The Lama Temple

The Lama Temple is Beijing’s largest temple. Numerous Tibetan monks once lived there. But I only saw a few black robed monks with yellow belts. Emperor Quianlong devised a clerical system that used the Lama temple and another one in Lhasa to determine the Panchen Lama and the Dalai Lama, respectively. The Dalai Lama is believed to be the reincarnation of Buddha by Tibetan (Lama) Buddhists. This was a useful way to control the Tibetan people. The current Dalai Lama lives in exile.

I’ve seen countless temples in Thailand, but this was different in a striking way. Our tour guide from Thailand said Feng Shui was used to design the temple. It was divided between buildings and large public squares. There is a balance, like yin and yang, between outside and inside areas. She also told me this allows the seasons to change the look and atmosphere of the temple. Nature was an integral part of their religious practices.

As in Thailand, there were many Buddhists who came to burn incense. But at this temple they had to do it outside. The Lama Temple had many interesting statues that looked different than those found in Thai temples. Besides the portly, happy Buddha there were statues that had multiple arms and various expressions. No one explained their meaning to me. Some statues showed Buddha at different stages: past, present and future. There were also guardian statues that had long beards and a fresco of the Buddhist paradise. In one of the last rooms there was an 18 meter high statue of Buddha clothed with yellow satin. A sign said it was carved from a single block of sandalwood. Photography was restricted inside the buildings, but I managed to take a few anyway. Click “My Travel Photos” link on the right to see them. (Much of this information comes from Lonely Planet’s Beijing City Guide.)