Yuan Guang Chan Temple Introduction
The overall planning of Yuanguang Zen Temple follows the traditional regulations of a monastery. Surrounded by elegant green tiles and white walls, the grand palace-style architecture of the north and the exquisite garden design create an excellent view, resembling a paradise on earth. At the side entrance, there is a sculpture of a spotted deer resting on the Dharma wheel, symbolizing the Buddha's first teaching of the Four Noble Truths to the five bhikkhus in Deer Park, which resonates with the abbot's aspiration to revitalize monastic education. Inside the mountain gate is the Maitreya Hall, where the jovial Maitreya Buddha, depicted as the cloth-bag monk, is enshrined alongside the Bodhisattva Wei Tuo, who vows to protect the Dharma. On either side stand the Four Heavenly Kings, intricately carved and lifelike. The laughing Maitreya Buddha brings joy to every visitor, while Wei Tuo Bodhisattva, holding a sword, exudes a dignified aura that instills fear in demonic forces. Upon entering through the mountain gate, one finds a spacious plaza, flanked by gardens filled with flowers and greenery. Continuing forward, visitors ascend stone steps to the Main Hall, with the steps dividing into left and right. In the center is a sculpture of nine dragons coiling, with Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva standing atop the dragons, holding a pure vase to welcome sentient beings. The Great Hero Hall is situated at the center of the entire temple complex, serving as a spiritual fortress for the devotees. Inside, the hall enshrines the Three Holy Ones of the Avatamsaka Sutra—Shakyamuni Buddha, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra—flanked by the venerable Kasyapa and Ananda. Beneath the hall is the Lecture Hall, generally used for women's morning and evening recitations, and on holidays serves as a place for lay practitioners to engage in practice. The rear hall, the Merit Hall, is dedicated to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and the revered Mu Jian Lian, where devotees can place ancestral tablets. Additional facilities include a large kitchen, Five Contemplation Hall, classrooms, and dormitories, accommodating over a hundred people. (Source: Yuanguang Zen Temple)
