Buddha Art
Location: Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple, Jenjarom, Malaysia
Date: 21st January 2010 (Thursday), 11:41am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.3, ISO Equiv.: 1600
An acrylic masterpiece by Grace Choong. I'm not an art person. But I was mesmerized by Grace's acrylic artworks. You may view her collection of work at the art gallery in FGS temple. I spent almost one hour admiring her amazing work. I believe she is a well traveled person just like fufu. Some of her paintings depict the beauty of Venice, China, Cambodia and many other places. SIMPLY AWESOME!
Golden Buddha
Location: Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple, Jenjarom, Malaysia
Date: 21st January 2010 (Thursday), 12:03pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.3, ISO Equiv.: 450
A large 'golden' statue of Buddha in the main prayer shrine. This statue is BEAUTIFUL! The entire shrine is so GOLD!
If you look closely, you'll see a mini swastika on Buddha's chest.
In Buddhism, the swastika signifies auspiciousness and good fortune as well as the Buddha's footprints and the Buddha's heart. The swastika is said to contain the whole mind of the Buddha and can often be found imprinted on the chest, feet or palms of Buddha images. It is also the first of the 65 auspicious symbols on the footprint of the Buddha. Source: Religionfacts
Supreme Buddha (Sammāsambuddha)
Location: Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple, Jenjarom, Malaysia
Date: 21st January 2010 (Thursday), 12:38pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
A large-sized statue of a sitting Buddha at the temple's Lumbini garden.
Siddhartha was born in Lumbini and raised in the small kingdom or principality of Kapilvastu, both of which are in modern day Nepal. Queen Maya gave birth to Siddhartha at Lumbini, in a garden beneath a sal tree. Source: Wikipedia
Seeking the TRUTH
Location: Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple, Jenjarom, Malaysia
Date: 21st January 2010 (Thursday), 12:25pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 500
The main prayer shrine in FGS Dong Zen is breathtakingly beautiful! I felt eternal peace and calmness. All my worries, all my anxieties and all my problems are gone :)
There is a huge wooden Buddha in this sacred shrine. The four walls of this shrine are decorated with gigantic brass paintings. These wall paintings depict episodes from Buddha life story and is beautifully carved by master artisans. The carvings and artwork are AMAZING! I was standing right beneath the paintings admiring the finer details. This shrine is a MUST-SEE attraction in FGS.
ENLIGHTENMENT
Location: Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple, Jenjarom, Malaysia
Date: 21st January 2010 (Thursday), 12:25pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.3, ISO Equiv.: 640
After asceticism and concentrating on meditation and Anapana-sati (awareness of breathing in and out), Siddhartha is said to have discovered what Buddhists call the Middle Way—a path of moderation away from the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification.
He accepted a little milk and rice pudding from a village girl named Sujata, who wrongly believed him to be the spirit that had granted her a wish, such was his emaciated appearance.
Then, sitting under a pipal tree, now known as the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, he vowed never to arise until he had found the Truth.
After 49 days meditating, at the age of 35, he attained Enlightenment. Source: Wikipedia
The First Sermon
Location: Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple, Jenjarom, Malaysia
Date: 21st January 2010 (Thursday), 12:09pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.8, ISO Equiv.: 720
The Buddha thus journeyed to Deer Park near Vārāṇasī (Benares) in northern India, he set in motion the Wheel of Dharma by delivering his first sermon to the group of five companions with whom he had previously sought enlightenment.
They, together with the Buddha, formed the first saṅgha, the company of Buddhist monks, and hence, the first formation of Triple Gem (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha) was completed, with Kaundinya becoming the first stream-enterer. All five soon become arahants, and with the conversion of Yasa and fifty four of his friends, the number of arahants swelled to 60 within the first two months.
The conversion of the three Kassapa brothers and their 200, 300 and 500 disciples swelled the sangha over 1000, and they were dispatched to explain the dharma to the populace. Source: Wikipedia
Buddha's Death - Mahaparinirvana
Location: Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple, Jenjarom, Malaysia
Date: 21st January 2010 (Thursday), 12:08pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 560
According to the Mahaparinibbana Sutta of the Pali canon, at the age of 80, the Buddha announced that he would soon reach Parinirvana or the final deathless state abandoning the earthly body.
