Buddhist monastery. Description of religious buildings on the territory of monasteries in Thailand
Eastern religion has always attracted people, mainly for its openness and mysticism. The Ivolginsky datsan (Buryatia) has recently become popular among tourists; a large number of pilgrims. Ivolginsky Datsan was founded in 1945 and is currently the main Buddhist monastery in Russia.
The monastery stands on a marshy area, along the perimeter, there is a cobblestone path, on it, every 10 m. Drums are installed, they are stuffed with sacred texts, they can be rotated. Many reels contain about 100 thousand scrolls. Turning the drum completely is equivalent to saying a prayer from a scroll 100 thousand times. People spin these drums from morning to evening. On Buddhist holidays, thousands of believers come here.
Buddhists believe that by walking through a place of worship, they gain peace of mind and accumulate virtue. When entering any holy place, they make a “goro” - they walk around the datsan clockwise with prayers. The legs of Buddhists must be covered with a burgundy skirt - shamtab, it is an element of the costume of Buddhists and clergy.
There is a Buddhist university here. In Russia, this is the only university where the religion of Buddhism is studied.
The university building has no fortress walls, no palaces or huge cells. It consists of several small temples, with Chinese (upturned) corners of the roofs and 40 ordinary huts in which novices and lamas (huvaraks) live. Around the university there is a steppe, village houses with plank fences, in general, no romance.
At the university you can study in 4 faculties: medicine, art, philosophy and tantra, which pays great attention to rituals and practices the transition to Buddhahood.
To enter the faculty, you must go through great tests: write an essay on the topic of Buddhism, pass an exam in English language and history, pass an interview with the rector.
If a student is accepted, he should definitely part with his hair; a shaved head is a symbol of renunciation of attachments, which is regarded as the main cause of suffering for people.
Suffering is life. This is the first noble truth of the teachings of Buddhism. The cause of suffering is our desires. Having satisfied one desire, another immediately arises, leading to discontent and anxiety. The third truth says that suffering and torment can be stopped by following the path leading to the cessation of suffering. 2000 years ago this path was called the middle one. Therefore, Buddhism and the middle way are considered synonymous.
Every day at 9 am, a prayer service begins in the oldest of the 10 temples (Choira Dugan). The temple is located in a wooden room, the walls are painted bright green, the columns are red.
Currently temple complex It is considered the main attraction of Buryatia.
The main book of Tibetan Buddhism is considered to be Ganjur, which consists of 108 volumes. The collection of sutras includes several areas: philosophy, theology, logic, history, medicine, and it was collected by Buddha Shakyamuni himself.
Prayer services (khurals) starting at 9 am are held in all Lama temples, the service lasts about 2 - 3 hours. After the prayer service, the lamas go to their houses, where they work individually with parishioners. The Buddhist cleric plays the role of: astrologer, psychologist, doctor.
Buddhists believe that after death the soul is reborn. They believe that a person will be born in a world of suffering until he becomes a Buddha.
After graduating from the institute, students returning to their homeland join the parish lamas and head the newly opened dotsans. Many of them become translators of Buddhist literature.
The Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni is one of the largest Buddhist temples in Europe. The temple is located in the central part of the city of Elista. It was consecrated at the end of 2005. The khurul building reaches a height of 63 m and houses a 9-meter statue of the saint, the largest in Europe and Russia.
The opening of the khurul took place at the end of 2005 on the eve of the celebration of the national holiday Zul and the anniversary of the deportation of Kalmyks to the Siberian steppes and the Far East in 1943. The magnificent ceremony started at 6 am with the lighting ritual. Due to the fact that the canons of Buddhism prohibit attracting lay people to events of this kind, a television broadcast of the ceremony was held for citizens. The opening was attended by religious leaders of Tuva, Kalmykia, Mongolia, Buryatia, as well as officials from Japan, Europe, India, the USA, and Nepal. Scroll through.
Features of the Buddhist monastery
The religious site is considered one of the main attractions of the magnificent Elista. It is a grandiose structure where prayer services, magnificent services, and rituals are held. Along the perimeter of the temple there is a fence with alternating snow-white stupas. In total, the khurul borders 108 stupas. The southern gate is considered the main one. From three more sides you can get to the Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni from the northern, western and eastern gates. The architectural plan resembles the shape of a mandala. The structure is surrounded by pagodas with sculptures of prominent Buddhist masters of the Nalanda Monastery. There are 17 pagodas in total.
