In a spacious ranch-style home nestled in a quiet, wooded Chapel Hill neighborhood, fifteen to twenty BLIANC members gather to chant sutras, discuss Buddhist teachings, and enjoy a vegetarian lunch. A day later, another fifteen or so members assemble in a home in Cary for a similar morning of devotion. Meeting every other weekend (Chapel Hill on Saturdays and Cary on Sundays), the BLIANC consists almost entirely of first generation ethnic Chinese immigrants and graduate students. Most hail from Mainland China or Taiwan, and a few are from Southeast Asia. Contrary to the presupposition that all Asian American followers are cradle Buddhists,  many members at BLIANC are adult converts, with some taking refuge in the Three Jewels only after arriving in the U.S. 

Founded in 1992 by a small group of lay people, the BLIANC now counts over one hundred members on its roll. An elected president and board of directors form the official leadership of the group. As an affiliate of the internationally active Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order, the BLIANC is able to draw upon many resources. The Venerable Jue Chuan, the nun assigned to the BLIANC by Fo Guang Shan, serves as the spiritual advisor who oversees all regular services and special rituals, such as those commemorating the Buddha's birthday. The BLIANC also sponsors periodic lectures by visiting lay or clerical speakers and organizes social events to celebrate important days on the Chinese lunar calendar. These special activities, like the regular services, are conducted in Mandarin Chinese, with English translation on rare occasions. With the membership growing, the BLIANC is planning to construct a full-scale temple in the town of Apex.