Today, I’m in Hong Kong… 8018 miles from home. It’s cloudy today… I’m sure it’s hot and humid outside but I have some down time. So I’m taking it easy. We’ve been working 60-hour weeks and it’s time to do nothing. The hardest part is being away from my family. During the week it’s easy to get lost in your work but the weekends are hard! Yesterday was a long day. We ran around Hong Kong and saw many wonderful things… the Chi Lin Nunnery, Wong Tai Sin Temple, and the museum in Tsuen Wan. We had dinner in Lan Kwai Fong and then walked the night market on Temple Street. Today, I’m sitting in the sky lounge at the Sheraton in Kowloon… working on my papers for school and this blog. I’m watching the boats pass on the harbor. The sounds of marching band can be heard in the distance. The sun peaks through the clouds ever once in awhile but the skies never go blue. I miss the cold and the clear blue skies on New England. Talk about popping up on the radar… George I have nothing to hide!
Browsing Posts tagged Chi Lin Nunnery
One of the things I really wanted to do this trip was to see Hong Kong as the people who live here do. I’ve been to the Po Lin monastery on Lantau Island many times. It too is a peaceful but I needed to see something new. Today we visited a Tang Dynasty (618-907AD) timber monastery. It is a Buddhist monastery located at the based of Diamond Hill. It’s a bit miss leading as the Nunnery was founded in the 1930’s and the actual monastery as it stands today was only dedicated on the 8th day, of the 12th Lunar month, of the year of the Ox (1998)! At first I was disappointed when I found out the monastery was recently built but that feeling was soon replace with feelings tranquility. The garden was very special.
The four ponds as you enter ‘First Yard’ are filled with various colored water lilies. The sound of the babbling water and bonsai trees that fill the garden all lend to the inner peace of the quiet surroundings.
The monastery is divided into two sections which represent the Buddhist idea of harmony between Heaven and Earth. Wisdom is represent in the architecture of the buildings surrounding the gardens.It is said the by using wood in the construction of the monastery that you extend the life of the tree which in turn fills the build with life.
The Hall of Celestial Kings
As one enters the hall, it is Maitreya Bodhisattva (the future Buddha) that welcomes all to the Nunnery. In each the four corners of the ‘Second Yard’ are statues of the celestial kings. They represent the four cardinal directions: Vaishravana (North), Virudhaka (South), Dhritarashtra (East) and Virupaksha (West).
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Each of the celestial kings are the protectors of Buddha’s teachings. Skanda is the chief guardian of the monastery. The entrance to the Hall of Celestial Kings is flanked by two large white marble Sutra Pillars and a collection of beautifully formed stones.
The Outer Gardens – Nan Lian Gardens
Directly across the street from the monastery is the Nan Lian Gardens. In keeping with the monastery the gardens were designed with the feel of the Tang Dynasty. The design of the Jiangshouju garden can be traced back to the 2400 years to the Tang Dynasty. The garden is filled with many stones and trees.
Daoists aspire to the peace and simplicity of Nature; and Buddhists seek enlightenment through insight into the way of Nature.
