Ground broken for heavenly structure

Monk Kong Tith, right, prays with other monks Sunday at the groundbreaking ceremony for the 90-foot “Heaven,” designed by Kong, at Dharmararam Buddhist Temple on Carpenter Road in south Stockton. Construction is expected to take six years. CALIXTRO ROMIAS/The Record

This is a drawing of "Heaven" as it is intended to look upon completion.

90-foot project expected to take 6 years to build

March 14, 2011
By Lori Gilbert
Record Staff Writer
Recordnet (Stockton, California, USA)

STOCKTON - Legend has it that "Heaven," as viewed by Buddha, should some day be re-created for all on Earth to see, according to Mon, an 83-year-old resident nun of Wat Dharmararam Buddhist Temple.

"No one's ever been able to do it," she said.

No one, that is, until now.

On Sunday, with government officials including Stockton Mayor Ann Johnston, San Joaquin County Supervisor Larry Ruhstaller and Sheriff Steve Moore on hand to support the project, temple members prayed and made offerings during the official ground-breaking of the planned 90-foot "Heaven," designed by monk Kong Tith.

The visionary behind more than 90 sculptures on the temple grounds, including the reclining Buddha created in 2004, Kong had a dream of "Heaven."

He saw colors and angels and much more, and attempted to re-create what he saw.

The result is a towering structure that will house a museum inside and feature a large observation deck with a grand monument to Buddha. The exterior walls will be covered with cloud-like formations supporting figures dressed in traditional monk orange.

"Since I've been here, 60 years, this is the most important event I can think of," said Plieng Yen, a native of Cambodia who came to this country in 1981. "Nobody else can do this. For the temple monks to give me the opportunity to take part in this is significant to me."

For Mon, the nun, it "brings a lot of happiness."

"We're exited to create heaven on Earth for everyone," she said

She's waited a long time to see it happen. So, too, has Kuch Pum, at 82 the eldest of the temple's monks.

"It will take six years to complete," said Pum's daughter, Linda (Kuthy) Williamsbey. "He wants it completed before he goes to heaven."

The elder members of the temple, most of whom were born in Cambodia and fled to the U.S. from the terror of the Khmer Rouge, aren't alone in their appreciation of the proposed structure.

"This is a step forward, bringing a little bit of Cambodia here for the Cambodians in Stockton," said Linda Hib, 25. "It makes them feel like they're home. Many of them are not going to be able to go back.

"There are a lot of misconceptions in Stockton, that Cambodians are just gangs. This is Cambodian culture. Our doors are open every day to come and take a look at what our culture has. That brings a lot of pride."

The temple's garden of colorful sculptures, envisioned by Kong and created by him and temple members - including Hib - using rebar, chicken wire and plastic cement, already draws visitors from around the world.

"I think, once again, this temple is going to provide a major attraction for people who not only are Buddhists, but are interested in Eastern religions and the practice of it here," Johnston said. "This 90-foot structure is going to be iconic for the city and county of San Joaquin. When I saw they were breaking grounds on a 90-foot structure, I thought, 'Man, I have to go out and be a part of that.' "

Kong first envisioned "Heaven" in 2009, but it's taken a year and a half for authorities to approve the structure on Carpenter Road, just east of Highway 99.

"Because it's so high, we may need an aviation light," said Maria Couragee, an English as a second language teacher who has worked with the monks' English since 2005.

Local architect Anthony Acevedo made sure Kong's vision met California building codes, including access for the handicapped and security exits.

On Sunday, the monks prayed that it met the approval of higher authorities, praying to the four corners and to the elements to indicate if any disapproved of its construction. None was forthcoming, making the groundbreaking a joyous celebration of traditional music, clothing and dance.

Sophanary Sok, 24, got a call early in the morning asking her to dance at the ceremony. She said she was dressed in the wrong attire for the dance asking for a blessing, but her graceful performance gave no hint of a problem.

"I'm really honored they gave me this opportunity," Sok said. "I was born and raised in (California), but I could show families and people that young people still take the traditions and follow them."

The project has had a unique effect on Acevedo, the architect, who is a practicing Roman Catholic.

"I am blessed to have the honor to do this," Acevedo said. "I started relating to my ancestors, the Aztec and Mayans who built the pyramids. I'm not going to build the thing, but I have the opportunity to design it. I started thinking what those architects must have felt."

The actual construction will be performed by temple members and volunteers, using many materials supplied by Lowe's, the company for which Hib works.

"It's such a privilege to have my company involved," she said.

Contact reporter Lori Gilbert at (209) 546-8284 or lgilbert@recordnet.com. Visit her blog at recordnet.com/lensblog.