The Sacred Space

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thornbush
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Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:21 am

Re: The Sacred Space

Post by thornbush »

This is one of my favourite places for practice since 2000:
The Malaysia Dharma Realm Buddhist Association / Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery (Dharma Dhatu Avalokitesvara Muni Vihara) located in the heart and Golden Triangle of Malaysia's capital city, Kuala Lumpur, just about 5 minutes walking distance to one of the tallest towers in the world and Malaysia's landmark architectural feat: The Petronas Twin Towers.

Previously, it was a very old and historical Taoist temple and when I first joined them, they were in the midst of renovation and construction, with only a small room as the Main Shrine Hall for all Dharma activities.
Today, that former Shrine Hall is now a Dharma bookshop and the entire place, a huge Buddhist Monastery complex with an vegetarian canteen, kitchens, shrine halls, a small garden, library, Sangha quarters and complete with resident Bhikshus and Bhikshunis. The place is often busy with the daily
See this link for its an excerpt history: http://www.advite.com/sf/br/br9-2.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and this one is their headquarters in Talmage, California, USA: http://www.cttbusa.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Busy during lunch hour (as they have a big canteen area catering with vegetarian food for sale opened only from Mondays-Fridays for lunch only and also on New/Full Moon Days/Solemnity Days if they fall on the weekend), they create affinities with the office executives and anyone else from the public, of various ethnic and religious backgrounds, who come for their meals from nearby companies/corporate offices.

It is also one of the tourist stops as it is located along the route towards the Twin Towers and the famed KLCC Suria Shopping Centre. So there are periods of lull and also periods where the entire place is brimming with mainly foreign Indian, Middle East and other nationalities. it is quite humorous to see them clicking away or with a video cam and at times they have to be guided to observe decorum by not walking freely in the Shrine Hall during a Dharma Assembly or to touch Dharma instruments or implements.

Here's a youtube link of what's inside live (they were having the Dharma Assembly known as 'The Jewelled Repentance of Emperor Liang'): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOqKLyNCPqM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery: Part 1
Attachments
Sri Skanda Bodhisattva (Wei Tuo Pu Sa), Host Dharma Protector of the Sangharama in Chinese & East Asian Buddhism (Standing behind Maitreya Bodhisattva)
Sri Skanda Bodhisattva (Wei Tuo Pu Sa), Host Dharma Protector of the Sangharama in Chinese & East Asian Buddhism (Standing behind Maitreya Bodhisattva)
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Maitreya Bodhisattva, the Chinese Buddhist Temple/Monastery's Welcoming Host
Maitreya Bodhisattva, the Chinese Buddhist Temple/Monastery's Welcoming Host
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The Main Gateway Entrance Arch
The Main Gateway Entrance Arch
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Last edited by thornbush on Fri May 15, 2009 5:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
thornbush
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Re: The Sacred Space

Post by thornbush »

The Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery: Part 2
thornbush
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Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:21 am

Re: The Sacred Space

Post by thornbush »

The Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery: Part 3
thornbush
Posts: 609
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:21 am

Re: The Sacred Space

Post by thornbush »

The Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery: Part 4
thornbush
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Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:21 am

Re: The Sacred Space

Post by thornbush »

The Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery: Part 5
Attachments
The late Venerable Tripitaka and Dhyana Master Hsuan Hua, the Venerable Founder with his statue, memorial tablet/plaque and relics. In all of their daily Dharma activities, they add 3.5 bows to him after the 3.5 bows to the Triple Gem to honour him as their Venerable Founder and Root Teacher of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association and their associates. <br />The late Ven Master is the Ninth Patriarch of the Guiyang/Wei Yang School of Ch'an (one of the 5 Houses of Ch'an, known as Igyo in Japanese Zen) and 45th from Arya Mahakasyapa who received the Dharma transmission/lineage from the late Ven Elder Master Hsu Yun (Xu Yun)
The late Venerable Tripitaka and Dhyana Master Hsuan Hua, the Venerable Founder with his statue, memorial tablet/plaque and relics. In all of their daily Dharma activities, they add 3.5 bows to him after the 3.5 bows to the Triple Gem to honour him as their Venerable Founder and Root Teacher of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association and their associates.
The late Ven Master is the Ninth Patriarch of the Guiyang/Wei Yang School of Ch'an (one of the 5 Houses of Ch'an, known as Igyo in Japanese Zen) and 45th from Arya Mahakasyapa who received the Dharma transmission/lineage from the late Ven Elder Master Hsu Yun (Xu Yun)
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The left side of the Main Shrine Hall:<br />The Western Hall of Merits: normally dedicated to to the Three Sages of the Pure Land and some places also include Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and here only the Ksitigarbha is enthroned. <br />On His right are the previous old Taoist temple's ancestral and deities plaques/tablets placed there where they share in the Sangha's many Dharma teachings and merits. On His left are the yellow paper plaques petitions.
The left side of the Main Shrine Hall:
The Western Hall of Merits: normally dedicated to to the Three Sages of the Pure Land and some places also include Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and here only the Ksitigarbha is enthroned.
On His right are the previous old Taoist temple's ancestral and deities plaques/tablets placed there where they share in the Sangha's many Dharma teachings and merits. On His left are the yellow paper plaques petitions.
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The right side of the Main Shrine Hall:<br />The Eastern Hall of Merits:dedicated to Bhaisajya-Guru Buddha and one can see the red paper plaque petitions next to the statue.
The right side of the Main Shrine Hall:
The Eastern Hall of Merits:dedicated to Bhaisajya-Guru Buddha and one can see the red paper plaque petitions next to the statue.
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Last edited by thornbush on Mon May 18, 2009 3:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
thornbush
Posts: 609
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:21 am

