Rustic

In the Sky

Popcorn clouds in the foreground give way to a strip of coastline; sunlight glints golden off the ocean beneath offshore cloud layers.


Sunbeams caress Pacific mountain ranges.


Haze clinging to the mountains and the ocean flooded with the sun's golden glare.

Rolling Hills

Golden brush carpets these Southern California rolling hills like a wrinkled, fuzzy blanket.

Hsi Lai

Hsi Lai Temple encompasses 15 acres and a floor area of 102,432 square feet. The temple's Ming (1268-1644 C. E.) and Ching (1644-1911 C.E.) dynasty architecture is faithful to the traditional style of buildings, gardens and statuary of traditional ancient Chinese monasteries. The ten-year planning and construction was completed in 1988. Hsi Lai means "coming to the West" and signifies the dedication of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order to spread the teachings of the Buddha to those in the West. The International Buddhist Progress Society, a nonprofit organization, is the chartered name for the temple. The organization's headquarters is in Taiwan.
[Hsi Lai Temple Web Site]


Main Entry Gate


Front Entrance


Guarding the entry way


Large Plaza


Drum on the ceiling


Good Morning, Buddha


Panoramic view of the main plaza with the main shrine at the top of the steps


A small, simple garden behind the main shrine


Roof edge detail


Roof corner detail

Mono Lake

Mono Lake at the top of the image with part of Yosemite in the foreground. Half Dome is visible in the lower part of the image just to the right of center.


Mono Lake


A few morning clouds hang over the lake's Paoha Island.