Hong Kong the City (Lantau Island - The Tian Tan Buddha)

Continuing with Hong Kong (Lantau island, Tian Tanentering NIRVANA which is of course within the
Buddha)Buddhist religion.
TIAN TAN BUDDHAThe buddha faces north which is uncommon for
The Buddha otherwise known as the TIAN TANbuddha and the six devas are facing south. Sitting
BUDDHA is situated at Ngong PIng on Lantau island.there watching over the wonderful country side,
The buddha is Lantau's biggest tourist attraction withproud and like the magnet he his he will draw you to
over a million people visiting every year.him. The buddha has his right hand raised which
The buddha is there to symbolize harmony betweenrepresents the meaning "The removal of affliction",
man and nature and the buddha along with Pol Linhis left hand is on his lap to represent "giving" (dhana).
monastery is Hong Kong major place for buddhism.Climbing the 268 steps to reach the buddha you will
The buddha was started in 1990 and was completedfirst notice that the views are outstanding, Within the
in 1993 with an estimated cost of $68 million.buddha there are three floors of exhibitions these
The buddha sits on a Lotus throne taken from THEfloors are named, The Hall Of The Universe, The Hall
Altar of Heaven and Earthly Mount of the Temple OfOf Benevolent and The Hall Of Remembrance which
Heaven which resides in Tian Tan In Beijing, China.you must visit to see objects, relics of bygone age.
The buddha was built with 202 separate pieces ofThe main show room supports a bell which was rung
bronze plus a large metal frame supports the insideevery seven minutes, 108 times per day to
to help support in bad windy conditions, because thesymbolize the release of 108 kinds of human
weight of the statue is 250 tons, the height is 34Mvexations.
(110ft). This really is a place that if you have the timeNear by is the large PO PLIN MONASTERY one of
you shouldn't miss. Sitting around the buddha at thethe most visited tourist attraction on Lantau island
base are 6 smaller statues all giving offerings thesewith there tea gardens, vegetarian restaurants,
are known as, The Offerings Of The Six Devas.gardens and of course the wonder of the monastery
They are offering flowers, incense, lamp, ointment,its self. Locally to the monastery is the Ngong Ping
fruit and music. The offerings are given to thecable car which goes from Ngong Ping to Tung
buddha to represent, charity, morality, patience, zeal,Chung.
meditation and wisdom of which all is needed beforeMy next article is on the Wisdom Path.