FOCUS - OCTOBER 2017 35 structure. Everything is hand carved, “as a way to ex- press art and their love for nature and the world,” Kathy commented. The Buddhas are created out of all manner of fine materials: bronze, jade, stone, marble and volcanic rock. Each one represents something different. The Laughing Buddha, which attracts 50 to 70 carloads of people a day to stop and stare, is a symbol of wisdom and longevity. Once cemented, the statues can never be taken apart. They can withstand 200 mph winds. There are lion, turtle, elephant and dragon statues among others. Rare wall hangings from Nepal and India, handcrafted from vibrant red silk with real gold metal thread, will be some of the many treasures on display. Each individual bronze roof shingle is 16” square and weighs 50 pounds. People from all over the world have had their names engraved on the inside of a shingle. Despite the opulence of the temple, Kathy explained that Buddhists live a simple life based on prayer and medi- tation, and they follow a strict vegetarian diet. You may see some of the robed Monks, who are already residing on the property, postulating and praying along the roadside. A Sea Of Roses This mega construction project relies solely on volun- teer labour, donations and fundraising. Kathy attended a gala in Toronto “which surpassed Cirque de Soleil as entertainment.” Fifty little Chinese girls opened the show by singing O Canada in perfect English. Then all eyes were on the Jumbo Tron, which showcased Canadiana such as Niagara Falls and the Calgary Stampede, before featuring the Cham Shan Temple site in Bethany. There was an 11 course vegetarian meal presented to the attendees. “An overwhelming sea of roses – 50,000 live roses and 22,000 live orchids” provided the decor at the charity event. Cutting through red tape and the success of fundrais- ing efforts will determine when this mammoth project will be completed. The original prediction was 20 years, but Kathy is optimistic that it will be sooner. Annual bus tours are held in June to give people the opportunity to witness firsthand the construction in pro- gress. Check the Cham Shan Temple Facebook page for details of the 2018 tour. “The spin off for tourism should be amazing,” said Kathy. It is hoped that 45,000 people will visit the temple annually, upon its completion. “People are very interested in yoga and meditation,” Kathy noted. “Today’s world is so technology driven that it has spun people to the point of being frantic. They need someplace to decompress. The Buddhist temple will serve that need.” By Lynn Campbell, Focus on Scugog Editor’s Note: Normally as most of you know, we do not publish stories outside the Scugog boundaries. But having said that, we feel that this is justified in that it is within minutes of our community and is the second largest temple to China. A number of readers have mentioned it and we felt it deserved the recognition! 150 Water Street, Port Perry 905-982-2103 info@harpandwylies.com • www.harpandwylies.com will be featured at....... Looking forward to seeing everyone there! THURSDAY OCTOBER 19 at 6pm Scugog Community Recreation Centre 1655 Reach Street, Port Perry HONESTY. INTEGRITY. FAIR PRICES. Low & Low Limited - CANADIAN INDEPENDENT - FUNERAL DIRECTORS SINCE 1860 www.lowandlow.ca Proudly Serving Port Perry, Uxbridge and Surrounding Area PORT PERRY CHAPEL 1763 Reach St., Port Perry 905.985.7331 UXBRIDGE CHAPEL 23 Main St. S., Uxbridge 905.852.3073