During her years as a University of Michigan student, Anne Hooghart always wondered about the Zen Buddhist Temple that stands behind a high brick wall on Packard Street. The temple’s annual yard sale, which was held Saturday, gave her the chance to find out.

“I’ve always wanted to be behind the gate,” said Hooghart, who now lives in Ypsilanti.

She found a plethora of items ranging from chopsticks to baking molds. Unlike the most infamous instance in the sale’s 27-year history, she did not come away with a Herman Miller chair—which had gone unrecognized by sale organizers—for under $10. All she had was a plastic mug for 25 cents and a bracelet for one of her two young daughters.

The sale was initiated after the temple opened in 1981. Between $10,000 and $14,000 is raised each year “to support the various work of the temple,” said Rev. Haju, resident priest.

Now claiming 120 members, the temple has expanded its complex in recent years with the purchase of the commercial building next door to the south on Packard Street, along with a residence called the Hermitage on the same block.

The precept of “right livelihood” guides the dispersal of sale proceeds and the acquisition of inventory, said Rev. Haju. Physical examples of right livelihood include old bicycles that have been rehabilitated and sofas—upholstery now repaired—that students put out at the curb when moving out each spring.

Leonard Bass, a temple member now in his 12th year as sale coordinator, logs 160 to 180 hours annually to prepare the event. He relies on a network of members to effect repairs and make offerings usable. “Everyone has an area they feel good about,” Bass said of the rehabbing.

While temple members generously donate items for the sale, Bass often uses a battered pickup to acquire other things. He makes spur-of-the moment, curbside decisions about their quality. “If it’s a schlock piece, I just let it go.”

Julie Bednark came from Oakland County’s Sylvan Township “looking for something for the basement and instead I found chopsticks,” she said. Her companion, Greg Zawalski, of Warren, nabbed a charger for his BlackBerry, a napkin dispenser and an audio-visual cable for a TV. It was Zawalski’s third visit to the sale. “Once, I found a small refrigerator,” he said.

Rae Sikora and Adena Kling, both of Ann Arbor, said they were supposed to be waiting tables at the People’s Food Co-op but instead had pedaled their bicycles to the sale. “This is our good diversion from tabling,” Sikora said.

She held up a three-pocket organizer that she thought might be useful because she said she’s organizing Kling’s life. But the $5 price tag gave her pause.

Looking at her friend, she said, “I don’t think it’s worth $5 for you, dear.”

(Photo: Anne Hooghart, with daughter Cassidy, 2, on her hip and Kasey, 3, by her side, inspects potential treasures at the Zen Buddhist Temple's annual yard sale Saturday.)