Re: The Sacred Space

Post by thornbush »

The Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery: Part 6
Last edited by thornbush on Fri May 15, 2009 5:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
thornbush
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Re: The Sacred Space

Post by thornbush »

The Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery: Part 7
thornbush
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Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:21 am

Re: The Sacred Space

Post by thornbush »

The Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery: Part 8
Attachments
On the Main Altar: (left) Sangharama Bodhisattva (Jie Lan Seng Zhong Pu Sa / Guan Di)
On the Main Altar: (left) Sangharama Bodhisattva (Jie Lan Seng Zhong Pu Sa / Guan Di)
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On the Main Altar: (right) Sri Skanda Bodhisattva
On the Main Altar: (right) Sri Skanda Bodhisattva
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Ngawang Drolma
Founding Member
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Re: The Sacred Space

Post by Ngawang Drolma »

thornbush wrote:
Ngawang Drolma wrote:I'd like to see more of Thorny's shrines too (when he has time) :namaste:
Here some....Part 1
:bow:
Dragonflye
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Location: US

Re: The Sacred Space

Post by Dragonflye »

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing thorny!

:namaste:
thornbush
Posts: 609
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:21 am

Re: The Sacred Space

Post by thornbush »

Dragonflye wrote:Beautiful! Thanks for sharing thorny!
:namaste:
No probs dragonflye...look forward to seeing yours too :twothumbsup:
thornbush
Posts: 609
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:21 am

Re: The Sacred Space

Post by thornbush »

A memorable place back in early 1998 for myself...when still a Christian and still questioning and studying on Buddhism...visiting them one afternoon when they had a Dharma Assembly was going on....thinking it was another uneventful visit...
When I stepped into their premises and just taking off my shoes, for no apparent reason, I was overcame by a very strong sudden stirring of dizziness and vomiting and noticed that my suppression of it as I entered their Main Shrine, became worst until I literally had to run out to the drain outside and threw up. My friend who had followed me was equally shocked and both of us were left wondering what had happened.
But when I had stepped out, it was like as if nothing had happened, my physical condition was back to normal, like nothing of that dizziness and throwing up was there. So, when I attempted a second time of re-entry, the same nauseous condition returned. Sensing something was amiss, we left the place.
The place in the story is the 'Bao Lin Fa Yuan' (Treasure Forest Dharma Garden) or they are also known as 'Po Lin Monastery' and located in the oldest part of the city, Petaling Jaya, State of Selangor, West Malaysia.
This Vihara has a Main Shrine Hall, library, a small garden, memorial hall and Sangha quarters for a community of Bhikshunis. One of the cleanest and near smokeless place, 'untypical' for a standard Chinese Buddhist temple in my country, the place is serene, quiet and cool, ideal for one to sit in meditation there. And they have an automatic gate whereby a visitor have to ring the main gate bell to be allowed in. When checking their Venerable Founders
memorial ancestral tablets, it seems that they are descended from the Linji House of Ch'an, one of the 5 Houses of Ch'an from China (comparable to the Japanese Rinzai Zen)
(And no, my occasional visits did not had the incident described above after being a Buddhist... :thinking:)
Po Lin Monastery: Part 1
Attachments
The Main Monastery Arch plaque bearing the plaque wordings &quot;Fo Guo Chang Chun' (The Buddha's Land in Perpetual Spring)(viewed from inside)
The Main Monastery Arch plaque bearing the plaque wordings "Fo Guo Chang Chun' (The Buddha's Land in Perpetual Spring)(viewed from inside)
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The Main Monastery Arch bearing the name plaque &quot;Bao Lin Fa Yuan' (Treasure Forest Dharma Garden)<br />(viewed from outside)
The Main Monastery Arch bearing the name plaque "Bao Lin Fa Yuan' (Treasure Forest Dharma Garden)
(viewed from outside)
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Last edited by thornbush on Sun May 17, 2009 3:05 pm, edited 2 times in total.
thornbush
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Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:21 am

Re: The Sacred Space

Post by thornbush »

Po Lin Monastery: Part 2
Attachments
The Amitabha Buddha Statue at the side altar with petition plaques in the background
The Amitabha Buddha Statue at the side altar with petition plaques in the background
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The Main Shrine Altar with a large Burmese style Sakyamuni Buddha flanked by 2 Dharma Protectors Jie Lan [Guan Di and Wei Tuo (Skanda)] Bodhisattvas.<br />In front, there are three smaller statues of Amitabha, Sakyamuni &amp; Bhaisajya-Guru Buddhas.
The Main Shrine Altar with a large Burmese style Sakyamuni Buddha flanked by 2 Dharma Protectors Jie Lan [Guan Di and Wei Tuo (Skanda)] Bodhisattvas.
In front, there are three smaller statues of Amitabha, Sakyamuni & Bhaisajya-Guru Buddhas.
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The Guan Yin statue with a small altar of incense powder and wood at the entrance of the Main Shrine
The Guan Yin statue with a small altar of incense powder and wood at the entrance of the Main Shrine
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thornbush
Posts: 609
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:21 am

