Revisiting Tsz Shan Temple (重遊慈山寺)

Tsz Shan Temple is well worth a second visit

It's built on a well chosen site: with its back to the mountain, its front facing the seas.

I like the expression on the face of the Koon Yin: so full of love and compassion. 

A couple making an offer of water to the Koon Yin.

Another lady, carefully pouring the contents of the wooden bowl into the huge bowl before the Koon YIn.



All respect in her hands

With her right hand, she holds up the pearl of wisdom, the Dharma, with her left, she pours down the water of her compassion.

I like the beautiful and thoughtful asymmetry, one up, one down. 

 But the trees lining the passage to the Koon Yin needs trimming

 

and the water for offering needs to be kept running
 

The rings or cycles of of life

The famous circular pool built with three rings, each higher than the next: symbolizing our past, our present and our future with pure water of life running endlessly in cycles of karma

 In the pool, you see nothing but the reflections of the temples, the sky and the ripples of  karma 

Offerings to the Buddha on the left bathed in the colors of gold

More offerings to the Buddha on the right, bathed in colors of red. The two colors are the traditional colors of two different sects of Tibetan Buddhism, whose monks are now visiting the temple to perform some rites of blessing and to express gratitude to the great Buddha. 

The Tibetan Buddhist monks in action, singing, chanting

The Buddha holding the wheel of Dharma on his left hand

The temple of universal blessings

The main hall, where the rites expressing gratitude and blessings are now being held

Dhrtarastra, king of the East, holding a pipa in his right hand, promoting harmony in the world

Virupaksa, king of the West, who sees everything, holding a sword in his right hand which cuts through all ignorance

Virudhaka, king of the South, who promotes growth everywhere, holding a snake in his right hand

Raisvarana, the king of the North, who hears everything, holding an umbrella on his right hand, traditionally associated with wealth

 The Buddha sitting on a bed of lotus, the symbol of purity amidst dirt

Visitors practising copying the Heart Sutra with Chinese ink brush as a form of Zen concentration and meditation

Time to take another look at the surrounding hills before leaving that place of retreat and meditation

The Zen garden in front of the minibus stop for Tai Po: so quiet, so peaceful, so soothing.