads across the bottom in capital letters. This sign is threshold of the monastery grounds. Visitors arriving at night will find the road lined with lanterns hanging about 2 meters high, gently illuminating the surreal path to the monastery. Such soft lighting in the midst of a dark road in a quiet setting represents the corridor to the spiritual world.

        Just beyond the clearing, visitors encounter an expansive grassy field in the middle of the forest, thick trees encircling them. At the bases of these trees, visitors will discover small paths and trails for meditation walks. Along the right side visitors will find a rectangular granite plaque 3 meters wide and 2 meters long, engraved with the words Prajñāpāramitā Hrdaya Sūtra, which—in classical Sanskrit—means “The Perfect Wisdom-Heart Sutra.” The greenery to the left only adds to the serene atmosphere of the monastery. Visitors will feel a positive change in their soul from the air of the surrounding nature.

        Following the trail, visitors will find the main ceremonial hall—newly constructed, large, and majestic. In front of the building is a pond on which yellow and white water lilies float, and at the edge of the water sits a canoe with an oar. Such a sight suggests the “empty canoe” may deliver enlightened visitors to Nirvana, a place where tranquility prevails and is far beyond all worldly desires. From every corner of the monastic grounds, cicadas sing, the sounds seemingly reminding practitioners:

        “To bring about a whole new life
        The cicada ends its tune
        To start the spirit anew
        We meditate to cleanse ourselves.”

        The abbot, the Venerable Khai Thien, founded the WSBC. This young Zen Master is one of the few Vietnamese Buddhist monks to have received his doctorate in religious studies in the United States. Growing up in the monastic life of Vietnam, he practices the Vietnamese Mahayāna tradition. He was ordained in 1976 and served as a novice monk in a Buddhist temple in Vietnam at the age of six. He was raised in the Lin Chi Dhyana School, where he received his Dharma name, Thich Tam Thien; English readers know him by his pen name, Khai Thien. As a person who already carries within himself a strong Buddhahood from previous lives, the Venerable Khai Thien has strictly and dutifully studied the Buddhist philosophy, even when he was a very young novice monk.

        After taking full ordination at the age of 20, he sought to attain more knowledge and wisdom—not only of Buddhism, but also of other religious cultures, particularly religions of the West. His interest in philosophy of the east and west fueled his desire to pursue his doctoral program in comparative religions upon his arrival to the United States. During his doctoral program in comparative religions at the University of the West in California, under the guidance of such famous professors as Dr. Lewis Lancaster, Dr. Ananda W. P. Guruge, Dr. Bruce Long, and Dr. James Santucci, the Venerable Khai Thien received many scholarships for his exceptional scholastic achievements. He has also published numerous books and hundreds of papers on Buddhist philosophy in both English and Vietnamese.

        Where will the combination of one peaceful forest, one Zen master, and one monastery lead us?

        “The pine trees in the forest stand proudly
        They all sing their empty songs.
        We meditate here quite like sand dunes
        To rid ourselves of all the wrongs.”

        II. Establishment of the WSBC

        The WSBC was established in April 2005. Following his poetic heart, the abbot wanted to preserve the sand dunes left behind by the ocean and therefore decided to name the monastery White Sands. On May 19, 2005, the Venerable Khai Thien and the local Buddhists celebrated the arrival of the Buddha statue and the bell of great compassion, which had been transferred from California. The occasion marked the beginning of the process of assembling the altar around the statue. Within days, the monastery welcomed the Most Venerable Thích Minh Đạt from California as well as other visiting monks, nuns, and lay Buddhists.

        Among the first students of the monastery was a 13-year-old Caucasian boy named Devin who had taken refuge in Buddhism and was given the Buddhist name Dharma Light. After his taking refuge ceremony, Dharma Light remained at the monastery three weeks to study the Buddha’s teachings. On June 13, 2005, the WSBC received its certificate as a religious and non-profit organization from the state of Florida.

        A year later, in April, 2006, the monastery hosted a benefit dinner in southern California to raise funds to expand its facilities. As the abbot had prior long-term teaching experience in southern California, he was able to rely on numerous Buddhist supporters, followers, and monks alike. The fundraising dinner was extremely successful, with over 600 attendants and donors. Of particular note was the presence of the late Most Venerable Thich Mãn Giác, the Most Venerable Thích Hành Đạo, and—from northern California—the Most Venerable Thích Tịnh Từ.

        III. Retreats at the WSBC

        The spring 2008 WSBC retreat marked the tenth retreat since its establishment three years earlier. In addition to celebrating the three-year anniversary of WSBC, the four-day retreat at the end of February and beginning of March celebrated the completion of the monastery’s new Meditation Hall, which had required two years of construction. The celebration included such ceremonies as placing the Buddha statue in the new hall and praying for the dead as well as casualties and victims from wars, sickness, natural disasters, and all sentient beings.

        In honor of such momentous ceremonies, the Most Venerable Thich Minh Dat (head monk of Quang Nghiem Temple in Stockton, California), the Venerable Thích Như Minh (head monk of Việt Nam Buddhist Temple in Los Angeles), the Venerable Thích Pháp Trí (head monk of Linh Quang Temple in Lincoln), the Venerable Thích Giải Minh (head monk of Nhật Quang Temple in Sacramento), and many other monks, nuns, and lay Buddhists from other states joined the monastery in this special celebration.

        Now just over three years old, WSBC has hosted 13 retreats under the instruction and guidance of the monastery’s abbot as well as other Venerables and Zen Masters. Although little time has passed, WSBC has already started making its own history...