一九七五年八月，上人應邀在禮得思珀距奧樂岡州廿里的一個農場主持念佛七，廿五年後的今天，在它隔鄰，法總有了一所坐禪中心。在當年念佛七後不久，方果悟和胡果相居士購得佛根地的毗鄰，佔地九十八畝，半數由果相居士供養，另一半由法總出資。後來法總又增購更多土地，至今總面積約有四百畝。土地沒有完全開發，企劃還在進行中。
九〇年的早期，上人授權恆授把它整理成一個道場。因此河上建了一座橋，開了一條馬路直通龜山，上人還交代要在附近多買些地。
坐禪中心的地形非常像一隻烏龜，據說上人講過那裡是有一隻烏龜精。在上人開示中，他表示希望龜山坐禪中心將來的規模能容納一百人連續打七個禪七。法總龜山道場位於美麗幽靜的環境中，有祥瑞的靈氣，舉辦中型室內禪七，足夠四十人以上參加。
龜山道場的烹飪和居住設備，目前只是在二個四人汽車拖車和一個兩間臥室的汽車屋（夠十四人打坐用），法總已經發展鄰近廿個車位的露營區，以便做短期居住汽車拖車的停車場。所以禪七居住量還可以迅速擴增，來因應法總若有出家、在家眾有興趣被派前往者。
在龜山道場，想去打坐的弟子一方面總有很多工作可以做，同時也要投入服務貢獻的精神。義工人員應該先與當地法總負責人商量，再由他們協助與龜山禪寺當家恆授法師協調前往的時間。 |
|
In August, 1975, the Venerable Master accepted an invitation to hold a Buddha Recitation Session on a small farm in Oregon about 20 miles from the coastal town of Reedsport. Now, 25 years later, DRBA has developed a meditation retreat facility on property adjacent to that farm.
Not long after that original cultivation session, Upasikas Fang Guo Wu and Helen Woo purchased ninety-eight acres of property bordering on "Buddha Root Farm." Helen donated her half of the purchase and DRBA purchased the other half. Later DRBA purchased more and altogether now there are approximately 400 acres. In the early 1990's, the Master authorized Heng Shou to go and prepare that land for the development of a Way-place. Subsequently, a bridge was built across the river, a road was built up onto Turtle Mountain, and the Master authorized purchase of even more nearby land.
The topography of the meditation retreat land is remarkable in its resemblance to a turtle. The Master reportedly affirmed that there is in fact a turtle spirit that occupies that land. In instructional talks, the Venerable Master stated that he wished to develop meditation facilities at Turtle Mountain that would eventually be adequate to accommodate 100 people meditating for up to seven consecutive weeks.
The DRBA facilities at Turtle Mountain are set in the midst of a lovely and quiet environment on auspiciously-situated land and are adequate to accommodate medium-scale in-house meditation sessions attended by 40 or more meditators.
The place is not fully developed yet and a development plan is in process. The cooking and residence facilities at Turtle Mountain are limited to two 4-person travel trailers and a two-bedroom single-wide mobile home (space enough for 14 meditators). DRBA has already developed an adjacent 20-space campground for more short-term residential travel trailer parking. Thus, residence capacity for meditation sessions can be rapidly expanded whenever increasing interest on the part of DRBA monastic and lay communities warrants it. There is always lots of work to be done at Turtle Mountain for disciples interested in meditating on the one hand and contributing volunteer effort on the other. Volunteers should consult with DRBA staff at their local Way-place to obtain their assistance in coordinating their time at Turtle Mountain with the project manager, Heng Shou Shr. |
