Which came first, the temple or the restaurant? For a food-loving anthropologist, this is a very tough question! If you follow the path to enlightenment, in this case Highway 101, to the City of 10,000 Buddhas, you will see that both food and spirituality can occupy first place at the same time.  How you ask? Because, this city is an active monastery and has an all-vegetarian restaurant.

The monks there call the location the “Wonderful Enlightenment Mountain,” which sounds a bit ironic considering the site’s past of being an insane asylum (from 1889 to 1973) that housed nefarious criminals such as “Machine Gun Walker.”  But still, the peaceful surroundings, beautiful statues, sound of gongs, and presence of families will put any superstitious visitor at ease.

For a spiritual appetizer, be sure to visit the main hall where most of the Buddha statues reside.  Remove your shoes at the right entrance, put your camera away, and gauge your level of enlightenment before a special crystal relic.  If I remember correctly, inside the glass-crystal dwells the cremated remains of a significant Buddhist leader.  Individuals with high enlightenment see a pearly-white light while those needing the most improvement, see black burnt stuff.  So how did I do? I saw a twisted mass of bright red curls, which at least puts me above my husband who only saw brownish-burnt stuff!

Finally, we assembled in the vegan restaurant.  Since I am an unrepentant, gui-lo, omnivore, I didn’t get to choose a dish.  Still, it turned out superbly because my Chinese in-laws know the best dishes to order.  One can easily stuff herself with delicious salads, tofu surprises, gluten concoctions, glass noodles, fruits, and even tasty pastries.  Pack up your family and enjoy your date with the 10,000 Buddhas.

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