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Daniel Choi stands in front of a statue of Kuan Yin, the Buddhist goddess of compassion, at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

Daniel Choi stands in front of a statue of Kuan Yin, the Buddhist goddess of compassion, at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

A close-up of the 30-foot statue of the Buddha – one of the largest in the United States -- at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

A close-up of the 30-foot statue of the Buddha – one of the largest in the United States -- at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

An image of one of the largest statues of the Buddha in the United States is located in the backyard yard of the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

An image of one of the largest statues of the Buddha in the United States is located in the backyard yard of the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

The Venerable Hungampola Sirirathana Nakaya Thero, left, tends to a peace garden at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

The Venerable Hungampola Sirirathana Nakaya Thero, left, tends to a peace garden at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

Daniel Choi lifts his arms during his chanting and meditation practice in front of a statue of the Buddha at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Friday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

Daniel Choi lifts his arms during his chanting and meditation practice in front of a statue of the Buddha at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Friday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

Tibetan prayer flags flutter in the wind at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

Tibetan prayer flags flutter in the wind at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

Daniel Choi prostates in front of a giant statue of the Buddha at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

Daniel Choi prostates in front of a giant statue of the Buddha at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

Daniel Choi shows his praying beads and Buddhist medallion at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

Daniel Choi shows his praying beads and Buddhist medallion at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

Monks chant sutras in Pāli language next to a flowered-decorated altar overlooking a giant Buddha statue in the yard of the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Sunday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

Monks chant sutras in Pāli language next to a flowered-decorated altar overlooking a giant Buddha statue in the yard of the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Sunday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

Daniel Choi meditates at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

Daniel Choi meditates at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

Carol Kruhen lifts up her pressed palms next to a statue of the Buddha after meditating at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Sunday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

Carol Kruhen lifts up her pressed palms next to a statue of the Buddha after meditating at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Sunday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

Carol Kruhen lifts up her pressed palms as she chanted sutras in Pāli language at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Sunday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)

Carol Kruhen lifts up her pressed palms as she chanted sutras in Pāli language at the New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center in Franklin Township, N.J. on Sunday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP photo/Luis Andres Henao)