Hsi Lai Temple

[Anonymous]

The most fascinating aspect of the Hsi Lai Temple to me was the museum. I am always mesmerized by the artifacts that have survived the test of time and how each item has a wonderful story behind it. Wouldn't it be interesting if these artifacts could speak and tell us their story? In addition to the museum the tranquility of the tea room was enough to make me quiet down and reflect on the important things in life.

Thanks,
Maria

[Anonymous]

I had never visited a Buddhist temple before Thursday, so I was unsure of what to expect. I was immediately struck by the enormity of the structure. Yes, I knew it was largest in N. America, but what does that really mean? I had no frame of reference. The smell of incense hit me first. It was welcoming you inside.

The delicious vegetarian lunch (!) was delicious and I was particularly interested in watching a group of school children eat their lunch: it was both solemn and jubilant.

Our tour was headed by Nancy, who spend much time explaining the various statues and idols around the temple. I did not know that they would come from such a range of sources: Burma, China, Japan. Students may initially feel uneasy in such an unfamiliar environment, but I believe that they would quickly accept the calm and passive space.

After the tour, I sat in the large room with the 10,000 Buddhas on the second floor that is used for ceremonies and such. I sat there for nearly 30 minutes, just taking everything in. I am not a religious person, but I did feel some sort of connection with the room and felt very safe there.

I wish we had another field trip this week; the two sites we visited were definitely worthwhile.

[Anonymous]

Thur.4B
I want to begin by saying that our guide through the His Lai Temple was wonderful, he was full of information about the curriculum standards and what grade could use what information. He did something else that I respected him for, he was happy to be a Buddhist but he made sure to let us know that was his believes that it did not have to be mine. I have been to many temples and he was the first to help me understand that Buddhism is a way of life and can be practiced with your religion. He did not talk about things he did know and he was happy to admit that. Thanks.

On a side note, every Temple Gladys and I visited in China we were told it was either the oldest or the biggest and one time it was the tallest.

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed this field trip. The vastness of the grounds was impressive. It was interesting to see the prayer hall and the entrance with statues of Buddha's and that each one with a different teaching. The story of the 18 disciples was fascinating, and how they came about to be the followers of Buddhism. I learned something that the deities did not really worship the idols but to their teaching and that the statues were just symbols, hmmm interesting. The offering concept is similar to other religions

[Anonymous]

Having worked in construction for many years with my dad before becoming a teacher allows me to feel a special bond with the organizers of this temple. The fact that they persisted and eventually built such a grand structure is wonderful. There seemed to be both power and simplicity in the architecture. Perhaps this a frequently eastern occurrence especially in buildings with ancient basic designs. I enjoyed the intensity of our tour guide (Paul) and the fact that he had participated in things I am and hope to participate in in the future. My children are aged 7, 5, 3, and 1 respectively, and I want to take them to the Hsi Lai Temple as soon as I can. At one point I heard a baby wail, which perhaps I have an especially trained ear for, and I looked up at some nuns and monks and nobody even seemed to notice. The inner peace that is clearly visible in many people I saw there is so wonderful that it is hard to put into words. I look forward to doing research on what type of wonderful resources await me closer to the San Diego area since my school is located in cow country with a distinct lack of Buddhists (I know, I would probably be surprised).

[Anonymous]

Balmy air, balmy persona
The gift opens wide
The deity speaks, Wyss enters

The air is thin
The task is daunting
Spring, summer, winter, fall
THE Enlightened One appears

As is Japanese custom poetry must beget poetry.

Things of nature
Signs of fruitation
Pailes of sustenance
Life is formed

[Anonymous]

Two things need to be cleared up from the Hsi Lai Temple visit:

1. Precepts are not commandments; they are GUIDELINES for living REALISTICALLY in the world. One takes refuge in them and in the three jewels (the BUDDHA [his example, but you are one, but do not realize that you are and that others are as well]), the DHARMA (broad inclusive of much, but, generally, the Path, the Way of Kindness, the teachings) and the SANGHA (again, broadly everything and everyone, but, more specifically, the company of those who are on the path of kindness, as any awakened master would teach, not just the Buddha). The root word of Buddha is bud and it means to be awake or to wake up. So, you are on the path of awakening, not of distraction and of softening or numbing the space between you and life via sexual misconduct, drugs and alcohol, lying, stealing etc (or even TV, coffee, internet, cell phone, mindless chatter or anything that you do to keep fear at bay). There are 254 precepts for monks, some schools have 54, some 16. For the lay community there may be less and of a different nature.
An example of a precept:

"Aware of the suffering created by fanaticism and intolerance, we are determined not to be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory or ideology, even Buddhist ones. Buddhist teachings are guiding means to help us learn to look deeply and to develop our understanding and compassion. They are not doctrines to fight, kill and die for."

