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沿著華府的環城公路，經過三十九號河濱路出口往西走，在第一個紅綠燈右轉，上七閘路，開一英里，很快就可看到右邊一棟有金黃色屋簷的白色一層樓建築房子；當汽車駛近時，就看見銅製的「華嚴精舍 Avatamsaka Vihara」在陽光下閃閃發光，這就是華嚴精舍的新道場。
新道場鄰近維吉尼亞州和華盛頓特區，座落在馬里蘭州（Maryland）的高級住宅區內，佔地近二英畝，包括一萬兩千多平方英尺建築物面積和兩千多平方英尺的廊道，前後停車場可停一百五十六輛車子，交通很方便。
四年前，華嚴精舍因信眾日增，原有道場，不敷使用；加上鄰居反應週日的車輛太多，影響住家安寧，乃開始租用附近小學的禮堂，做為週日共修的場地；並組成十人小組，以籌劃購置及整修新道場事宜。
經殷勤尋覓，乃購得馬州西貝賽斯特郵局。郵局由於以前租約的關係，要兩年後才交屋，這讓十人小組有充裕的時間去策劃。因為整建資金有限，本著上人的家風，「物盡其用，不浪費，不奢華」為原則進行整修。除不符合現行建築法規，須拆除部份外，其它則儘量維持郵局原有的結構使用；只有廚房是新增的，因新道場可容納五百多人，當地政府規定廚房必須是商用的設備。
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Follow Washington D.C.’s Beltway, take Exit 39 - River Road West, turn right at the first traffic light, and you will be on Seven Locks Road. Drive for another mile and you will see a white one-story building with golden roof tiles on your right. That is the new Way-place, Avatamsaka Vihara.
With easy access from Virginia and Washington D.C., the new Way-place is in an upper class residential neighborhood in Maryland. The two-acre site includes a 12,000 square foot building and 2,000 square foot hallway. The front and back parking lots can accommodate up to 156 cars. It is accessible from all directions.
Four years ago, as more and more laypeople came to the temple, the original place became too small. The neighbors also objected to the high volume of traffic on Sundays. We started to rent the auditorium at a nearby elementary school for the Sunday ceremonies. At the same time, a committee of ten was formed to organize the purchase and renovation of a new place.
After a vigorous search, we finally bought the West Bethesda Post Office in Maryland. Because of the lease, the post office remained there for two years after purchase, allowing the Committee plenty of time to make plans. Since the renovation fund was limited and based on the tradition of the Venerable Master Hua, the renovation was done in keeping with the guidelines of no waste and no luxury, using whatever material was on hand. Except for parts that were not up to code which had to be removed, the original construction in the post office remained for the most part. Only a new kitchen was added, because the capacity at the new Way-place is over 500 people and so the facility has to meet the commercial code.
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我們在二ＯＯ二年八月，取得整修許可，九月初開始著手整修。為了節省經費，法師召集義工，各展所長的進行各種勞力工作，其中屋頂漏水是最大的考驗。我們先找出漏水的地方，洗刷乾淨後，塗上柏油，再平整貼覆橡皮片，尤其在清晨屋頂積水處結成冰的情況下，做這項工作，是須要很大的誠意和耐心的，居士們發揮了最大的團隊精神。
華嚴精舍新道場已於今年一月中整修完成，二月一日啟用，為華府地區提供了一個修行正法的聖地。預定在六月十五日舉行安座典禮，並啟建為期一週的「梁皇寶懺」壇場，歡迎大家參加。
新道場之地址：9601 Seven Locks Road
Bethesda, MD 20817
電話：(301) 469-8300
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The renovation permit was obtained in August 2002, and the renovation started at the beginning of September. In order to save money, the Dharma Masters called for volunteer workers. Each one applied his or her talent to the construction. The hardest part was fixing the roof leaks. We had to locate the leaks, clean them, apply asphalt, and attach already-glued rubber plates evenly and neatly. Especially in the mornings, the areas around the leaks were frozen. Hence this job required great sincerity and patience. The laypeople worked with great cooperation.
The new Avatamsaka Vihara was completed in January and officially opened to the public on February 1st. It provides a holy place for people in the Washington D.C. area to cultivate. We have scheduled a Ceremony for Inviting the Buddhas to Dwell Peacefully at our Wayplace on June 15th and a seven-day “Emperor Liang’s Jeweled Repentance” starting then. Everyone is welcome.
Our new address is:
9601 Seven Locks Road
Bethesda, MD 20817
Tel: (301) 469-8300
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