The
Fo Guang Shan He Hua Temple in Amsterdam, Holland,
is
the largest Buddhist temple in Europe. Built in traditional palace-style
it is has a Chinese 'Pure Land' atmosphere, however, Buddhism
and the practicing of Buddhism is universal and beyond culture
and architectural features.
Following email conversations with the temple it has now been
confirmed that, with the primary purpose of producing an article
for this website; I, along with three other members of the Southampton
Shin Sangha will visit this place on 28th and 29th of February
08. We will meeting with the Director of the Temple, Venerable
Chueh Hai. Once approved of by the temple and all individuals
concerned, pictures and interviews will be published exclusively
to this site.
Chinese
New Year falls on 7th February this year. Lantern Festival
occurs on the first full moon following the new moon of Chinese
New Year. New year is always an appropriate time for starting
afresh. For me this seems even more so at Chinese new year which
is normally a few weeks later because by ten, at least in the
UK, there is an air of expectancy in nature and the evening become
noticeably lighter for longer. Two weeks later, come the first
full moon of the year and Lantern Festival, nature seems fit to
burst!
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This
particular Chinese new year is said to be a particularly auspicious
time for starting afresh because it marks the start of a new 12
year cycle and the time of the Rat, the first of the Chinese 12
animal zodiac signs.
We
celebrate here at the dojo every year at around about this time not
only to mark these lunar phases but also because it is the dojo's
anniversary. It first opened its doors on Valentines Day (14th Feb)
1996; just 5 days before that years Chinese New Year. That was the
previous year of the Rat.
This years celebration takes the form of a busman's holiday and
four of us from SSS are visiting The
Fo Guang Shan He Hua Temple.
I
go there primarily to take a few photographs and make some notes
to be published here when complete. Yet at the same time it must
be said that the both the location and practices of this particular
temple does interest me on a personal level and I would not be honest
if I did not say that I do hope that friendly and beneficial relationships
between myself, my dharma friends and the He Hau Temple come about
and this, my second trip to Amsterdam will not be my last.
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