This is the first precept in the line of teaching followed by Venerable Master Thich Nhat Hanh from Vietnam, a poet, peace activist and prolific author. He was nominated by Martin Luther King Jr. for the Nobel Peace Prize and attend the Paris Peace Talks during the Vietnam War. He is a formidable scholar of Buddhism.

Can you see the difference? It's not a THOU SHALT NOT sort of thing. But, many new converts from the West simply transfer their Christian concepts of commandments on to the next religion they take up. It's understandable, but there is a substantive difference between a precept and commandment.

2. NIRVANA means release from suffering and it's happening RIGHT NOW if you see the world realistically. NIRVANA IS THE COMPLETE SILENCING OF CONCEPTS. For example, the NOTION, CONCEPT AND IDEA of birth and death. Birth and death are concepts. You can live in THIS world and be extraordinarily happy. Meet the Dali Lama and you'll "get this" in spades. Or even some "ordinary" monks and nuns.

The pictures of the Buddha lying on his side are of his PARINIRVANA, his total extinction at the time of his death. He was said to be teaching, even as he lay dying. But, to "die" before you literally die is the most desirable. Meaning, you are not attached to HAVING IT YOUR WAY and BEING IN CONTOL. But, careful, it does not mean being a passive, floating nothing. Quite the contrary, one is quite engaged and caring of all beings as if they were one's closest relatives.

[Anonymous]

Matt,

I urge you to go to Deer Park in Escondido. It's a Buddhist Monastery. My friends just finished "Family Week" there. You'll love it. And, I am sure of that. Try the web deerpark@plumvillage.org. Also, http://www.plumvillage.org.

[Anonymous]

Thank you Connie, I certainly will check out that temple in Escondido.

[Anonymous]

The former social order of relationships between the rulers and the commoners fell apart "long before the Meiji restoration." (Ebrey p.411) It's hard to be the last man killed in affairs of state. A system that had worked once collapses in 1867. (Ebrey p. 411)

A larger question is the one of answering the call of duty to one's superiors. America, a nation of so-called individualists ( I'll tell you why we're not later), would not understand Twilight's necessity of obedience. But, here's a little hope: Tomoe is willing to buck convention. Just like a man, Twilight feels he must do as he is told and follow orders; it's either that or face dishonor. Just like a woman, Tomoe answers the call of her heart. Those of us who have ever dared to take on the social norms (even in our liberal society) will understand Tomoe. Those of us who have given up personal freedom and desires to do what we are supposed to do will understand Twilight. I suppose all of us have had at least a little taste of both: sacrifice for a greater cause and/or following the call of our own soul's desire or impulse.

Twilight desires to rid himself of the mask of Darth Vader and its programmed political agendas. He wants to NOT be a company man. And, ask yourself in the privacy of your own mind, in what ways are you a Darth Vader, a Twilight Samurai? That is, how often do you NOT follow your own heart, but instead follow the dictates of the little microcosm or the macrocosm in which you swim? Just think of the senseless and stupid things that your district and the state may be asking and demanding of you. Even in your own department, you may be told to follow and teach/test a child in English who speaks only Spanish. Just an example I've heard complaints about. And, soon you learn to be a company man/woman, because you've learned that no good deed goes unpunished!