The interior of the khurul includes seven different levels. On the first floor there is a museum, a conference room and a library. The second room is dedicated to the prayer hall, where the giant Shakyamuni Buddha is installed. As the temple servants say, inside the sculpture were placed mysterious objects: jewelry, mantras, handfuls of earth and plants from all parts of Kalmykia, and incense. The statue is decorated with diamonds and gold leaf. On the third level there are reception rooms in which Tibetan medicine doctors, monks and astrologers receive visitors, helping them according to their knowledge. The administration of the religious site is also located here.
The residence of the leader of Kalmyk Buddhists is located on the fourth level. The 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso rules from the fifth level. As for the sixth level, there is a utility room there. A little higher up is a meditation room. Unfortunately, mere mortals are not allowed there. Only temple servants are allowed to achieve perfection of thoughts in a sacred place through meditation. However, you can immerse yourself in a state of nirvana in other rooms of the khurul.
Buddhism today is one of the most popular religious and philosophical movements in the world. It is professed by both experienced people and young people, attracted by incredible aesthetics and the opportunity to touch sacred knowledge that has been passed down from generation to generation for many hundreds of years. Buddhism originated in the 5th century BC. on the territory of modern India. The teaching, founded by Siddhartha Gautama, better known as Buddha, invites its followers to achieve nirvana, leaving suffering and the cycle of rebirth. According to some estimates, the number of Buddhists around the world reaches 500 million. Naturally, for such a number of believers, a corresponding number of temples is necessary. Some of them are more popular than others. We have compiled a selection of the most famous Buddhist temples.
The Temple of Reflection in the Calm Sea (think about what a wonderful name!) is one of the most important shrines South Korea. An interesting artifact is kept here - Tripitaka Koreana. These are 80 tablets containing the wisdom of Buddhism. The temple was built in 802, but its reconstruction, created in the 19th century, has survived to this day, as it had to survive a large-scale fire.
Situated on the western side of the Chaphraya River, the temple complex is one of the architectural gems of Siam. The central building of the Sunrise Temple is a 79-meter pagoda, sparkling in the sun with different colors. Despite its name, Wat Arun is best viewed at sunset. The temple is an architectural representation of Mount Meru, considered the center of the universe in Buddhist cosmology.
The temple, named “Great Stupa of Lao”, is one of the most revered in Laos. It is located in Vientiane and is a stupa with several terraces, symbolizing the levels of spiritual enlightenment in Buddhism. The lowest level is material life, the highest is the world of non-existence. The temple was built in the 16th century on the ruins of a Khmer sanctuary. In 1828 it was significantly damaged after the Siamese invasion and was restored by the French in 1931.
Speaking about Buddhism, one cannot help but recall Tibet, a country imbued with the spiritual wisdom of this teaching. Lhasa is the center not only of Tibet, but also of all Tibetan Buddhism, attracting thousands of pilgrims from all over the world every year. The temple was built by King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century. The Mongols, who attacked Lhasa, ravaged it several times, but left the building untouched. Today the temple complex occupies an area of more than 25,000 square meters. meters.
The Great Oriental Temple in Nara is one of Japan's most unusual Buddhist temples and the largest wooden temple in the world. It was built in the 8th century by Emperor Shomu as the main temple, but little remains from that time. It consists of a complex of pagodas and various buildings and is surrounded by a park in which sacred deer live, who are not afraid of people. It is also home to one of the largest Buddha statues in Japan.
Located in the suburbs of Kathmandu, Boudhanath Temple is famous throughout the world for being the largest stupa. It is surrounded by monasteries of various schools and movements of Buddhism, and everyone who lives in them comes to worship at Boudhanath. The stupa was built in the 6th century (the first version was destroyed by the Mongols and rebuilt in the 14th century) and has since occupied the place of the main shrine of Nepal. The Buddha's eye located on the stupa is one of the most famous images of its kind. The stupa even appeared in the film “Little Buddha” by European film director Bernardo Bertolucci.
