USAFA's Spaces for Buddhists and Other Faiths

HERITAGE MINUTE

The Cadet Chapel and surrounding areas provide worship spaces to accommodate virtually every cadet interest. ----more----

The Buddhist Chapel, known as the Vast Refuge Dharma Hall, was dedicated on 29 October 2007. It is located in the downstairs area, just to the north of the Jewish Chapel. The chapel was the gift of the Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism and The Friends of Zen. An Air Force Academy graduate from its first class, the Class of 1959, was instrumental in its creation: Friends of Zen founder and Vice Abbot, Reverend Dai En Hi Fu (DIE EN HE FU) George Wiley Burch. He organized the fundraising effort through the Association of Graduates. Ed Shure designed and built the chapel. It measures 300 square feet and is freestanding within the existing structure. It is constructed of Port Orford Cedar, a rare, fragrant wood used for temple building in Japan. Takayuki Kida, a traditionally trained Japanese woodworker, designed and built the altar and alcove, which are made from American cherry and ash. The Buddha figure is from Burma and the large lion-topped cencer is from China.

The Academy Cadet Chapel also contains a Muslim Prayer Room, as well as an All-Faiths room which provides a worship area for smaller religious groups. A Prayer Circle is located on the hill west of the Chapel, primarily for use by earth-centered faith groups. Finally, the Chapel staff has dedicated space in both cadet dormitories, and access to rooms in Fairchild Hall, the academic building, for use as needed.

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