Twilight gets about three years of life's goodness: family love and societal peace. Then it's the same old state nonsense. Those of us who lived during the Vietnam War will understand deeply what I am saying. Unfortunately, for Twilight there was no Canada where he could hide and I saw guys just like him enlist, do their "duty" and die. For what? We are not the nation of individualists that we like to think we are. An individualist is someone who cannot be divided, who is whole, who is free, truly free. Do any of you know such a person?[Edit by="canaise on Aug 3, 3:31:09 PM"]"fell apart" in the first sentence is to be inserted after "commoners."[/Edit]

[Anonymous]

I was pondering the fact that Budhists are to renounce worldy possessions, but the temple was extremely ornate. I this common? The Budhist monks we had in Oceanside at the Roscrucian Temple were very low key and minimalistic in their surroundings as well as their life style. I understand now why in our textbooks we only get to see the outside of the temples, but I am wondering what the inside of Asian temples look like.

[Anonymous]

I had heard of this temple a couple years ago when I was "big sister" to a foreign exchange UCI student from Japan. (This was a program set up by a protestant church in Irvine). She had mentined she'd like to take me to visit, but we never made it. I had wondered what it would be like to visit during a service and I'd figure out what to do while I was there. Our fieldtrip took out the guess work, which was nice. I enjoyed the tour, but the temple and grounds were smaller than I imagined. I guess my frame of reference is the Crystal Cathederal and Saddleback Church. I was very impressed by how the tour could go through and not disrupt their activities and the number of classes, activities, etc that they offered. There was a hugh list on a bulletin board. It was also impressive that they have such an open door policy for the community and visitors. It was very welcomining. They were out of the booklet "100 "Things to Do Before You Die" which I would really like to read, and perhaps try some things. I'd like to go back on my own and see if the visit feel the same or different. And I wonder if you walk in alone if people come up and talk to you or offer to share information or just leave you be. I had 3 observations of the school group that came in for lunch. One, they all used forks, except for one with beginner chopsticks and two, french fries were handed out with tongs. Some students got one, some got a few. Now there's a lesson for all of us! A third observation...all the children seemed really happy and smiling. That is always good to see.

[Anonymous]

What an experience! I'm going to return on my own so I can read every display and visit as much of the compound as we are allowed. Fascinating stuff - so easy to draw parallels between Kwan Yin, Mary, and the Lady of the Lake. They each have the female-wisdom-sacred water symbol attributes. Perfect for a segment on myths and representations of wisdom. Interesting that the wisdom figure usually has a feminine gender.
The lunch was great, too. Loved listening to the children pray before their meal.
I want to go back and read on each of the arhats, also. I thought it interesting that they were so careful to say the buddhas in the main area weren't saints. Really, though, they are very similar - people who have died who lived exemplary lives to whom you pray to ask their blessing...and I read (I think Jos. Campbell) once, that every religious or spiritual discipline in the world has some representation of angels. Our guide said one of the buddhas or beings she was referring to were 'like angels' - I don't remember what she called them though. I'll find out when I go back.
Not sure that I would bring a busload of kids here, though. Too many places to get lost, and many of the parents in my district are pretty conservative. They might think I was trying to recruit their kids.

[Anonymous]

Walking through the temple and listening to the tour guide brought up a few things that I will think about when I take my students on a field trip. First, being prepared for what you will see and what the place you are going to will be like (specific expectations, dress codes, types of people you may see there, etc.) it very important. The introductory information not only makes field trip goers more comfortable but it also makes for a more effective field trip. It is very difficult to plan and get funds to pay for a field trip - so, if I ever take my students on one I will be sure that they are ready for it and will get a lot out of it!

[Anonymous]

It was a good experience to visit Hsi Lai Temple. I felt as if I was in Taiwan again: the structure and style of the temple, inside the Bodhisattva Hall, Guanyin Bodhisattva Garden, and Arhats Garden. No wonder Hsi Lai Temple is under Fo Guang Shan (located in Taiwan) Buddhist order.

It was impressive to know that the Master has been instrumental in expanding religious freedom throughout Asia, through a humanistic Buddhist orientation, works to unite all Buddhist schools and sects.

It was interesting to know that "The act of bowing is made out of respect to the boddhisattva and to seek their guidance in the development of the virtuous qualities each bodhisattava represents. Bowing also signifies our humility and curbing of our ego."

While we were at the dining hall, we saw the little summer school children (kindergarten-lower elementary school age) praying before lunch. This is a part of their objective at the temple to propagate Buddhism through cultural activities, nurture Buddhist missionaries through education.

I think that this temple is one of the ideal places for learning Buddhism and Chinese culture in California.

[Author]

Posts