Traveling to Fo Guang Shan Monastery, Kaohsiung 佛光山
Getting to Fo Guang Shan Monastery
Many people have heard of the infamous mega-churches which are spread out among the bible belt in the United States. When it comes to outlandish lavish religious complexes, Fo Guang Shan might just take the cake for being the most over the top.
Fo Guang Shan is a Buddhist sect which is based out of Kaohsiung Taiwan. With the largest monastery on the whole island as their headquarters of operations, the religious movement has promoted Humanistic Buddhism along with the latest cutting edge technology to dazzle both devotees and tourists alike.
The center was closed off from outsiders from 1997 till the end of 2000 in order to give its monks are a more suitable atmosphere to practice Buddhism. With a visit from the President of Taiwan, Fo Guang Shan reopened their mountain gates to outsiders and even broke grown on the massive Memorial Hall soon after.
The easiest way to visit Fo Guang Shan is either from Kaohsiung Railway Station on Bus 8010 for 12 NT or from Zuoying High-Speed Railway Station EdaBus 8501 for 65 NT. The trip to Fo Guang Shan should take no more than 45 minutes.
You can read more on how to get to Fo Guang Shan here or here!
Fo Guang Shan University and Monastery
The entire Fo Guang complex is divided into two parts: one hosting many of the monk/nun quarters and education centers and the other being the massive Buddha Memorial Museum.
While the main attraction on the mountain may be the contemplative golden buddha framed with rows of towering pagodas. The monastery has plenty to discover with fewer crowds when compared with the Memorial Hall. When wondering the grounds, it will be hard not to be drawn towards the massive 34-meter tall Amitabha Buddha surrounded by hundreds of golden buddhas with open palms.
The rest of the monastery you will find building upon building filled to the brim with Buddhist texts and classrooms whose purpose is to educate the public and monks alike on Buddhist teachings. Some may find the area to be a bit uninspiring, but what the complex does offer it a back door and hilltop view of the stunning Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum.
You can read about staying the night at Fo Guang Shan here!
Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum
Those who have traveled throughout Asia are all too familiar with temples claiming to house some of Buddha’s body parts. Fo Guang Shan is no exception. It is said that the temple holds one of the teeth of the Buddha. While Buddha was against any monuments or temples being made in his honor and especially against himself being the focal point of the religion, golden effigies can be seen towering all over the continent. Fo Guang Shan’s Master Hsing Yun went on to say, “The Buddha doesn’t need a memorial, but living beings do. I built this pagoda with this in mind.”
The perfectly manicured lawns, symmetrical pagodas, and the beaming golden smile of the Buddha are more than enough to make a devotee feel right at home at Fo Guang Shan. Despite the immaculate presentation of the museum’s grounds, one can not shake the feeling of the complex being nothing more than a Buddhist theme park. Without handcrafted architecture and the smell of incense, the entire grounds seems devoid of any soul whatsoever.
Where Technology Meets Tradition
Along with the entire temple and museum embracing a surreal approach to attracting visitors, the complex also incorporates technology into their daily routine. With everything from futuristic lighting inside the temple itself and LCD screens flashing Buddhist mantras in front of your eyes, the interior of the museum can be a bit overwhelming. What really will make your jaw drop is actual animatronic children who will physically take your donations before flying along a track to offer the money to Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy.
The robot children barely scratch the surface of all the quirky electronics that go into Fo Guang Shan. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed inside the museum and you will have to rely on your storytelling ability to explain to your friends and family who off the wall the temple actually is.
Traveling to Taiwan’s Largest Temple
You will not find serenity or any sense of peace while visiting Fo Guang Shan. The purpose of the monastery is not to calm yourself and hear the chanting and bells but to gasp in awe at the sheer obscurity of the temple. With a history only stretching several decades, you will find a certain lack of tradition, this is further exemplified with the embracing of robots and other forms of technology to promote mindfulness.
Although Fo Guang Shan will not leave you feeling refreshed and tranquil, you will be astounded by the number of things to explore and the outlandish nature of the temple. When visiting the museum and monastery, it may be beneficial to keep in mind that you are not going to a religious site, but a Buddhist theme park.