After this, the Buddha ate his last meal, which he had received as an offering from a blacksmith named Cunda. Falling violently ill, Buddha instructed his attendant Ānanda to convince Cunda that the meal eaten at his place had nothing to do with his passing and that his meal would be a source of the greatest merit as it provided the last meal for a Buddha. Source: Wikipedia
Fierce Battle
Location: Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple, Jenjarom, Malaysia
Date: 21st January 2010 (Thursday), 12:14pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 1600
I'm unable to decipher this wall painting. It looks like a fierce battle!
Sujata's Offering
Location: Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple, Jenjarom, Malaysia
Date: 21st January 2010 (Thursday), 12:23pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.3, ISO Equiv.: 1100
Sujata, a maiden who, in Gautama Buddha's life, offered the Buddha a bowl of milk porridge after he had given up the path of asceticism following six years of extreme austerities.
I'm Proud Of Myself
Location: Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple, Jenjarom, Malaysia
Date: 21st January 2010 (Thursday), 1:01pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100
An interesting stone statue at one of the many Zen gardens.
Oh Goody, I'm LOST!
Location: Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple, Jenjarom, Malaysia
Date: 21st January 2010 (Thursday), 12:31pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
A funny looking statue of a monk at one of the beautiful gardens in FGS Dong Zen Temple. I would love to see this statue walking :)
Getting Ready
Location: Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple, Jenjarom, Malaysia
Date: 21st January 2010 (Thursday), 1:08pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.3, ISO Equiv.: 200
Workers were busy sorting out and repairing old and new festive display for this coming Chinese New Year.
"Let Me Out! I'm Suffocating!!!
Location: Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple, Jenjarom, Malaysia
Date: 21st January 2010 (Thursday), 1:09pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/6.3, ISO Equiv.: 100
I actually ventured into the restricted zone. At the back of the temple complex, there is an area with collections of props and festive display. Okay...this picture reminds me of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Earlier, I asked fellow bloggers, readers and friends to guess my latest trip. Check out their guesses here 'Where Is MYLO?' fufu said it is an Indian temple, Carmen and David both think mylo is holidaying in Thailand and 1ondoncaller believes I was in Burma. Darn! Nobody gets the correct answer :)
This Buddhist temple at Jenjarom, Selangor is famously known as Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 (FGS) Dong Zen Temple. FGS Dong Zen is arguably the BEST Buddhist temple in Malaysia. I've always wanted to visit this temple. Hundreds of thousands of devotees come here from all over the world throughout the year to seek Buddha's blessing and peace of mind.
It is not as big and grand like Kek Lok Si temple in Penang Island. But then again, this temple has its unique charms and attractions. It's a place of unrivaled beauty. The best time to visit Dong Zen Temple is during the annual Chinese New Year. Additional lanterns are mounted and floral fests, floats, cultural exhibitions are staged. I hate dealing with big crowds. I avoid them as much as I can! So, I decided to visit this temple early :)
I've read so many news articles about this temple - the glamour, the deco and the unique collection of historical Buddha relics. But, I’ve always missed out this place. Perhaps...the name of this place J.E.N.J.A.R.O.M sounds like a foreign and faraway place to me.
Few days ago, I stumbled upon another two full page article about FGS temple in the New Straits Times paper. When I looked at the pictures, my heart was pounding hard and fast! I got this sudden adrenaline rush. I was excited and very pleased!! I really need to see this place!
Three days ago (21st January 2010), I decided to visit this place. I rely on Google Maps for precise directions. Sadly, it was a harrowing two hours drive from Kepong. The morning rush hour traffic at Subang and Shah Alam interchange was C.R.A.Z.Y! After the highway, I was driving along some remote kampung roads. Lorries and heavy duty vehicles were all over the place. These BIG MOMMAS are so slow! Just like SLOTH!
And to make matters worse, the road surface was full of potholes. At many stretches, the road cave-in due to immense pressure from heavy vehicles. It was a stressful and bumpy ride. According to Google Maps, I need to turn left to Jalan Rajawali to proceed to Jenjarom. I was searching high and low for this road.
Some drivers were tailing dangerously at the back of my back. They were cutting and zooming in and out. CRAZY A**! Do they notice the signboards? This is a remote area with maximum speed limit of 30 km/hr! Malaysian drivers...they remind me of the following phrase 'koon chee hooi tau toi' (translation: rushing for reincarnation).
