Source: The Whitter Daily News

http://www.whittierdailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,207~12026~1416076,00.html

On May 25, 2003 The Whitter Daily News reported that "More than 120 monks from 10 countries led about 400 people in chanting for world peace and meditation at Dhammakaya International Meditation Center in Azusa on Sunday... A celebration of that size and magnitude is rare in Southern California, said center volunteer Rungtham... Held at the Buddhist Temple in the heart of the Monrovia Nursery, the event, coordinated by more than 32 area temples, marked what Buddhists call Vesak Day. The event marked the birthday of Buddha, the day of his enlightenment and his entering into Nirvana. Countries sending monks were Laos, Burma, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Tibet, Sri Lanka, China, Thailand and Taiwan... The daylong celebration promoted everlasting world peace through a higher level of consciousness for humankind, through meditation and chanting."