Maria and the driver picked me up for the short trip to the Lama Temple, the most famous Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Beijing. You walk through a series of Buddha houses. Each worship house contains different Buddhas. Most who entered lighted incense and prayed before entering. The incense was planted outside in containers as each worship house is made of wood. The last Buddha house contains the worlds biggest wooden Buddha statue carved from a single trunk of a white sandal wood tree. It was spectacular, but, of course, I was not allowed to take pictures inside the worship houses. This worship house could also be opened on all four sides so that the head monk could teach and preach to the students/monks. Behind this impressive worship house was a place for women to pray to Quanlin, a female Buddha, and other Buddhas. As we left, Maria asked if I wanted to spin the prayer wheels and make a wish. They are located on all four corners of the temple. Two had been moved as they were in the process of doing renovations. Of course I spun every single one of them and made my singular wish! We walked the two blocks on both sides of the streets outside of the temple. I was looking for a lotus seed bracelet, but could not find one in my size. I left with silk lotus flowers and Chinese roses (peonies) for my home in CC. Thus endeth the Beijing adventure.....and I would dearly love to be able to return some day.
No comments:
Post a Comment