Menu
EugeneThePanda.com
  • Brick Panda
  • Traveling Panda
  • Hungry Panda
  • Me Panda
  • About The Panda
EugeneThePanda.com

Hsi Lai Temple Exterior Photos and Descriptions

Posted on February 10, 2023August 23, 2023

Mountain Gate

The Temple’s symbolic gate provides a welcome by the International Buddhist Progress Society (IBPS). The Chinese characters on the back of the gate list the four universal vows of Buddhists: to save all sentient beings, to eradicate delusion and stress, to the boundless Dharma, and to attain supreme enlightenment. Making vows is integral to Buddhism because it provides people the strength to fulfill their practice.

Bodhisattva Hall

Atop the steps from the upper level parking lot is the Bodhisattva Hall. This hall is dedicated to several enlightened sages who vowed to selflessly serve others with loving-kindness and compassion, and are committed to liberating all beings from suffering. In other words, they are “Buddhas in training.” Each bodhisattva represents a virtuous quality essential to all Buddhists.

Courtyard

Known as the “Way to Buddhahood,” the Courtyard is used for walking meditation during retreats as well as many outdoor events. Its geometric pavement rectangles symbolize the rice paddies of China with weeds growing around the edges. If we plant good sees and rid our minds of all defilements (weeds) through the practice of Buddhism, eventually we will reap merits and attain Buddahood. According to Buddhist teachings, the lions in each corner of the courtyard symbolize strength and courage, and their roars awaken us from ignorance.

Arhat Garden

Seated in this lovely garden are the Eighteen Arhats. As disciples of the Buddha, they have realized the truth of no-self and overcame the defilements of greed, anger and ignorance. They understood Buddha’s teaching that everything is an illusion created by the five senses, dependent on other phenomena, originally empty, and subject to impermanence. Having eradicated all passions, desires, and attachments to worldly matters, each Arhat is foremost in his discipline. Their unique ways of practicing Bodhisattvahood have been inspirational for many Buddhist followers since the time of Sakyamuni Buddha.

Avalokitesvara Garden

Avalokitesvara (Guanyin) Bodhisattva is seated on a giant rock with her youthful attendants, Shancai and Longnu, standing beside her. Surrounding the pond are the four Deva Kings: Virudhaka of the Southern Kingdom (holding a dragon), Dhanada of the Northern Kingdom (holding an umbrella) and Dhrtarastra of the Eastern Kingdom(holding a sitar). The Deva Kings are revered as guardians who protect devout sentient beings from being harmed by unwholesome elements. Also venerating Guanyin bodhisattva are the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas. The waterfall in this lovely landscape symbolizes the dharma flowing everywhere to purify people’s mind.

Sources:

http://www.hsilai.org/en/tours/exporehlt.php

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Categories

  • Food
    • Food Asia
    • Food Beverage
    • Food Dessert
    • Food Favorite
    • Food Home Cooking
    • Food Irvine
    • Food Las Vegas
    • Food Los Angeles
    • Food Michelin
    • Food Presentation
    • Food Recipes
    • Food San Diego
    • Food Science
    • Food Taiwan
    • Food Unique
    • Food Vegetarian
    • Food World
  • Home
    • Bed & Bath
    • Designer
    • Garden
    • Home
    • Home Improvement
    • Kitchen
    • Office
    • Product Review
  • Me
    • Art
    • Auto
    • Buddhism
    • Cartoon
    • Chinese
    • Family
    • Finance
    • Health
    • History
    • Humor
    • Lego
    • Movie
    • Music
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • San Diego
    • Taiwan
    • Technology
    • Values
  • Travel
    • Austria
    • Bahamas
    • California
    • China
    • Czech Republic
    • England
    • France
    • Germany
    • Greece
    • Haiti
    • Hungary
    • India
    • Italy
    • Jamaica
    • Japan
    • Malaysia
    • Mexico
    • Nepal
    • South Korea
    • Taiwan
    • USA
  • Uncategorized

Tags

2012 Italy 2012 London 2012 Paris 2013 Taiwan 2015 Colorado 2015 Cruise 2015 Nebraska Christmas 2015 Southwest 2015 Yosemite 2016 Malaysia 2016 Seattle 2016 Taiwan 2017 Atlanta 2017 Canyon 2017 Desert 2017 Europe Christmas 2017 Washington DC 2018 Hong Kong 2018 India 2018 Jiang Nan 2018 Nebraska 2018 New York City 2018 Seoul 2018 Taiwan 2018 Washington DC 2018 Yunnan 2019 Greece 2020 Taiwan 2021 Las Vegas 2022 Caribbean Cruise 2023 Kyoto Osaka 2023 Taiwan

Archives

  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • April 2019

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
©2025 EugeneThePanda.com | WordPress Theme by Superb WordPress Themes