By: Chelsea Dawson
When I was 20 years old I got a babysitting job in Princeton, New Jersey. Every night I would drive home and spot this giant Buddha head within the woods but always wondered what it was.
After visiting Thailand in 2017, I fell in love with Buddhism and the practice of kindness and serenity. I went to many temples and found so much peace in those settings, so I was very intrigued but didn’t think it was open to the public. I had been going through a really hard time of my life and was searching for peace, but was unable to find somewhere to go when things were hard.
One day I just decided to try driving into the temple and was surprised to see there was nobody around, just me and Buddha. I sat down in front of the statues and closed my eyes feeling peace for the first time in a while. There were flowers everywhere, mixed with the scent of incense and nature. Birds, bees, and butterflies flew around and chanting and music played from a speaker nearby. When I closed my eyes here, I felt like I could breathe for the first time in forever. I felt still for the first time in my life, I forgot all of my problems. I spent 20 minutes sitting there, just breathing until I opened my eyes to the giant Buddha staring down at me. The monks living there welcomed me as their own and allowed me to have a place to find stillness within myself. Since this day, I have been going to visit the temple weekly for the last six years.
Whenever things get tough, or I need guidance, I always know it is here for me. In dark times, I know there is a light nearby, a beautiful sanctuary hidden in the middle of New Jersey. The New Jersey Buddhist Vihara & Meditation Center has been there for me as I have grown up, and I am
forever thankful for that. Recently, things in my life have gotten better, and I have not felt the need to escape anymore.
This past Sunday, I realized I had not visited the Buddha in some time, because I have not needed the guidance as much. It made me realize that I should not only visit just because I need it, I should not only practice mindfulness and stillness just when I am going through hardships. I decided to visit the center just to say thank you and show my gratitude. Sometimes,
we as people only meditate or visit important people and places when we need something. I believe it is important to keep those practices and efforts even when things are good, it is important to show gratitude to the people and places there for you in the darkest times. This is why when I was approached by Dr. Tulsi Maharjan, the founder of the Peace Garden and Temple committee member, I knew I was in the right place at the right time. This was my first time meeting Dr. Maharjan in my six years of visiting the temple, and it happened to be the one day I was eager to show gratitude. He introduced himself and asked me if I would be interested in volunteering to help continue to improve and better the area and community.
Gardening, painting, weeding, anything I could do to help as they have been working hard for years to build up the center. I was so happy and eager to say yes, as this was my way to give back to the place that always gives to me, this was exactly what I seeked when visiting that day. Tulsi said it was divine intervention, and I could not agree more. I told him I had a friend who
would love to help, and we arrived the following Wednesday to begin our volunteer work.
My friend Sara Page is a yoga teacher in Metuchen and Cranford NJ, and she has been teaching me how to find peace and give back to others for years. I knew she would be the perfect person to invite and help volunteer with me! When we arrived, she was starstruck at the beauty of the Buddha. We sat for a moment in silence, appreciating the peace and smell of flowers and incense. Tulsi was waiting for us and gave us a tour of the entire center, places I didn’t even know were there. We were led down a meditation path with statues and stones made of every religion and spirituality. There were hand painted murals from foreign exchange students around the world, leaving their mark and impact for others to see and appreciate.
There were plants and beehives, a butterfly garden and colorful flags and paintings. He showed us the upcoming meditation center being built, and expressed that they need a lot of money and help to perfect and bring the center to its fullest potential. This is why it is so important to find
volunteers willing to give their time to give back to a place that is always giving. We started by pulling weeds and opening up a path around a beautiful statue, making room for the flowers to grow. During our work, we met the head monk who welcomed us by placing a scarf around our
necks and we took a photo together. The experience was so wholesome and I was so grateful to be there and to be welcomed this way. Within an hour, the paths were already looking so much better, so I know with some hard work and helping hands we can turn the center into the most beautiful place in New Jersey.
Sara and Tulsi discussed many opportunities to bring the community together, such as yoga and meditations led by Sara, full moon tea parties and other ways to spread goodness. I believe we can really make something beautiful and whole, and am hoping others will see the opportunity
to give back and show gratitude. I am forever grateful for everything the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara & Meditation Center has brought me, and I look forward to all the work I can help put in to creating a sanctuary for people of all colors and religions to come together in.
If you like to volunteer at the temple, please contact Dr. Tulsi Maharjan at trmaharjan@gmail.com.
The Asha Project 