Yuan Guang Zen Temple Introduction
Yuan Guang Zen Temple's overall planning follows the traditional monastery regulations. Surrounded by elegant green tiles and white walls, the solemn and grand palace-like architecture in the north, along with the exquisite garden design, creates an excellent scenery, resembling a paradise on earth. The side door features a statue of a spotted deer resting on the Dharma Wheel, symbolizing the Buddha's initial turning of the Four Noble Truths to the five ascetics in Deer Park, aligning with the abbot's aspiration to revitalize monastic education. Inside the mountain gate is the Maitreya Hall, housing the laughing Maitreya Buddha, shaped like the cloth bag monk, and the Bodhisattva Wei Tuo, who vows to protect the Buddhist teachings. Flanking them are the Four Heavenly Kings, sculpted to be lifelike. The laughing Maitreya brings joy to every visitor, while Wei Tuo, holding a treasure sword, exudes a dignified aura that intimidates the forces of evil. Upon entering through the mountain gate, one reaches a spacious plaza, bordered by gardens adorned with flowers and greenery. Moving forward, visitors can ascend the grand hall via stone steps, which branch to the left and right, with a sculpture of nine dragons swirling at the center. Guanyin Bodhisattva stands atop the nine dragons, holding a pure vase to guide all sentient beings. The Main Hall stands at the center of the entire temple complex, serving as a spiritual fortress for the disciples. Inside, it honors the Three Holy Ones of Avatamsaka—Sakyamuni, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra, with Kasyapa and Ananda on either side. Below the grand hall is the Orthodox Teaching Hall, usually used for women's morning and evening prayers, and on holidays, it serves as a place for lay practitioners. The rear hall, the Merit Hall, enshrines Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and the revered Mu Jian Lian, where devotees can enshrine ancestral tablets. Additionally, there are facilities like a dining hall, Five Contemplations Hall, classrooms, and dormitories that can accommodate more than a hundred people. (Source: Yuan Guang Zen Temple)
