Avatamsaka Vihara, located in the Potomac area of Maryland, is an East Coast branch monastery of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association. Its founding dates back to 1989, with origins tracing to that same year when the Association’s founder, the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua, was invited by President George H. W. Bush to attend the presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C. The Master served as the only Eastern representative offering prayers for the nation.

Unwilling to stay at a luxury guest residence, he requested to stay at a Buddhist temple. At that time, there were no temples in Washington, D.C., so he stayed in a simple cottage provided by a local Buddhist association, where he compassionately gave teachings to the faithful.

Later, he returned to Washington three more times at the invitation of devotees to conduct Dharma assemblies and expound the Mahayana teachings, guiding those lost in confusion toward a bright path. The local followers, deeply inspired and eager for the Dharma, repeatedly requested that the Master establish a monastery in the area.

In the latter half of 1989, moved by the sincere devotion of the faithful, the Master began searching for a suitable location. He eventually selected a three-story residence nestled within a small wooded area in Potomac, overlooking a stream and surrounded by lush greenery, secluded from neighboring homes — tranquil and ideal for cultivation. The Master chose this place as a retreat for secluded practice. Three years later, it was opened to the public and became a pure Buddhist sanctuary. This site is known today as the former location of Avatamsaka Vihara.

As the number of followers continued to grow, the original site became insufficient. Lay supporters resolved to address the need, and under the guidance of the monastics, began planning for a new monastery. After an extensive search, they acquired the former Bethesda Post Office as the new site. Following the Master’s principle of “making full use of things without waste or extravagance,” renovations were carried out while preserving the existing structure.

The renovation was completed in January 2003, and the new monastery officially opened on February 1. On June 15 of the same year, an installation ceremony was held, along with a week-long Emperor Liang Repentance Dharma Assembly.

The new monastery occupies approximately two acres and is conveniently located near Washington, D.C., and Virginia. From Exit 39 of the Capital Beltway (I-495) toward Potomac, turn right onto Seven Locks Road, and after about two miles, a white building with golden eaves bearing the name Avatamsaka Vihara can be seen on the right — this is the current monastery site.

With its central location, convenient transportation, and spacious grounds, it provides a proper Dharma practice center for the Buddhist community of the Greater Washington area.

Since its opening, in addition to weekly Sunday Dharma assemblies, the Vihara holds major ceremonies on special occasions such as the birthdays and enlightenment days of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. During the Thanksgiving holiday, an annual seven-day Buddha recitation retreat is held, and three-day retreats are organized on long weekends, allowing practitioners to set aside worldly concerns and diligently advance in their practice.

The Vihara also operates a Chinese school, where children are taught traditional Chinese ethics and values, meditation, and basic Buddhist teachings, laying a strong foundation for their character and personal development.