The Mahabodhi (Great Enlightenment) Temple is a Buddhist stupa located in Bodh Gaya. In the main complex there is a rare shrine - the Bodhi tree, which grew from the very tree under which Gautama Buddha achieved enlightenment. It is believed that the temple was founded 250 years after Buddha achieved enlightenment. The temple dates back to the 5th and 6th centuries and was restored in the 19th century by the British acting on behalf of the British Archaeological Society.
Originating in the 6th century BC, Buddhism is one of the oldest religions in the world. Its distinctive feature is its close connection not so much with traditional beliefs present in any modern religion, but rather its emphasis on the philosophical concept of knowing oneself. In fact, Buddhism is a teaching about the spiritual awakening of a person, which becomes possible only under the condition of certain actions on the part of the individual himself.
Over two and a half thousand years, Buddhism has spread widely among different peoples of Southeast Asia, absorbing local beliefs and cultural traditions. Today, there are several major movements in Buddhism, each of which aims to achieve personal liberation from the binding shackles of the world - nirvana.
Buddhist monasteries bear little resemblance to religious communities of other religions. The monks living there, although they live permanently in monasteries, are not very attached to them. In ancient times, Buddhist monks roamed the endless roads of Asia, living on donations from the population. Today, collecting donations is also an integral feature of the life of a modern Buddhist monastery. In addition to caring for the well-being of the community, Buddhist monks are in a constant process of self-improvement, which, however, does not prevent them from communicating from time to time with the people and even visiting tourists, who are greeted quite warmly in Buddhist monasteries.
Buddhist monasteries - Photo.
1. Yumbulagang Monastery, Tibet
Yumbulagang Monastery is one of the oldest architectural and religious monuments in Tibet. Translated into Russian, its name literally means the Sacred Palace of the Fallow Deer, but the monastery is usually called the Palace of Mother and Son. Built on east coast Yarlung River more than two thousand years ago for the first king of Tibet, today it is an important Buddhist shrine. The four-tier buildings of the monastery end with the main temple, decorated with square Buddhist domes. Inside, the eastern monastery is painted with ancient frescoes reproducing the early history of Tibet. Today, several Buddhist monks live in Yumbulagang.
2. Erdene Zuu Monastery, Mongolia
The Mongolian monastery of Erdene Zu is one of the most ancient Buddhist architectural structures that have come down to us. Its name, given at the end of the 16th century when the first buildings were laid by Abtai Khan, is translated into Russian as “Temple of the Precious Lord,” that is, Buddha. The architectural ensemble of Erdene-Dzu is a composition of three temples that combine the ancient architectural traditions of Mongolia, China and Tibet. In the old days, more than ten thousand lamas lived on the territory of the monastery and there were about sixty separate idols. Today Erdene Zu is a functioning Labran Temple and a museum of ancient culture.
3. Ganden Monastery, Tibet
The Tibetan Ganden Monastery, located on Mount Wangbur, at an altitude of four and a half thousand meters above sea level, is considered one of the most serious Buddhist organizations in the world. The university of the Gelug Buddhist school, known as the “yellow faith,” is located here. The abbot of the monastery is the head of the teaching that calls on true Buddhists to adhere to morality and strict monastic life. Ganden was founded at the beginning of the 15th century. The monastery was badly damaged in the 60s during the Cultural Revolution in China. Today it has not yet been fully restored, but it already welcomes visitors on its territory.
4. Key Gompa Monastery, Tibet
The amazingly beautiful Ki Gompa monastery, lost in the harsh mountains of the Spiti Valley, reminds its appearance fairy toy Founded in the 11th century as a religious fort to monitor the surrounding area, today it is a functioning Buddhist monastery, home to at least 250 lamas during the winter season. The monks who fill the monastery are the second sons of local residents. Within the walls of Ki Gompa there is a rich collection of sculptures, musical instruments, books and weapons. During its history, the monastery was destroyed several times, which determined its modern architectural form - unusual, multi-tiered.
