Standing at the entrance of "The cradle of Buddhism in China", a pool teeming with vibrantly colored koi created a sense of energy, vitality, and at the same time a sense of beauty and tranquility. Crossing over a stone bridge and entering the temple grounds, I was again transported back in time as Master Cheng gave us a brief history lesson. Legend has it that, in the year 64, Emperor Ming of Han (28-75) dreamt of an immortal whose head glowed with a golden halo, who had flown from a great distance and landed in his court's hall.  He felt so ecstatic from the dream that he shared it with his courtiers and asked if they knew who this could be. One of his subjects answered:   "In the West, there is a god called Buddha, who is the color of gold." The Emperor immediately wanted to know more and sent envoys to India to find out who this Buddha was and what his teachings were. They returned with two highly respected Indian monks and a beautiful white horse carrying the Buddhist sutras, scriptures, and statues. Their first stop in China was at Lou Yang, where they were put up in a temple. The monks brought gifts which delighted the Emperor, particularly a Buddha image with a striking similarity to his vision. "Performing some miracles", the monks had further strengthened the Emperor's belief in Buddhism. He ordered the building of a monastery and named it the White Horse Temple. The monks stayed and translated the Sutras here, and the temple became honored as the ‘Cradle of Buddhism' in China. Now, over 1,900 years later, I felt as if the centuries of meditation and Buddhist studies had created an incubator of sublime philosophy, and I couldn't help but remember the experience I had in the presence of the Living Buddha.  The temple had been built with great mindfulness, and I felt it had a consciousness of its own. The numerous Buddhas, beautifully carved or crafted in clay, throughout the temple are exquisite, and are regarded as priceless treasures of China. A large 'laughing Buddha' sat in the Hall of Heavenly Kings, his image always brings a smile and a chuckle, starting deep in the belly. I paid my respects to the two monks - what an incredible impact these two had on the destiny of China and, in many ways, the modern world and the lives of literally millions of people. Steeped in 'spiritual' history, not only is it a magnificent Temple, but it also added to my treasure chest of experiences and memories.