The Great Buddha Arrives at Mituo Village - Heart and Hand Connected, A Complete Beginning (Part 1)

On October 10, 2024, sunlight filtered through thin clouds, illuminating every corner of Mituo Village, as the Great Buddha solemnly arrived on this day. It felt as if heaven and earth were rejoicing for this moment; a gentle breeze blew, and the sky was clear. The arrival of the Great Buddha carries the hopes of the faithful and opens up a closer connection between us and Amitabha Buddha.

This statue, standing 4.8 meters tall and reaching 6 meters with the lotus pedestal, is the tallest Amitabha Buddha statue in North America. From design to production, every step in the process embodies the sincere devotion, hard work, and efforts of countless people.

To welcome this Great Buddha, the volunteer brothers and sisters had made early arrangements for the mundane tasks, with many arriving at Mituo Village the night before. They understood that the next day's tasks would be both heavy and complex, requiring not only the unloading of the Buddha statue but also dealing with two large containers of construction materials.

One brother, who traveled from Atlantic City, made the journey to witness the Buddha's arrival and lend a hand. The size and weight of the Buddha posed high demands on the entire unloading process, and everyone waited with sincere hearts for this significant moment.

The most thrilling moment during the unloading process arrived. Only one forklift, generously provided by a neighbor, was on-site, along with Mituo Village’s own tractor participating in the operation.

Despite the limited tools, everyone remained calm and composed in the presence of the majestic Buddha, proceeding step by step with caution. Our neighbors not only generously provided the forklift but also personally joined the unloading process, becoming part of the volunteer team. Coincidentally, the driver responsible for transporting the Buddha was also a devout Buddhist, assisting in the unloading work and participating in this auspicious connection.

The volunteers demonstrated teamwork, drawing on their rich experience and wisdom, united in spirit, and carefully unloaded the Buddha statue safely and smoothly.

At that moment, everyone’s hearts relaxed, and smiles of relief broke out on their faces. The entire Mituo Village was immersed in a joyful atmosphere, with everyone feeling uplifted and filled with gratitude and joy. This was not just the completion of a task but also a manifestation of the power of faith.

As night fell, a marvelous sight appeared around Mituo Village—auspicious auroras enveloped the world like the Buddha's light, as if responding to the Great Buddha’s compassion, illuminating everyone’s hearts.

In that moment, heaven, earth, and the hearts of people converged, as if this auspicious connection had been destined in the cosmos. The appearance of the aurora not only added a sacred brilliance to this solemn moment but also allowed every participant to feel immense awe and a cleansing of the spirit.

The arrival of the Great Buddha marks a new beginning. Next, we will continue to welcome the solemn ceremony of the Buddha entering the hall and look forward to the moment we finally meet the Great Buddha. This journey is not just the Buddha's; it is also the process of each of us holding firm to our beliefs, stepping further and more steadily, achieving deeper inner cultivation.

On this path, we are heart and hand connected, walking with the Buddha. May the compassionate light of the Great Buddha shine upon every corner of Mituo Village. The intentions of every participant leave deep marks on this land, and we are grateful to all who contributed. May everyone continue forward in this auspicious connection, basking in the Buddha’s grace.