Since Thailand is a Theravada country, it’s not common to see Chinese temples even though there a few notable ones in Chinatown but this temple is something I’ve never seen. The scale of the temple is huge, the details and the finishing (Wood carvings and paintings) are meticulous.
There are 3 main halls. The first hall when you enter; you are received by the laughing Buddha, Metriya then inside the four corners of the hall is the 4 heavenly kings. After you exit the first hall, you’ll see a long flight of stairs which is the main hall that houses 3 Buddhas, even though they look alike they are actually very different. In the middle is Shakyamuni, on his left is the Medicine Buddha from the Eastern Paradise, lastly on his right is the Amittabahh (Western Paradise). On the side of the hall, is the 18 Arahats (Ah Luo Han), the disciples of Buddha.
Last but not least, the 2 storey building behind the main hall is the most magnificent. The first floor houses the most venerated Bodhisattvas, Avalokitesvara in thousand hands and eyes. The exquisite hand crafted Burmese wood illustrate the gentleness and serenity of the Bodhisattvas.
The second floor is where you’ll see the Three Saints of Western Paradise, Amittabah follow by Avalokitesvara and Mahasthapaprata. The walls on the side and the back drop of the Three Saints of Paradise are all covered with 10,000 little Golden Buddha. It looks majestic and of course supreme!
That’s not all! The bonus of the day is when I met Khum Puk when her son asks me to take a picture for their family. That’s when she offers me a ride back to my guest house and tour around Nonthaburi. She is one of the gracious and munificent people I’ve ever met in Thailand. She even takes me to a riverside restaurant for dinner. As much as I insist of paying for the dinner, she declines it profusely and said I’m a guest. Not to mention she speaks Good English.
It’s like the fairy godmother flaunts her magic ward and turn my day into a beautiful day…
There are 3 main halls. The first hall when you enter; you are received by the laughing Buddha, Metriya then inside the four corners of the hall is the 4 heavenly kings. After you exit the first hall, you’ll see a long flight of stairs which is the main hall that houses 3 Buddhas, even though they look alike they are actually very different. In the middle is Shakyamuni, on his left is the Medicine Buddha from the Eastern Paradise, lastly on his right is the Amittabahh (Western Paradise). On the side of the hall, is the 18 Arahats (Ah Luo Han), the disciples of Buddha.
Last but not least, the 2 storey building behind the main hall is the most magnificent. The first floor houses the most venerated Bodhisattvas, Avalokitesvara in thousand hands and eyes. The exquisite hand crafted Burmese wood illustrate the gentleness and serenity of the Bodhisattvas.
The second floor is where you’ll see the Three Saints of Western Paradise, Amittabah follow by Avalokitesvara and Mahasthapaprata. The walls on the side and the back drop of the Three Saints of Paradise are all covered with 10,000 little Golden Buddha. It looks majestic and of course supreme!
That’s not all! The bonus of the day is when I met Khum Puk when her son asks me to take a picture for their family. That’s when she offers me a ride back to my guest house and tour around Nonthaburi. She is one of the gracious and munificent people I’ve ever met in Thailand. She even takes me to a riverside restaurant for dinner. As much as I insist of paying for the dinner, she declines it profusely and said I’m a guest. Not to mention she speaks Good English.
It’s like the fairy godmother flaunts her magic ward and turn my day into a beautiful day…
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