"Furnace Mountain- A Buddhist Temple" Richmond Off The Beaten Path Tip by Krumlovgirl

Furnace Mountain is a Buddhist Temple located in Estill County, close to Irvine. It’s about a thirty-minute drive from Richmond. It is in a beautiful location near the Red River Gorge-where I grew up. It is modeled after a traditional Korean Temple. The teacher is Zen Master Dae Gak, who has been practicing Buddhism for over thirty years. Furnace Mountain us an offshoot of the Buddhist Temple in Lexington, which outgrew itself. They chose the location in Estill County due to the beautiful scenery and the proximity to the mountains. Aside from daily mediations and rituals, they also offer retreats every month. If you would like to visit, they welcome guests. It wouldn’t hurt to e-mail them in advance, however, to make sure you’re not going in at a time when something else is going on.

On a side note, my mother had a student not too long ago from Irvine. When she mentioned Furnace Mountain he said, “Aren’t those the people that worship rocks?” Well, they’re trying to educate people in the community but I guess it’s a slow process.

Phone: furnacemt@aol.com
Website: http://www.furnacemountain.org/fm.html