5-year Oakland Buddhist temple battle ends

Oakland Cambodian Buddhist Temple members return 5 years after they took back their temple in Oakland on Jan. 12, 2010. The Cambodian Buddhist community has been in a legal battle over the temple on E. 10th St. A court order came down giving the community the right to the temple that had been occupied by the Int'l Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks Center (Laura A. Oda/Staff).

(Oakland Tribune) Buddhists are perceived as being above church politics. But a bitter five-year battle over an Oakland temple pitted two Cambodian Buddhist organizations against each other and gave rise to restraining orders, threats, and allegations of stealing.

• VIDEO: 5-year battle over Buddhist temple ends

The struggle ended Monday afternoon in a nondescript chamber of the California Superior Court on Oak Street with a simple decision that boiled down to one thing: the Oakland Cambodian Buddhist Temple nonprofit has a right to its East 10th Street center and temple.

The center had been taken over in 2005 by the Massachusetts-based International Community of Khmer Buddhist Monks Center. "We had to endure a lot of pain and suffering to achieve this," said Christina Sam, the daughter-in-law of the center's founder, Sam Son. More>>

Miracle Survival

Crewmembers from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Florida and the Coast Guard Cutter Tornado rescue Nick Schuyler(L) from an overturned vessel west of Tampa Bay on 3/2/09. Schuyler's survival story was a miracle, his doctor said (AFP/Coast Guard).

Surviving cancer, diabetes, and all the "incurable" diseases is easy. Restore your diet and remove environmental toxins. But imagine surviving a 46 hour ordeal clinging on to a capsized boat 38 miles out to sea. One man did today.

Doctor: Boater's Survival a "Miracle"

TAMPA, FLORIDA (TICKER) — The attending physician for the lone survivor of a boating mishap off Florida’s Gulf Coast said it was a “miracle” that his patient withstood the 46-hour ordeal.

Nick Schuyler, a former football player at South Florida, was in “good condition” Wednesday, two days after he was plucked from the sea while clinging to an overturned fishing boat.

Schuyler, wearing a yellow life vest, was discovered perched atop the capsized boat approximately 38 miles west of Tampa Bay. He was rushed via helicopter to Tampa General Hospital, where he was listed in serious condition....

• Father still hopeful for others
• Photos from the rescue effort

Rumbak said one key to survival is the physical condition of Schuyler, who is a personal trainer, and also credited his mental toughness.

“Extremely important. This guy is very tough mentally,” Rumbak said. “Even so, being in the water that long saps the energy you have.

“I think if he didn’t have that type of background, I don’t think he would have made it.”

Rumbak said the 24-year-old Schuyler was suffering from moderate hypothermia with a body temperature of 89 degrees when he was pulled from the water.

Schuyler also has significant muscular damage, some kidney issues along with pain in his knees and ankles, which will be checked by an orthopedic surgeon on Wednesday. Rumbak attributed some of the sustained trauma from repeatedly knocking up against the boat.

Rumbak declined to say when Schuyler would be released from the hospital, although he could get out of intensive care unit in the next few days and possibly leave the hospital by the end of the week. More>>