Lanier Theological Library (LTL) is a 17,000 sq. ft private library located in northwest Houston, Texas. It is part of the 35-acre estate of Mark Lanier.

He designed the library by combining his favorite architectural features from the libraries in and around the University of Oxford.[He is a high-profile product litigation lawyer resulting in billions of dollars in damages, successful cases including Johnson & Johnson baby powder and Merck & Co.'s Vioxx drug]

It opened to the public in October 2010.

The estate also has a stone chapel and an English village with a train, cobblestone street and dining hall.

The huge library estate can be visited only with prior appointment and there are very limited number allowed in every day . On a cold wintery morning We drove down to that address and told the security at the gate that we would like to visit the library . There is a phone number written on a board outside where you can call for permission to enter . We rang up that number, it connected us to somebody inside , we said We're at the gate .

The Lady asked the security to let us in; we showed the guard our id's it is ok to show an electronic id also . The security guard buzzed the gate open

Parts of the gardens are open for the visitors, it has the vibe of an English village with a small stream running by and there are numerous statues of kids . There are swans running around in the garden .

The library has mostly theological religious books but there are quite a few general interest books as well . Ambiance is serene and classy .

This is one of the fireplaces so cosy and comfortable

The LTL displays Christian artifacts such as handwritten letters by author C. S. Lewis, artwork from his Chronicles of Narnia book series, two copies of the original 1611 King James Version Bible and a fragment of the Dead Sea Scrolls. It includes more than 120,000 volumes and periodicals

STONE CHAPEL

It is a reconstruction of a 500 A.D. Byzantine chapel

The chapel's ceilings feature scenes from the Bible painted by Texas artist Richard McCluskey. He also painted the ceiling of the library's main hall.

GARDENS IN THE PRIVATE ESTATE

Fo Guang Shan Chung Mei Buddhist Temple

Zen Garden

The Zen Garden avoids an ornate display, demonstrates the beauty of purity, simplicity to attain spirituality.

Statues of Buddha, arhats, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, and novice monks as well as rocks, stone lamps, bowls, flowers, and trees are fittingly placed to lead people into the quiescence of Zen for their spirit to wander, easing the stress of life.

The Contemplative Maitreya [a Bodhisattva]

ARHATS

Arhats are often portrayed with a frowning or contemplative expression, which signifies an awareness of suffering in the world and compassion for all sentient beings. Each arhat displays a different essence and unique characteristics, they may be contemplating, meditating, or dancing, which serve as an inspiration for sentient beings.

They teach us that while people have different appearances and aptitudes, as long as we bring forth our strengths and strive to practice wholesomeness, we will attain Buddhahood

Novice Monks

The stone statues of adorable novice monks at the Zen Garden include Joining Palms Novice Monk, Sutra-reading Novice Monk, Bowl-holding Novice Monk, and the twelve Zodiac Novice Monks. They are cute and adorable.惹人喜爱。

Novice monks renounced as children are called sramanera, meaning to diligently practice morality, concentration, and wisdom for extinguishing greed, anger, and delusion.

Though they may be young, through gradual practice, they could become a great Dharma King one day

Main Shrine

ENTRANCE

Buddhists regard incense as “divine odor,” and it is meant to evoke the presence of Buddhist divinities.

Burning incense sticks works as a sensory way to sanctify the space and promote mindfulness and awareness

INCENSE BURNER

Note the elephant heads carrying the incense pot

CEREMONIAL BELL

The Main Shrine is the heart of the temple and is called “The Treasure Hall of the Great Hero.” It is dedicated to the founder of Buddhism, Sakyamuni Buddha. This Shrine is where monastics perform services and practitioners chant sutras or offer reverence to the Buddha.

The Main Shrine depicts three Buddha statues. The central one is Sakyamuni Buddha, on the right side is Medicine Buddha, and on the left side is Amitabha Buddha.

The Trikala Buddhas

SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA

The Sakyamuni Buddha (represented by the Buddha in the center) was born as Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Sakaya Clan in Hindustan, India.

He renounced the world not for His own convenience but for the sake of suffering humanity.

The name “Buddha,” which means “Awakened One,” was given to Sakyamuni Buddha after He attained Enlightenment.

The Buddha taught life principles for around forty-nine years and built a large following, both monastic and lay. His teaching illuminates the way for humankind to cross from a world of darkness, hatred, and suffering to a new world of light, love, and happiness.

AMITĀBHA BUDDHA

The Amitabha Buddha (the Buddha on the left) is the Buddha of infinite qualities, resulting from good deeds over countless past lives as a bodhisattva. His name indicates the idea of eternal light and life. the gift of unbounded happiness is available to all people regardless of status or position in life.

MEDICINE BUDDHA

The Medicine Buddha (the Buddha on the right) is known as Bhaisayaguru in Sanskrit. He is regarded as the Buddha of healing and medicine, a doctor who cures suffering using the medicine of his teachings to overcome mental, physical, and spiritual problems.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva once proclaimed, “Not until hell is vacant shall I become a Buddha. Only when all sentient beings are liberated will I attain awakening.” He has vowed to liberate all sentient beings from suffering through countless lifetimes.

Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva

“Prayers depart a thousand hearts; in a thousand hearts he answers. Sailing the sea of suffering, he constantly helps people cross over.”

Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (known in her female form as Guan Yin), who has already become a Buddha, manifests as a Bodhisattva in different forms to help all sentient beings. He is always depicted with Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, as the attendants of Amitabha Buddha.

Many colorful miniature Buddhas carvings line the sidewalls surrounding the Main Shrine to signify that the Buddha-nature is within everyone’s heart and exists everywhere.