5. Tibetan Buddhist Temple Yonghe Gong, China
The Yonghegong Buddhist Temple, belonging to the Tibetan Gelug school, is located in the Northeast of Beijing. Several names are assigned to it: for example, “Palace of Peace and Harmony”, “Lamaist Temple” or “Lama Temple”. Erected at the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries, Yonghegong initially served as the residence of palace eunuchs and only decades later began to gradually come under the control of Tibetan monks. Architecturally, Yonghe Gong is a combination of five halls - Heavenly Kings, Harmony and Peace, Eternal Protection, Dharmachakra and Ten Thousand Fortunes Pavilion.
6. Thikse Monastery, India
Located in Northern India, on a hilltop overlooking the Indus River, the Buddhist monastery of Thiksi Gompa consists of twelve levels of snow-white buildings with red and yellow splashes of individual buildings. Ten Buddhist temples convent, a meeting hall and numerous outbuildings were erected in the 15th century. Today Tiksi Gompa is a functioning monastery belonging to the Gelug school. The main attraction of the Buddhist community is the temple of the future Buddha with a huge fifteen-meter statue of Maitreya, made of clay, copper and gold.
7. Fortress-monastery Punakha Dzong, Bhutan
The Bhutanese monastery of Punakha Dzong is “Happiness” itself in architectural flesh, because this is exactly how its name is translated into Russian. The prefix “dzong” indicates the fortress function of the structure, erected in the 17th century as a fortified fortress, which housed not only a Buddhist monastery, but also the city administration. In the case of Punakha Dzong, we are talking about the city of the same name, Punakha, which was the capital of Bhutan for a long time. Built at the confluence of two rivers, Punakha Dzong is an extremely beautiful architectural complex consisting of two temples and a library.
8. Taung Kalat Monastery, Myanmar
The Buddhist monastery Taung Kalat got its name from the name of the mountain on which it is located. Towering over the city, practically floating in the clouds, Myanmar architectural ensemble distinguished by graceful architectural features and real human fearlessness. Mount Taung Kalat - a volcano that was extinct more than 24 centuries ago, now overgrown with green trees - forms an ideal natural basis for snow-white temple buildings, to which 777 steps lead from the ground. Locals They believe that spirits - nat - live in the depths of Mount Taung Kalat, so you must visit the monastery with their favorite fresh meat.
9. Paro Taktsang, Bhutan
Taktsang-lakhang, which means “Nest of the Tigress,” got its name due to the ancient legend of how the Buddhist teacher Padmasambhava ascended to high mountain, sitting astride his wife, who had temporarily turned into a wild beast. The monastery-fortress for observing the surrounding area is located at an altitude of three thousand meters above sea level and seven hundred meters above the local Paro valley. Founded in 1692, Taktsang Lakhang was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1998 and restored by 2005.
10. Xuankun-si (Hanging Monastery), China
The Chinese monastery of Xuankun-si is a unique temple complex belonging to the “hanging” type of architectural structures. Founded in 491 AD in the Chinese province of Shanxi, near sacred mountain Hengshan, Xuankun-si unites representatives of three religions. In addition to Buddhists, Confucians and Taoists also settled here. The monastery buildings are attached to the mountain with wooden piles. Their back wall is dense rocks. Xuankun-si consists of forty halls and pavilions and contains more than eighty statues sacred to the eastern peoples.
Hello, dear readers! This time we’ll talk about Buddhist places of worship of different directions. What are the features of Buddhist temples?
Steeped in history, intriguing, with impressive architectural details and carved reliefs, many of the temples are true wonders to explore.
Usually peaceful and silent, wandering around the temple grounds, lost in one's own thoughts, is an unforgettable experience, regardless of religious preference.
Behavior rules
Asian Buddhist temples live in two realities: they are a sacred place of worship and a tourist attraction. During the trip, tourists visit at least one, or even several temples.
Travelers sometimes commit characteristic tactlessness in relation to novices and their shrines: they come with bare legs and shoulders, show off Buddha tattoos, climb pagodas in their shoes, etc.
But those of them who follow simple, easy to remember ones are warmly welcomed in the sanctuaries. You just need to show respect:
- Turn off your mobile phone
- Take the headphones out of your ears
- Speak more quietly
- Avoid unnecessary conversations
- Take off your hat and shoes
- No smoking
- Don't use chewing gum
After all, they are stepping into truly sacred territory, where locals come to commune with the divine. Any hint of disrespect can cause them deep offense.