Re: The Sacred Space

Post by thornbush »

Po Lin Monastery: Part 3
Attachments
The Monastery's Drum (Main Shrine Hall)
The Monastery's Drum (Main Shrine Hall)
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The Monastery's Bell (Main Shrine Hall)
The Monastery's Bell (Main Shrine Hall)
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Traditional ornate wooden fish (Main Shrine Hall)
Traditional ornate wooden fish (Main Shrine Hall)
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thornbush
Posts: 609
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:21 am

Re: The Sacred Space

Post by thornbush »

Po Lin Monastery: Part 4
thornbush
Posts: 609
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:21 am

Re: The Sacred Space

Post by thornbush »

The Thai Chetawan Buddhist Temple or Wat Chetawan (Thai Theravada Buddhist Tradition)
This Thai Temple has grown since 1957, with royal patronage of the His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand and also from the Malaysian Thai Embassy. It has grown by leaps and bounds and often renovating or extending its premises. Located in a sprawling residential area in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, West Malaysia, its immediate religious neighbour is a Baptist Church, an indication of Malaysia's multi religious and ethnic identity and culture.
It is basically a place consisting of the Main Shrine, Side Shrines, garden, community hall, Sangha quarters and so forth. A new 3 storey building Shrine Hall is on the way to accommodate more devotees and its has a range of social & religious services/activities serving its community.
One of the interesting feature was a shrine built to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva that was allowed by the Chief Abbot and managed by the Ladies Section, a concession available by the flexibility of those in the Thai Theravada Tradition.
One can check out these links for more photos/info:
http://www.pbase.com/kelvinphoto/watchetawan&page=all" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php ... 97,0,0,1,0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wat Chetawan: Part 1
Attachments
Next to the Mondop, is the Bell Tower (by the way...the clock is dead)
Next to the Mondop, is the Bell Tower (by the way...the clock is dead)
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On the way, walking up to a stone stairway to the Bot (Main Shrine Hall), one can see the Mondop (shrine) on the right side, dedicated to the Caturmukha Para Brahma (Four Faced Brahma) known as San Phra Phrom (or also Erawan) whose cult is common and popular both in Malaysia and Thailand
On the way, walking up to a stone stairway to the Bot (Main Shrine Hall), one can see the Mondop (shrine) on the right side, dedicated to the Caturmukha Para Brahma (Four Faced Brahma) known as San Phra Phrom (or also Erawan) whose cult is common and popular both in Malaysia and Thailand
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Main Entrance Arch (sponsored by a Thai family)
Main Entrance Arch (sponsored by a Thai family)
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thornbush
Posts: 609
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:21 am

Re: The Sacred Space

Post by thornbush »

Wat Chetawan: Part 2
Attachments
The Bot's main altar
The Bot's main altar
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Inside of the Bot: <br />A row of golden Thai styled Buddhas with donation bowls
Inside of the Bot:
A row of golden Thai styled Buddhas with donation bowls
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The Bot (Main Shrine)
The Bot (Main Shrine)
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thornbush
Posts: 609
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:21 am

Re: The Sacred Space

Post by thornbush »

Wat Chetawan: Part 3
Attachments
Golden statues of Thai styled Buddhas (there used to be 3 sometime ago)
Golden statues of Thai styled Buddhas (there used to be 3 sometime ago)
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The Chedi (shrine housing images of the Buddha &amp; the Noble Ones)
The Chedi (shrine housing images of the Buddha & the Noble Ones)
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thornbush
Posts: 609
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:21 am

Re: The Sacred Space

Post by thornbush »

Wat Chetawan: Part 4
thornbush
Posts: 609
Joined: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:21 am

Re: The Sacred Space

Post by thornbush »

Wat Chetawan: Part 5
Attachments
The Mondop to the 'Reusee' or Phra Lersi (Rishi in Sanskrit or accomplished sagely ascetics)<br />See links:<br />http://sg.geocities.com/sombat_amnard/lersi.html<br />http://sgforums.com/forums/1169/topics/200145<br />http://magiedubouddha.com/p_thai-sompit1_intl.php
The Mondop to the 'Reusee' or Phra Lersi (Rishi in Sanskrit or accomplished sagely ascetics)
See links:
http://sg.geocities.com/sombat_amnard/lersi.html
http://sgforums.com/forums/1169/topics/200145
http://magiedubouddha.com/p_thai-sompit1_intl.php
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Abandoned religious statues of local devas (deities) just behind the Chedi under a tree
Abandoned religious statues of local devas (deities) just behind the Chedi under a tree
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The Mondop to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva: (located below and next to the Chedi)
The Mondop to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva: (located below and next to the Chedi)
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