The new owners of the building that currently houses the Panagia Pantovasilissa Greek Orthodox Church on Tates Creek Road want to use the space as a Buddhist educational facility and meditation center once the church relocates to its new structure currently under construction.
Chen Chung, an endowed professor in the Department of Management at the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics, purchased the building at the corner of Tates Creek Road and Melrose Avenue last year. The property also included the residential building adjacent to the church. The congregation has a lease on the building until they are ready to move to their new facility further down Tates Creek Road, according to Chung.
Chung, originally from Taiwan, has lived in Lexington for over 30 years. For the past 14 years, he and his wife have hosted informal Buddhist discussion workshops at their home with friends. The couple had always dreamed of creating a center that was open to the public where people could come to meditate and learn more about Buddhist principles.
“It’s not going to be a temple,” Chung said. “We’ll keep everything simple. It will be a meditation place.”
Once the Greek Orthodox Church has moved from the building, Chung said not much work will need to be done to meet the envisioned center’s needs.
“It’s so simple,” he laughed, “have a floor. You just really need to have a floor, then any time you can sit down to do meditation.”
Chung says he plans to establish a non-profit organization which will administer the operation and function of the center. He said that along with offering a space for people to meditate, the organization could host discussions, workshops and educational speakers. The center won’t put an emphasis on Buddhism as a religion, but will help people learn and explore their “infinite capacity for wisdom,” compassion and other Buddhist ideals.
“For us, it’s the education. You can worship (the Buddha), but it is more of a symbol. Buddha is ‘the enlightened one,’ and everyone can be enlightened no matter what religion.”