Source: Los Angeles Times

On December 10, 2001, the Los Angeles Times featured an article on the Buddhist festival celebrating Buddha's enlightenment. "The festival is among the most significant in the Buddhist calendar, representing the day humanity learned the reason for suffering and the way to escape it." The article focuses on a small monastic community of monks and nuns in Ventura County, California. "The monks follow the Zen school of Buddhism, stressing daily meditation. The temple and retreat center is made up of several low-slung houses nestled just below the snowy ridge of Pine Mountain... The center, which relocated from Santa Barbara last year, is supported entirely by donations from the 30-member congregation."