It all began with a highly revered monk in Taiwan, a Zen master widely known for reviving the ancient Chinese Chan (Zen) Buddhist practice in the modern world– Venerable Wei Chueh.
For over 30 years from 1987 to 2016, Ven. Wei Chueh tirelessly spread Chan Buddhism throughout the world. His vision was to inspire all people to return to their inherently pure and enlightened self. In Taiwan, he built the Ling Quan Temple, the Chung Tai Chan Monastery, the Chung Tai Buddhist Institutes for Monks and Nuns, the Pu Tai Schools, and the Chung Tai World Museum. With an unwavering determination to liberate all, he also established a global Buddhist community called the Chung Tai World, which is centered at Chung Tai Chan Monastery of Taiwan, with hundreds of thousands of members throughout more than 100 branch meditation centers worldwide.
Buddha Mind Monastery is one of the eight Chung Tai meditation centers in the United States. Flash back to 2002, the 3rd Annual Oklahoma Buddhist Conference was held at the University of Oklahoma (OU) by faculty members and students of Buddhist associations from OU, OSU, and UCO. At the conference, the audience had an opportunity to listen to several Dharma talks by a Zen master of Chung Tai Chan Monastery. Many people from the audience showed great interest in Zen and started to thirst for a monastery. They made a sincere request to Chung Tai for the founding of a meditation center in Oklahoma so that they can continue to learn Buddhism and meditation locally from the monastics for the long term. In 2004, after more than a year of searching for a property, Buddha Mind Monastery started in a small church building and embarked on our founder Ven. Wei Chueh’s vision: sharing Buddha’s wisdom and practice and helping to bring peace and harmony to this troubled world.
As the number of practitioners grew, the monastery then went through renovation, demolition, and reconstruction, to become a magnificent 18,000 square foot building with a unique “open hands” design to welcome all. Today, It includes a meditation hall, lecture hall, library, meeting room, and children’s room, with 40 acres of natural landscape. The serene environment has attracted practitioners from many areas to meditate, cultivate their minds, and explore their true nature.
We welcome you to experience Zen joy with us and to discover your own peace within!
The 3rd Annual Oklahoma Buddhist Conference was held at OU. The establishment of Buddha Mind Monastery was approved. The search for the future site began.
Buddha Mind Monastery was settled at a former church site on S. Anderson Rd. The first Buddha Bathing Ceremony was held. The renovation of the old building began.
The Chan Hall renovation was completed.
The Abbot of Chung Tai Chan Monastery, Ven. Jian Deng, presided over a Purification Ceremony and transmitted the Three Refuges and Five Precepts.
The first Kids Summer Camp was held. The Kids Meditation Class was introduced.
Practitioners made a pilgrimage to Houston Zen Center to listen to our Founder Ven. Wei Chueh’s Dharma Talk and to attend the Purification Ceremony of the Texas Pagoda Monastery.
The planning and construction of the new Chan Hall began after the Purification Ceremony.
The construction project was completed. The first Level 1 English Meditation Class was held at the new Chan Hall. The 10th Anniversary was celebrated.
Veggie Festivals held in two years in a row, featuring vegetarian cuisines from all over the world.
Over 200 participants attended the Purification Ceremony and Dharma Talk, and over 100 people took the Three Refuges and Five Precepts.
The Little Buddha Mind Kids Summer Camp was held. The 15th Anniversary was celebrated.