Sunday, December 11, 2011

开福禅寺 Kai Fu Chan Si

开福禅寺位于安徽省合肥市郊大蜀山南麓

Located at Anhui province's Hefei suburb, 开福禅寺 (Kaifuchansi) has a history of 1400 years since Tang Dynasty. It was destroyed in 1937 during the war times and finally completed restoration in 2009. And thereafter, a Majestic Monastery arises and we had the good karma to visit it as our last temple pilgrim stop this round to end our journey beautifully.

大雄宝殿 (Main Hall)
弥陀殿 (Hall of Amitabha Buddha)

It is a majestic monastery with many grand Halls such as the Hall of Amitabha Buddha, Hall of Medicine Buddha, Hall of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva (Guanyin) , Hall of Ksitigarbha Boddhisattva, Hall of Arhats, etc.

Majestic and serene, and one could see well organised volunteers taking care of the monastery, very orderly and so orderly that photo taking of the statures are not allowed in the Halls.

Personally, perhaps affinity, my favourite is the Hall of Amitabha Buddha, in it are majestic statures of the 3 Saints of Western Pureland.

Each Hall has its unique features and most Halls has either beautiful paintings or stone carvings that illustrates the Teachings/stories of related Buddha or Bodhisattva or Arhats. It also has a Prajna-Paramita bookstore near the entrance of the monastery that has a wise selection of free-distribution books and DVDs.
Certainly another good place to spend a peaceful day.

(fyi, unlike Spore, most temples in China do collect entrance fees (token as maintenance fee) unless you have their Triple Gem Refuge identification issued by China's temples)



Thank you to sister AW, PK, AK for contributing the pictures, Amituofo

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