I'm uploading a couple of short posts a week, just a picture or two (or three, or four), traipsing through my China pilgrimage in order. Enjoy!
By the way, some of you may want to see my new project (the one that dragged me away from this one for the past few months): "The Jim Bucket List," a sort of weekly "magazine" with articles on
literature,
science,
history,
and so on, as well as
a story for young readers and
a nursery rhyme to read aloud.
"Extras" include
an English proverb,
a vocabulary word with its various forms, and
the birthdays of "great minds" born that week.
All accompanied by vocabulary exercises, comprehension questions, and thought questions. Great for kids, students, and life-long learners--something for everyone! Please take a look.
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For a brief account of my visit to Feilai Feng and nearby Lingyin Temple, see my Shenzhen Daily article or the slightly longer version here on Temple Tales.
In Ep. 107 we visited Hangzhou's "Peak That Flew from Afar," which is right across a little stream from Lingyin Temple. There we learned of an Indian monk whom the Chinese called Huili. He founded a hermitage here, and this grand temple has developed from those humble beginnings.
Upon entering the grounds of the temple proper, the first thing to look for (I soon learned) was a map. If you're lucky, as I was here, you'll find one marked with the English names of the halls and features. I couldn't help but notice that on this one (see how the sun through the trees literally highlighted it?) was a hall shaped like a swastika.
This symbol, commonly used in Buddhism, is quite misunderstood because of its dark history in modern Europe. This surprisingly-shaped edifice turned out to be a Hall of 500 Arhats. I have seen many 500 Arhat Halls since--some arranged in the shape of the Chinese character for a field, tian (田) (hinting at the "cultivation" of devotees), and others with the Arhats arranged randomly along meandering paths in a large rectangular hall. But as far as I can recall, this is the only one I have ever seen shaped like a swastika!
As a rule--I'll show you some exceptions in the next few episodes--I wasn't too crazy about the style of the statues at Lingyin Temple, one I was to see quite often in my travels. The features of these guys weren't too bad, but this bronze-y thing is unappetizing to me.
At the center, however, of the hall--and therefore the swastika--was this magnificent centerpiece (hey, what else could I call it?). On each side of this pavilion sat one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas: Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin), Samantabhadra (Puxian), Kshitigarbha (Dizang, shown below), and Manjushri (Wenshu).
Incidentally, sorry about the fuzziness: I was using a new camera and hadn't mastered low-light shooting quite yet. But you get the picture (heh-heh) right?
Next episode: Gods and Generals at Lingyin Temple
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Until next time, may you and your loved ones and all sentient beings be well and happy.
Adios, Amigos!
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