A Visit To Dong Zen Temple 2008 - #3

As the evening deepened, the world took on a deeper shade and the sky reflected from the window is now a deeper blue. But they contrasted beautifully with the just lighted lanterns of yellow and red.

Even as I continued shooting, the blue deepened further. And the lanterns all appeared much brighter. As one world waned, another took its place and shined. The lanterns reflected from the window were interesting to me for they changed as I changed the angles with which to view them. Since I was in a spiritual place, I suddenly turned philosophical – “The windows are the same. The lanterns are the same. But how they appeared depends on how we choose to view them”. At that moment I had a sudden realisation, I will not have cut it as a philosopher.

But they sure looked different as I tilted my camera.

It is always interesting to watch other photographer at work. What did they see? What can I learned from them? And I couldn’t help wondering – did anyone see those lanterns on the windows as I saw? Did they see the same beauty?

The night approached to rule the world and the lights burst out to dispel the dark. Each is more beautiful because of the other.

I was not done with lanterns yet. They have a charm all their own. And a single lantern in a house can changed its entire mood. As it will if we walk down a deep wooded path on a night without moon. From the balcony of an upper floor, I took this shot with the lighted frame of the opposite building standing out against the black sheeted night.

So many angles were beautiful to me. Straight or slanting.

Close-up or far away. Single or a multitude. They are a pleasing sight.

While hanging from the roof, a gentle breeze blew. Gently swaying them just enough to lift some of their tails.

I walked out into the yard to view a golden Buddha sitting on a throne of lights so bright I have to turn my eyes away.

While a serene Goddess of Mercy continuously blessed all with an endless stream of holy water.

Another Buddha in a glass pagoda with changing colored lights.

As I walked away, the studious monk was still pointing the way to salvation. But I was walking the opposite way. The path was shown. But the choice is ours to make. I just hope that the different paths we choose leads to the same heaven.

Dragons in a roll spitting water.

But the images that lingered were that of the humble lanterns.

This lovely little horse followed me back home and now sat among my books in the glass drawer. And when asked, I told them I got it for free in Dong Zen Temple. If you would like to have one, visit the temple and look out for it. If it is in your karma, another little horse will follow you home.

A Visit To Dong Zen Temple 2008 - #2

When you stepped into the main prayer hall, one may be surprised to find it brightly lighted with modern styling. The huge Buddha sat there serenely surveying the patrons who came visiting. There is little of the solemnity that one found in temple. On the other hand the glossy finishing and tiles lend an air of gaiety. May be too modern for some taste but I liked it as it is a depart from enforced gravity one usually find in places of worship. As anything in life, this also has disadvantages as will be pointed out later.

The story of the religion is beautifully engraved in the wall paneling as this fine example above. This order practiced Mahayana Buddhism.

A devoted couple on their knees paying tribute to Buddha.

A father teaching his children to pray.

Because the large brightly decorated open hall and very clean floor reduced the solemnity and gravity of the prayer hall, some of the visitors who are just here to look see did not behave as they should in a place of worship. They let their children ran about and loudly laughed while others were kneeling down and praying. Some even let their children roll on the floor. I was tempted to smack some of the - parents. This small boy volunteer tried with limited success to attract the attention of the more riotous visitors.

Many like me came for the photograph opportunity. There are always things to snap and I like catching photographers in their act. Here is on trying to find the perfect angle. For all I know, I have also been snapped.

A few devotees were very happy to have the chance to speak with one of the master. You can see the reverence in their facial expression and demeanor.

A thousand Buddhas.

There was an exhibition of the work of Feng ZiKai (1898 -1975). He was known as the founder of modern cartoons in China. His simple drawing of figures with Chinese cultural flavor is highly regarded. He is also a devoted Buddhist.

This is an example of his work.

There were also some beautifully crafted figurine of monks in various joyous pose celebrating life and happiness which is a joy to behold.

When I came out of the exhibition hall, the evening has deepened considerably and the lights are all switched on. However, it is not completely dark yet. In Malaysian weather pattern, this only last less than half an hour.

This was an outside shrine where devotees can make colorful candle offering to the Buddhas.

Join us for the next part - night scenes.

To be continued...

A Visit To Dong Zen Temple 2008 - #1

The huge lantern is one of the highlight this year. Every year there are new highlights.

Almost every year I will try to make a trip to Jenjarom, a town on the way to Banting. There is sited the famous FGS Dong Zen Temple which has a floral and lantern festival celebration every year which offered many photo opportunities. FGS stands for Fo Guang Shan literally translated as Buddha’s Light Mountain which had its headquarter in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Dong Zen on the other hand is an unusual English name. If adopted from Mandarin, it should be Dong Chan Si in its Romanized form. If translated, it should be Eastern Zen Temple. For some reason, half of the Mandarin Romanized and half of translated version were used resulting in Dong Zen Temple.

Source: FGS Dong Zen Temple.

This is the map showing how to get to Dong Zen Temple. There are still a few days left to catch the festival.

Source: FGS Dong Zen Temple.


This is the layout of the temple complex and the various activities within its compound.

This monk is pointing the way to enlightenment.

I did not pick an auspicious day to visit the temple. On the fifth day of Chinese New Year, 11 January, I decided to by myself as taking photos is an activity best done alone. As my car came to the head of the traffic light to turn to the road to Banting, I was stopped by a policeman. There were a couple of cars ahead of me. After a few minutes of waiting, I got out of the car to find what was going on and was dismayed to find that the “Tour De Langkawi” cyclists would be passing through this route. After waiting several minutes, and a massive jam building up, all the motorists were cursing because there were no cyclists in sight and if allowed to move, the cars would have been long gone from from this spot. Yet the policeman persisted in preventing anyone from going forward. Reasoning that even when the cyclist came, it will take a very long time to clear before the road would be made accessible for traveling, I squeezed my car out and took an alternative route.

One of the reason I visited every year is because of the large numbers and types of flowers on displays. This year is no exception.

It has been a long time since I came across Chinese playdough that are used to make various cartoon characters. You can either buy them outright or pay RM2.00 for a spin hoping to get the more expensive items.

A bag of fishes and tools of the trade.

Bushes shaped into the twelve animals of the Animal Years or also known as Chinese Zodiacs though I don't really like that term. See the visitors enjoying the flowers in the background.

These monks are sharing a joke with the stall owners. Always pleases me to see happy monks instead of serious ones.


You can buy wishes on which to hang on the branches of low wishing trees or buy a long red cloth tied to a string and tried to throw it up a tall wishing tree. Then pray to hope your wishes will come true for the year.

Pretty girl snapping wishes. She has one - to take a great shot. I also have one to capture her doing it. My wish came true.

This tree is laden with the wishes of patrons - a great burden to bear.

Red wishes swaying in the breeze. By the fifteen day, the tree may be more red than green.

I visited the koi pond every year.

But the fishes did not recognize me. Story of my life.

Another highlights of this year are miniature famous places of Buddhist worships in India. These are two fine examples.

This old sage with dreamy eyes looked at me and asked if I have found my way. I said I'm still as lost as ever. He said "stop looking". I smiled and replied that no disrespect but I've no intention to. I'm sure if he could lift his staff, he would brought it down on my blockhead.

To be continued...