Buddhism and the Lama Temple

Ok, let's not deny it. Most likely, when we think of Buddhism, we think of a monk sitting in robes and meditating in a garden. This religion started in India, but it spread throughout Asia, including China. The main foci of Chinese Buddhism are those of Pure Land and Zen. Pure Land claims that nirvana cannot be obtained by simply meditation, but rather only pure devotion can grant one the “Pure Land”. Zen focuses on meditation and that, in order to obtain the Buddha-like nature, one must meditate and be mindful of daily experiences. What I would like to know is how the ever-westernizing China has changed its beliefs and followings of the Buddhist religion?

One of the largest and most important of the Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world is the Yonghe Temple in Beijing. Another name for this temple is the “Palace of Peace and Harmony Lama Temple”, or the less formal “Lama Temple”. This temple was built in 1694 and was initially an official residence for court eunuchs. In 1722, half of the building was converted into the monastery while the other half remained an imperial palace. The building was opened to the public after the Cultural Revolution in 1981. Within the temple, there are five halls: The Hall of the Heavenly Kings, The Hall of Harmony and Peace, The Hall of Everlasting Protection, The Hall of the Wheel of the Law, and The Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happinesses.

There are many famous statues in the Lama Temple, including the Buddhas of the Three Ages, the Five-Hundred-Arhat-Hill, and the Maitreya Buddha. The Buddhas of the Three Ages are three bronze statues of the Buddha of the Past, Present, and Future stanging in order from right to left in the Hall of Harmony and Peace. A statue of the healing Buddha, Bhaisajya-guru, stands in the Hall of Everlasting Protection. The Five-Hundred-Hrhat-Hill is a carving made of red sandalwood with the statues of those who achieved nirvana made of five different metals (gold, silver, copper, iron, and tin) and is located in the Hall of the Wheel of the Law. The Maitreya Buddha is the Buddha of the future carved out of a single piece of white sandalwood that stands 26 meters tall. Three different artworks in the Lama Temple were in the Guinness Book of Records in 1993.