The Great Buddha Enters the Hall — United in Heart, Overcoming Difficulties Together (Mid-Length)

On October 10, 2024, the tallest statue of Amitabha Buddha in North America arrived at Mituo Village. With the concerted efforts of many volunteers, the statue was successfully unloaded from the truck. However, more challenges soon followed. Weather forecasts indicated that wind and rain were approaching, and time was growing short. The brothers and sisters knew they had to safely invite the Great Buddha into the hall before the storm arrived. Although meticulous plans had been made in advance, the complexity of each task exceeded expectations.

Preparations began in earnest the day after the statue's arrival (Friday, October 11). To ensure everything went flawlessly, the brothers and sisters stayed up late refining various plans, down to every operational detail. Early on the third day (Saturday, October 12), at dawn, everyone split into teams to purchase supplies and gather materials. When they arrived at the site, the communal practice was still ongoing. To avoid disturbing the practitioners, the brothers and sisters worked in concert—some repairing the tractor while others dismantled wooden boards and set up the site. As soon as the communal practice concluded, they could immediately begin tearing down walls to welcome the Great Buddha into the hall. Finally, as night fell and the practice ended, the real test began.

Although the brothers and sisters had anticipated the difficulties of bringing the Great Buddha into the hall and had meticulously planned every step, they soon realized that each challenge was even more daunting than expected. First, the Great Buddha, along with its steel frame, weighed nearly a ton, and the hall’s doorframe was too narrow for the statue to pass through smoothly. Following the plan, the brothers and sisters swiftly and decisively tore down one wall to clear a path for the Great Buddha.

After the wall was taken down, a new problem emerged: the chandelier hanging in the center of the hall became an obstruction to the statue's entry.

Early in their planning, the brothers and sisters had arranged to rent a lift to remove the chandelier. Miraculously, the temporarily rented lift was just the right height to fit through the hall's entrance, making them feel the Buddha’s blessings. However, the lift's maximum height was only 6 meters, while the hall’s ceiling was 8 meters high, meaning they had to work at 6 meters to remove the chandelier.

As the lift slowly ascended to its maximum height, it felt slightly unstable. With increasing height, the slight swaying made everyone more anxious. The brothers and sisters at 6 meters high had to overcome their fear, dealing not only with the lift's swaying but also stretching on tiptoe to remove rusted bolts.

This process turned out to be more challenging than anticipated, especially for those with a fear of heights, who needed immense courage to work up high. Yet, everyone held onto their deep reverence for the statue and gritted their teeth to persevere. Ultimately, through teamwork and unwavering faith, the chandelier was successfully removed, and the path for the Great Buddha's entry was finally clear.

Next, the most daunting step approached. To ensure the statue's safety, the brothers and sisters decided not to rely on any mechanical equipment but to carry the statue into the hall by hand.

Each brother and sister knew this was not only a significant physical challenge but also a severe test of their spiritual conviction. Despite having a plan in place, when dozens of them worked together to slowly lift the nearly one-ton statue, what surged within them was not only a sense of responsibility but also profound awe and reverence.

Amidst the chanting of the Buddha’s name, the Great Buddha was steadily lifted, each step taken slowly and carefully, every movement infused with the brothers and sisters' faith and devotion. This was not just a synchronized group effort; it was also a practice and refinement of their own spirits.

From six in the evening until after eleven at night, after over five hours of united effort, the brothers and sisters finally managed to safely invite the Great Buddha into the hall before the rain and wind arrived. Outside, the wind picked up, but inside the hall, there was tranquility and joy in the Dharma. Every participant understood that this fulfillment stemmed not only from meticulous preparation but also from the steadfast faith of each brother and sister in the face of challenges, and the unspoken trust and support they shared with one another.