Okay...back to the story. There is no Jalan Rajawali. I got lost on some shanty town and drove aimlessly for the next 30 minutes. Later, I found some mini blue signboards directing drivers to make numerous turns to Jenjarom. FINALLY! I reached Jenjarom. I heaved a huge sigh of relief. I stopped my car at the side of the road and asked for directions from some 'pakciks' (translation: old man).
I asked: "Pakcik, mana dia Tokong Cina FGS Dong Zen kat Jenjarom?"
(Translation: "Uncle, where is this FGS Dong Zen Temple?")
He said: "Tokong mana?"
(Translation: Which Chinese temple?")
I repeated myself again.
He answered: "Sini ada dua tokong. Satu besar, satu kecik"
(Translation: There are two Chinese temples in Jenjarom. One big and one small")
I asked: "Tokong besar?"
(Translation: The big temple?")
He answered: "Pandu terus masuk gerbang Cina"
(Translation: Drive pass the Chinese archway")
Okay, I drove pass through a big Chinese archway. I was looking for helpful signboards. But there is none. So, I stopped my car again and asked directions from a Chinese hawker (selling Char Siew and BBQ Chicken Rice). I was asking in Cantonese and he was answering in Mandarin. I said FGS Dong Zen multiple times (in Cantonese). But, he does not understand. What a BUMMER! Really 'Chicken & Duck Talk' (雞同鴨講)
Finally, something crossed my mind.
I said "I'm looking for that temple that will be beautifully decorated during CNY!"
He said: "Oooooh! Drive for another 800 m and turn right. You SUPPOSED to say 佛光山"
SIGH! I don't speak any Mandarin. I noticed 99% of the Chinese in Jenjarom speak in Mandarin. Finally, after two hours of stressful ride, I arrived at FGS Dong Zen Buddhist temple. This place is HUGE! It has multiple parking bays with more than 500 parking slots. I quickly walked to the guarded entrance. The gate was partially closed. OMG! Please don't tell me the temple is CLOSED!
A uniformed guard emerged from a sophisticated CCTV control room. He was standing right in front of the entrance.
I asked: "Can I come in?"
He answered: "OH YES!"
The moment I entered this temple, I felt eternal peace and calmness. I always had this feeling whenever I visited the house of worship. Indeed a strange feeling for a non-believer and a humanist like me.
The exterior and interior settings of this temple are really amazing!!! Ooops...this post is way too long. Remember to catch Part 2 for more travelogues. I'll be talking about my very first Buddhist lesson, the sacred shrine, Lumbini garden and many more. Stay tune!
Last updated 19th February 2010 (7:10 p.m.)
Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple - Directions/Getting There/Maps:
The thumbnails are screenshots. Click links to download the maps.
Map and directions to Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Dong Zen Temple in Jenjarom (JPG Format)
Map 1 (1 page, JPG file, 384 kb)
Map 2 (1 page, JPG file, 373 kb)
Map 3 (1 page, JPG file, 350 kb)
Map 4 (1 page, JPG file, 318 kb)
Map And Directions to Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Dong Zen Temple in Jenjarom (PDF Format)
Map 1 (1 page, PDF file, 212 kb)
Map 2 (1 page, PDF file, 276 kb)
Map 3 (1 page, PDF file, 389 kb)
Map 4 (1 page, PDF file, 234 kb)
Note: All files are hosted in MediaFire. Official maps are courtesy of http://www.fgs.org.my/
Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple - Contact Details:
Fo Guang Shan Malaysia,
PT2297, Jalan Sg. Buaya,
Sg. Jenjarom,
46 200 Kuala Langat,
Selangor Malaysia.
Daily Opening Hours:
Daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Tel: 603 - 3191 1533, 603 - 3191 4304
Fax: 603 - 3191 1467
Official portal: http://www.fgs.org.my/
Official Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/fgsmy
Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple - FAQ:
(1) 馬來西亞佛光山 Fo Guang Shan Malaysia (reg. under : Persatuan Meditasi Fo Guang Shan Selangor ) is one of the many branches of Fo Guang Shan (“FGS”) throughout the world.
Fo Guang Shan in Chinese literally means “the Mountain of Buddha’s Light”. FGS is an international Buddhist Order founded by Ven Master Hsing Yun in 1967 with the headquarter in Kaoshiung, Taiwan. It operates 62 branch temples in Taiwan, and 98 throughout the rest of the world.
(2) FGS Dong Zen Temple represents the hub of a Buddhist centre in the South East Region. FGS Dong Zen is situated at Jenjarom, Kuala Langat in the state of Selangor Darul Ehsan. The land area covers 22 acres. Since the opening of the monastery in 1994, it has created a new avenue for tourism for local tourists and it also acts as an important cultural and educational center.
