|
 | Penang Kek Lok Si (Buddhist) Temple Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 77 |  |
 | |  |  | Kek Lok Si (Buddhist) Temple: complex temple complex | Tip Rating:   |  |  | |  |
Where does one being to describe this place? It's really a complex: multiple temples, building, statues, buddahs...plus, it's a hike up a hill...but you don't really know that it's such a hike, since it's relatively enclosed, with shops lining the sides. I don't want to offend anyone with this next comment, but this complex is the Las Vegas on temples....really, there's an unreality about it, there's stuff to buy everywhere, there are ways to part you from your money buy supporting even more building of the temple....all in all, a pretty amazing place.... Once you reach the top, you're treated to great views of Penang below! Leave a Comment Directions: near Ayer Itam, close to funicular
|
| | | | Kek Lok Si (Buddhist) Temple: Kek Lok Si | Tip Rating: | | | | |
What it means Without doubt one of the largest and best known temple in Penang, the Temple of Supreme Bliss, better known as Kek Lok Si, staggered on the hillside overlooking the town of Ayer Itam. Since the olden days, the hills of Ayer Itam are regarded as important geomantically. Known as He San, or Crane Hill, they are recommended as a retreat for Taoist practitioners striving for immortality. How it started The Kek Lok Si project was mooted by the chief monk of the Goddess of Mercy Temple of Pitt Street. With the support of the consular representative of China in Penang, the project received the sanction of the Manchu Emperor Kuang Hsi, who bestowed a tablet and gift of 70,000 volumes of the Imperial Edition of the Buddhist Sutras. Construction of the temple started in 1893, but it was only in 1930 that the Pagoda of Rama VI, named after the Thai king who laid the foundation stone, but better known as the Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas, was completed. This pagoda combines a Chinese octagonal base with a middle tier of Thai design, and a Burmese crown, reflecting the temple's embrace of both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism. Gigantic Statue of Goddess of Mercy ( Kuan YIn ) The latest addition to the temple complex is the 30.2m bronze statue of the Avalokitesvara - Goddess of Mercy or Kuan Yin - on the hillside above the pagoda. This statue was completed and open to the public at the end of 2002. Leave a Comment Directions: near Ayer Itam, close to funicular
|
 | |  |
| | | | Kek Lok Si (Buddhist) Temple: Kek Lok Si Temple | Tip Rating: | | | | |
One of Southeast Asia's finest Buddhist temples, the Kek Lok Si is located in the town of Ayer Itam. Built in tiers, the temple culminates with the beautifully crafted, 7-story, 30 meters high "Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddha's". The work of ancient Burmese, Chinese, and Thai craftsmen, it took more than 20 years to be built. Featuring a turtle pond, gardens, sculptures, and shrines, the temple is set against scenic surroundings of beauty and tranquility. The entrance at the foot of the hill takes visitors up 193 steps lined with stalls selling all manner of handicrafts and bric-a-brac. Leave a Comment Directions: near Ayer Itam, close to funicular
|
| | | | Kek Lok Si (Buddhist) Temple: The gems in Kek Lok Si pagoda | Tip Rating: | | | | |
There are 10 major stations to this tour .... Station 1 - Temple entrance & Turtle liberation pond. ( I remember releaseing some tortoise here when I was small , mum asked us to release it cos we practically do not have time to take care of these cutey, probably we are just lazy ) Station 2 - Hill gateway & the Hall of Bodhisattvas What the difference between Buddhas & Bodhisattvas ? They have many similiarity but the essence of their journey is a little different. While Buddha aims to be in Nirwana ( live in perfection and simplicity ) the Boddhisattva on the other hand vow that he/she will out of compassion, not to enter Nirvana until all beings have entered nirvana. This means the Bodhisattva practices not for her or his enlightenment alone, but for the enlightenment of all beings. The