Buddhist Meditation Center rising up in the desert
  
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Buddist monk Thich Dang Phap
(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
Buddhist monk Thich Dang “Tom” Phap takes care of the fledgling Buddhist Meditation Center in the high desert community of Adelanto. Behind him is the 24-foot-tall statue of the Buddhist saint Quan yin, who is said to have miraculous powers.