(3) FGS Dong Zen Temple is solely managed by Fo Guang Shan Malaysia. Guided by the objectives and principles of Fo Guang Shan, the Malaysian chapter expanded considerably. To date there are seventeen Fo Guang Shan centres in Malaysia, namely Klang, Ipoh, Sentul, Sekinchan, Telok Panglima Garang, Seremban, Bahau, Petaling Jaya, Penang, Kuantan, Kuala Lumpur, Cheras, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu etc.
Note: FAQs about FGS Dong Zen are taken from FGS Dong Zen Facebook. Get the latest updates from here.
Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple - Getting There:
FGS Dong Zen Temple is located in Jenjarum, a small town located between Klang and Banting. It is about 30-minute drive from the Carey Island roundabout and about 45 minutes from Subang Jaya.
Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple - Google Maps:
Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple - Thing To Do/See:
- Main Prayer Shrine (Wooden Buddha, Brass Wall Paintings)
- Lumbini Garden
- Buddhist Art Gallery
- Relic Centre
- Venerable Master Hsing Yun's One-Stroke Calligraphy Exhibition
- Annual Chinese New Year Deco
- Garden of Zen
- Giant Hanging & Wishing Bell
- Taste authentic vegetarian food
Fo Guang Shan 佛光山 Temple - Read More/Useful Links:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha (Wikipedia article about Gautama Buddha)
- http://tinyurl.com/yz8777e (Jenjarom road to serendipity, Article by NST)
- http://tinyurl.com/6xsbca (Swastika in Buddhism, Article by Religionfacts)
- http://tinyurl.com/yl7kw2b (The temple that changed Jenjarom, TheStar)
- http://tinyurl.com/yav76kj (CNY cheer at Jenjarom’s FGS Temple, TheStar)
Nice photos you have. I want to learn the photo shooting skills from your blog.. hehe
Really delicate bas-relief!
All from Malaysia?!
Ha ha... I'll spare your D60 this time!
Funny, I always thought you got both D40 & D60?!
Re: Global Cities / 全球城市 / Bandar Raya Global / 世界都市
Yes, KL! Ha ha... Are you proud of being KL gia? I presume you know Hokkien lah!
Re: Hidden gem in London / 隐藏在伦敦的宝石 / Batu permata yang tersembunyi di London / ロンドンの隠された宝石
No, not Christian. But I enjoy going to churches! Ha ha... They got some interesting stuff, like stained glass panels, sculptures to see inside.
Re: Lost cow in the City / 迷失在市内的牛 / Lembu yang tersesat di Bandar / 都市に迷った牛
Ha ha... That's a funny car! Its horns are strange for that type of spotty breed.
i like the Oh Goody, I'm LOST! picture...
haha.. so cute...
can i suggest you a place?
gua chavas in Kuantan...
also got the 'sleeping buddha' there..
i want to learn to take photo!!
keeyit
Hi there! Welcome to my photo and travel blog :)
WOW! Actually, I'm no sifoo. I'm just an ordinary guy who loves photography. All of us can improve our photography skills. One thing for sure....."If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough.” Famous quote from Robert Capa
1ondoncaller
Yep! 100 % 'Buatan Malaysia' :) We have so many hidden jewels in Malaysia.
D60 is my second camera (first DSLR). My first camera is a Fuji 1.3 MP camera. A big leap!
Carmen
Thanks!
WOW! Sleeping Buddha in Gua Chavas in Kuantan? That's awesome! Really need some time for another road trip :)
Carmen, everyone can take photos. We just need a great place, some patience and also plenty of natural light.
Cheers to all!
mylo
What a long post about this temple! Is it near KL? The most recent one I visited is Kek Lok Si temple in Penang,n it's still undergoing renovation. The photos we took were all gone cos hard disk crashed! :P
eunice
FGS Dong Zen temple is located at Jenjarom, Selangor. About two hours drive from KL.
Kek Lok Si is another beautiful temple! The renovation...are you referring to the Guan Yin Pavilion? The pavilion is fully completed! Check out this YouTube video:
The Opening of the Pavilion
http://tinyurl.com/ycpdbd6
WOW! That's really unlucky! You can always backup your data (burn it on a DVD) for double copy.
Cheers!
mylo