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<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMIDDLE SMITHFIELD TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE\/WYOU) –\u00a0<\/strong>Eyewitness News is giving you a first look inside the former Fernwood Hotel and Conference Center\u00a0that has\u00a0been transformed into a Buddhist ‘World Peace Center’.\u00a0The new owners want this to be a place the community can enjoy again.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The Jinyin Temple will hold its first public prayer ceremony there on Saturday. The new owners hope to spread compassion and kindness, while deepening the friendship between Chinese and Americans.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A shiny new statue of Buddha greets drivers on Milford Road; a\u00a0sign the Jinyin Temple of Sino Esoteric Buddhism is open. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Inside, you’ll find 20-foot tall statues weighing three tons each. The Prayer Hall\u00a0is adorned with elaborate statues shipped from overseas. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n “Our aim here is to build a temple, I should say, to pray for world peace,” explains Jack Wang, construction officer.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The main Jinyin temple is in China, and this is the first location in America.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Temple leaders toured other potential locations,\u00a0including in California,\u00a0but ultimately decided to build here because it would be a challenge.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n “We always build mandala or our temple in the most undeveloped area. I would say economically undeveloped area,” Wang says.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The property’s main draw, which onced served as Fernwood’s event center, burnt down last summer. The new owners lost precious artifacts in the fire, but they vowed to continue on.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n “It’s a setback but it’s not going to stop us,” Wang adds.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Later this year they plan to start offering public classes like meditation, yoga, calligraphy and kung fu. This is meant to be a place for different cultures and religions to come together as one.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n “We’re open to local people, we also want to learn from them,” Wang smiles.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The master and other disciples traveled from China to be here.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n “In\u00a0a few years this is going to be a magnet for tourism,” Wang envisions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Saturday’s ceremony starts with sign-in from 1-2 pm.\u00a0The day continues with art and prayer, then wraps up with dinner from 5:30-6:30 pm.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Priests, volunteers and maintenance crews live on-site in the former hotel rooms.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n By Brianna Strunk<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"