Shoes should always be removed and left outside the main worship area. The folded shoes of other visitors will tell you where to do this. In some Buddhist countries, this is a law that can lead to arrest if you don't follow it.
Shoulders should be covered, trousers should be long. Some temples will offer a sarong or other cover at the entrance for a small fee if the attendant considers the clothing insufficiently covered.
In other places they show more leniency. But modesty will be appreciated in any case.
Inside, one should never touch, sit near, or climb on a Buddha statue or dais. You must obtain permission to take photographs and never do so during worship.
When leaving, you need to back away facing the Buddha and only then turn your back to him.
It is considered extremely rude to point a finger at the decoration of a room or people. You can point at something with your right hand, palm up.
While sitting, you should not stretch your legs towards people or buddhas. If a monk enters at this time, you need to stand up to show respect, and wait until he finishes prostrations, and then sit down again.
Monks are the friendliest people. When you see them sweeping at the entrance, know that they are more worried about someone entering accidentally stepping on an insect than about cleanliness.
They don't eat after noon. Therefore, take care not to eat in their presence. If a monk is sitting, you should also sit down before starting a conversation, so as not to be taller than him. You can only give and take something from him with your right hand.
For women the rules are even stricter. In these parts it is not customary for a woman to touch or give anything to a novice. Even accidentally touching the robe will result in him having to fast and perform a cleansing ritual.
If a donation needs to be made, the money is given to the man. Only he can give them to a member of the monastic community.
And finally, a few tips that will show that you have studied the customs of Buddhists before visiting here:
- When approaching the altar, step first with your left foot, and when leaving, with your right.
- The traditional greeting is to place your hands in a prayerful gesture in front of your chest and bow slightly. To express deep respect to community members, hands are raised higher, at forehead level.
- Almost every temple has a metal box for donations. They support the work of the sanctuary, especially the low-budget ones. After your visit, donate about a dollar here.
What do the names mean?
Buddhist temples are called “datsan”, but may have a proper name in the name in combination with the words “tera”, “dera”, “garan”, “dzi”. Each of these words indicates either geographical position, either in the name of the donor, for the glorification of a certain deity or clan.
External and internal structure
The temple, as a rule, is a complex building. Datsan is tightly fenced off from the outside world with a strong fence, on the southern side of which there is a gate.
They are external and internal, protected by images or statues of animals, fierce deities and warriors to ward off evil spirits.
Buildings can be several floors with sloping roofs. They are supported by elaborately decorated cornices with picturesque paintings.
Inside the main hall - kodo - along the walls there are special devices– prayer wheels that rotate continuously.
There you can put your prayer on a piece of paper. It is believed that it will be read as many times as the drum rotates. The temple moves clockwise. In a rectangular room, the altar is located opposite the entrance.
The central place on it is occupied by the Buddha, surrounded by smoking incense, lit candles, images of other famous Buddhas, bodhisattvas and devas, and offerings. What the Teacher looks like depends on the movement to which the temple belongs.
On the altar there are boxes in which old sacred descriptions are kept. There is also a designated space for worshipers and monks in the kodo.
The tanks on the walls depict deities. They are made in bright colors on a silk base.
The central hall is often connected to a lecture hall, where novices gather to study and recite sutras and listen to meditation music. Other buildings in the complex house a library, housing for community members, and their canteen.
The structure of the datsan always reflects the “three jewels” of a Buddhist: Buddha, the law and the community of his disciples.
Upon entering, you need to mentally greet the deities and then, approaching the image of interest, fold your hands in a prayer gesture and bow as many times as desired so that the number of bows is a multiple of three.
At the same time, raising your hands to your forehead, ask for a clear mind, to your mouth - for perfect speech, to your chest - for love for all living things. During the visit, you need to have a positive attitude and strongly wish relief from suffering to everyone in need.
Conclusion
Worship of Buddha blurs the lines between lay people and members of the monastic community and is the basis for the unity of all Buddhists and strengthening the spiritual ties between them.
With this we say goodbye to you. If you learned something new for yourself, share this article on social networks.