Bodhisattva vows to remain in this world of ignorance and confusion, vows to be willing to experience whatever living beings experience, until all beings are liberated.... Station3 - Garden Pavilion of Lord Buddha & the five Bhikkus A fully ordained disciple of the Buddha is called a bhikkhu. "Mendicant monk" may be suggested as the closest equivalent for "Bhikkhu", literally it means "he who begs" but bhikkhus do not beg. They silently stand at the door for alms. They live on what is spontaneously given by the supporters. He is not a priest as he is no mediator between God and man. He has no vows for life, but he is bound by his rules which he takes of his own accord. He leads a life of voluntary poverty and celibacy. If he is unable to live the Holy Life, he can discard the robe at any time Leave a Comment Directions: near Ayer Itam, close to funicular
|
| | |
| | | | Kek Lok Si (Buddhist) Temple: Buddha of 5 Regions | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Station 7 - Main prayer hall Station 8 - Hall of Buddhas of 5 Regions The Mahayana and the Vajrayana Buddhist traditions believe that the Adibuddha, the primordial Absolute One, manifests as five Dhyani Buddhas by his meditative powers, and Amitabha is one of the five transcendental Buddhas. Unlike Gautama Buddha Shakyamuni who is a historical human figure, each of these five incarnated abstract aspects of Buddhahood represents a family with related faculties of enlightenment and directions. The five Dhyani Buddhas demonstrate how the five aggregates (aspects of the personality: body, experience, perception, spiritual stimulation, and consciousness) can be transformed into different aspects of enlightenment. The five Buddhas namely 1) Vairocana Buddha ( centre ) the Illustrious One 2) Akshobhya Buddha ( East ) , The Impurtabable One 3) Ratnasambhava Buddha (South ) The One Born from a Jewel 4) Amitabha Buddha ( West ), the One with Boundless Light 5) Amogasiddhi Buddha ( north ), the One with Infallible Success Station 9 - Pagoda of a Million Buddhas Station 10 - Kuan Yin Statue (bronze statue, top level) or Goddess of Mercy , also called Leave a Comment Directions: near Ayer Itam, close to funicular
|
| | |
| | | | Kek Lok Si (Buddhist) Temple: More of Kek Lok Si Pagoda | Tip Rating: | | | | |
Station 4 - Amitabha Buddha Pagoda "Buddha of Infinite Light". He is one of the five Dhyani Buddhas. He is the Lord of the "Pure Land" of the West known as Sukhavati. According to Mahayana Buddhist sutras he was a king in the remote period of time. Renouncing his kingdom, he became a monk and was named Dharmakara, which means 'Treasury of Dharma'. Inspired by the teachings of the then Buddha of that time, Lokesvaraja Buddha, who taught him the way to supreme enlightenment many aeons ago, he made forty eight great vows for the saving of the sentient beings Station 5 - Hall of Devas In Hinduism Devas are the supreme and represent various forms of god, that is why the priest is called Deobhaju. But for Buddhism Deva are manifestations of the mind and the mind and the Guru are one Station 6 - Hall of Mahawira Aside from Buddhism, the most important school to arise in this period was Jainism. Unlike the other heretical schools, Jainism has survived to the present day as a major religion in India; unlike Buddhism, however, it has not spread outside of India. The great teacher of Jainism, Vardhamana Mahavira, lived at the same time as Siddhartha Guatama, the founder of Buddhism. This path involves a high degree of ascetism; quite literally the best lived life is one of total ascetism: no food or material involvement at all. Since this is an impossible idea, Mahavira developed a second path for normal human beings to follow. This involved five abstinences: ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truthfulness), asteya (abstinence from stealing), brahmacarya (chaste living), and aparigraha (abstinence from greed). Leave a Comment Directions: near Ayer Itam, close to funicular
|
| | |
|
|
Penang
on April 13, 2006
on May 12, 2004
on May 14, 2004
on October 24, 2006
on May 21, 2006
on April 25, 2004
on December 12, 2004
