Buddhism in the 'burbs

On the last day of his visit, I surprised The Fireman by taking him to Hsi Lai Temple. I didn't even know that Hsi Lai Temple existed, but The Fireman mentioned it wistfully as one of the places he missed most in Southern California so I did some quick Googling to find out more information.

When we arrived, I was completely unprepared for the 15-acre temple complex that springs up suddenly in the middle of residential Hacienda Heights.

The Gateway as seen from Glenmark Drive:

 

The stairs up to the Gateway are rather steep:

After passing through the Gateway and the Bodhisattva Hall, you emerge from a dark hallway to suddenly find yourself on the edge of an immense and beautiful courtyard. Nothing at the front of the temple complex suggests that this waits beyond; I actually gasped when we walked around the corner.

This is the view from behind the Bodhisattva Hall, looking up at the main shrine:

I didn't have a lens wide enough to shoot the entirety of the courtyard; this is only the center of the view!

According to one of the information pamphlets that I read, the geometric rectangles in the courtyard represent rice paddies with weeds growing around the edges: If we plant good seeds and rid our minds of all the defilements (weeds) through the practice of Buddhism, eventually we will reap merits and attain Buddahood.

This is the reverse view, standing outside the main shrine looking back at the Bodhisattva Hall:

We were lucky enough to visit Hsi Lai Temple on the day that they were celebrating Buddha's birthday - one of the festivities is a bathing ceremony held at the top of the steps outside the main shrine:

It felt a bit disrespctful to participate since I'm not a practicing Buddhist, but I enjoyed standing aside and absorbing the scene while The Fireman took part. After he had prayed, bathed the Buddha, and made his offerings, The Fireman and I explored the complex and had lunch in the temple's Dining Hall (delicious!).

There are statues of various Buddhas all over the grounds. I *think* that this is Saranankara, but I'm not entirely certain - I can't find the scrap of paper with my notes:

One of the last places we visited before lunch is the Avalokitesvara Garden; it depicts Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva surrounded by the four Deva Kings and the four Dragon Kings of the Four Seas. The water represents the purifying flow of dharma:

While we were appreciating this beautiful spot,The Fireman and I had the opportunity to chat with the lovely woman who maintains the temple gardens - she's retired now and spends her days looking after the smaller gardens all over the complex. She explained a bit about the gardens and complimented our tattoos (we both have Chinese characters on the insides of our wrists) as being words of strength and wisdom, but the true magic of our conversation came at the very end. As we were bowing and saying our thanks to her, the caretaker touched The Fireman's wrists and told him that he was buddha. It is one of the greatest compliments that one Buddhist can give to another.

Eventually, we walked back to the car hand in hand, our minds quieter than when we first arrived and The Fireman's clothes smelling faintly of incense. It was a lovely way to spend our last day together.

Comments

[Keith]

Did they have quail egg shooters at the Dining Hall?