All things exist as a result of the interaction between causes and conditions. The Dharma is no exception. As the Bodhi seeds of the people living in the west ripen, causes and conditions produce the opportunity for the establishment of Buddhist temples that propagate the Dharma. In response to this ripening, the Sino-American Buddhist Association (now called the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association) was formed in 1959.

Prior to 1984, there were only two Buddhist temples in the Greater Vancouver area, one in Richmond and one at 49th and Fraser Street. These were unable to accommodate the growing number of Chinese Buddhist immigrants in Vancouver. While visiting Vancouver in 1982, the Venerable Master was approached with the request to open a Way-place. The Salvation Army owned a building in the center of Chinatown that they were selling due to cuts in government funding for their programs and, with the help of disciples, it was purchased. Thus, Gold Buddha Monastery was established and officially opened to the public in December of 1983. The ‘Three Steps, One Bow’ Dharma Masters, Heng Sure and Heng Chau were placed in charge. Many disciples were grateful to have a conveniently located Way-place to hear the Dharma and eagerly attended the twice-daily teachings. The establishment of this monastery brought to five the number of Way-places established by the Venerable Master along the west coast of North America. The five are:

1. Gold Mountain Monastery in San Francisco
2. International Institute for the Translation of Buddhist Texts in San Francisco
3. The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Ukiah, California
4 Bodhi Dharma Center in Seattle
5. Gold Wheel Monastery in Los Angeles

That first Gold Buddha Monastery had three stories, over 10,000 square feet of floor space, 20 bedrooms, large kitchen and dining facilities, a large Buddha hall with seating for 700 people, a large stage on which to place images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, a balcony with seating for an additional 200 people, offices, meeting rooms, a director’s room, library and a Long Life and a Rebirth Hall. The building easily accommodated all of activities of a busy innercity monastery.

Visitors to the monastery were greeted by a large image of Guardian Weitou Bodhisattva and Manjusri, Bodhisattva with great wisdom. The large stage in the Buddha Hall was adorned with a Guan Yin Bodhisattva image framed by deep purple curtains.

The monastery is one of the four Way-places designated as the homes of the four Bodhisattvas who share close affinities with us. These four Bodhisattvas and their designated Way-places are:

• Guan Yin Bodhisattva at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.
• Earth Store Bodhisattva at Gold Wheel Monastery.
• Manjushri Bodhisattva at Gold Buddha Monastery.
• Universal Worthy Bodhisattva at Gold Summit Monastery

The establishment of Gold Buddha Monastery is not only good news for Buddhists in Vancouver, Canada, it is an auspicious event that will benefit all of Buddhism.