View allAll Photos Tagged AVALOKITESVARA
The temple has several features to be appreciated. The main complex houses ten thousand miniature gold Buddhas. The Buddhas are housed on shelves throughout the complex. The grounds also host a seven story stupa utilizing authentic Chinese architecture. But the real treat lies within the stupa, a 5 story tall bronze statue of Buddha. The Buddha is a truly awesome work of art that needs to be seen
The temple has several features to be appreciated. The main complex houses ten thousand miniature gold Buddhas. The Buddhas are housed on shelves throughout the complex. The grounds also host a seven story stupa utilizing authentic Chinese architecture. But the real treat lies within the stupa, a 5 story tall bronze statue of Buddha. The Buddha is a truly awesome work of art that needs to be see
Mistakenly called 'The Big Buddha of Chiang Rai' this is actually a massive figure of Guanyin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy. It's hard to tell from this image, but it's a 26 floor elevator ride to the top of the inside of her head. You can view the surrounding countryside from her eyes and various other openings at the top.
Wikipedia: In Chinese mythology, Guanyin is the goddess of mercy and considered to be the physical embodiment of compassion. She is an all-seeing, all-hearing being who is called upon by worshipers in times of uncertainty, despair, and fear. Guanyin is originally based on the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. Avalokiteśvara's myth spread throughout China during the advent of Buddhism and mixed with local folklore in a process known as syncretism to become the modern day understanding of Guanyin.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanyin#:~:text=In%20Chinese%20myth...(%E8%A7%80%E9%9F%B3,based%20on%20the%20bodhisattva%20Avalokite%C5%9Bvara.
The Bayon, a Buddhist temple, was built in the late 12th or early 13th Century by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII at his capital Angkor Thom, Cambodia. It is the last state temple built at Angkor. There is debate whether the faces which adorn the towers of the temple are of King Jayavarman VII or of the bodhisattva of compassion called Avalokitesvara.
Please view enlarged.
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Chua Phuoc Dien is constructed on the steep slope of the Nui Sam mountain. It was founded by a nun in the late 19th century, and the present structures were built in 1937 and onwards. Like other temples in Mekong Delta, it is not that old, which is reflected in the way the temple exhibits the statues.
There are several buildings along the stone steps leading to the main hall of the temple that is located close to the summit of Nui Sam. The cave that houses Buddhist statues is integrated into one of those buildings.
The statues are Bố Đại (Budai, 布袋), Phật (Buddha, 仏陀), Quan Âm (Avalokitesvara, 観音) from left to right.
Budai the Fatman is a deified Chinese monk. He is regarded as an avatar of Maitreya in China.
The temple has several features to be appreciated. The main complex houses ten thousand miniature gold Buddhas. The Buddhas are housed on shelves throughout the complex. The grounds also host a seven story stupa utilizing authentic Chinese architecture. But the real treat lies within the stupa, a 5 story tall bronze statue of Buddha. The Buddha is a truly awesome work of art that needs to be seen
A closer view of 2 of the 216 faces on towers of the Bayon, a Buddhist temple built in the late 12th or early 13th Century by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII at Angkor Thom. There is debate whether the faces which adorn the towers of the temple are of King Jayavarman VII or of the bodhisattva of compassion called Avalokitesvara.
Since 1995 the Japanese Government team for the Safeguarding of Angkor (the JSA) has been the main body carrying out conservation work at the Bayon.
Please view enlarged.
Happy weekend!
Thanks for visiting. I am very grateful to those who take the time to comment or fave.
The temple has several features to be appreciated. The main complex houses ten thousand miniature gold Buddhas. The Buddhas are housed on shelves throughout the complex. The grounds also host a seven story stupa utilizing authentic Chinese architecture. But the real treat lies within the stupa, a 5 story tall bronze statue of Buddha. The Buddha is a truly awesome work of art that needs to be seen
Hundred Avalokitesvaras (Hyakutai Kan'non 百体観音) are located in the Tsugaike settlement at an altitude of 700 m. These stone statues and stelae were donated by local well wishers for safety, health, prosperity etc. They were relocated to this place from their original roadside locations to widen old roads suitable for car traffic in the 19th century.
Avalokitesbara is a Bodhisattva of mercy, which is like a saint of Christianity. He became popular in China and translated to 観音 (Guan'yin). It was pronounced Kwanon and modified later to Kan'non in Japan.
There was a Japanese manufacturer who gave the name of Buddhist deity to its products. The company later considered to modify the brand name to sound more familiar to their international customers while keeping the existing Japanese customers. Kwanon was changed to Canon.
I found its old logo in flickr at flic.kr/p/j4A3NG
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Buddha in parinirvana, Gandhara art, 2nd or 3rd century
Reclining Buddha of Galvihara at Polonnaruwa (Sri Lanka, 12th century)
A reclining Buddha is a statue that represents Buddha lying down and is a major iconographic and statuary pattern of Buddhism. It represents the historical Buddha during his last illness, about to enter the parinirvana[citation needed]. He is lying on the right flank, his head resting on a cushion or relying on his right elbow, supporting his head with his hand.
This pattern seems to have emerged at the same time as other representations of the Buddha in the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara.
Đền Quan Âm or the Shrine of Avalokitesvara is located near the summit of Nui Sam. It's a new colourful construction.
Nameplate of the shrine is written with a Chinese influenced calligraphic style of the Vietnamese alphabet.
There are people in tourist areas in Vietnam, who write your name or whatsoever with this style of alphabet for souvenirs.
The bodhisattva of compassion often has female figures in Vietnam. Not only Avalokitesvara but also other deities tend to be feminised in Vietnam including Buddha. It is supposed to be an influence from the folk beliefs that are deep rooted in the Vietnamese religious traditions.
The forest of Chua Mahatup is dotted with religious architectures both old and new. The one in the photo was probably built to house a Buddha image but there was nothing inside.
Theravada Buddhism is different from Mahayana Buddhism in that it is a faith exclusively in Gautama Siddhartha. In this sense, Theravada is more monotheistic as compared with Mahayana that worships many Bodhisattvas like Avalokiteśvara and assumes Buddhas other than Gautama Siddhartha.
Vietnam is the only country in Southeast Asia that observes Mahayana Buddhism. In this sense, Vietnam may have to be categorised into Northeast Asia along with China, Mongolia, Koreas and Japan.
This is another example of Tam Bao temple’s enthusiasm for Buddhist arts. The temple looked keen to create Buddhist arts based on, but without being constrained by, the traditions. Paintings in the backdrop may be showing some Khmer influence.
Avalokitesvara was a minor Bodhisattva in India but became extremely popular in the countries that observe Mahayana Buddhism. It was translated to Guanshiyin (観世音) or Guanyin (観音) in China, and pronounced Quán Thế Âm or Quan Âm in Vietnam.
Multi-handed version of Avalokitesvara was probably inspired by Hindu deities such as Vishnu, Durga and Kali.
Avalokitesvara is a male Bodhisattva but he is often depicted in female figures in Vietnam and China.
It would be an influence from folk beliefs that are deep rooted in Vietnam and the southern part of China.
Mendut is a ninth century Buddhist temple. The 26.4 metres tall temple facing west, is located in Mendut village, Mungkid sub-district, Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. The temple located about three kilometres east from Borobudur.
Today, during the full moon in May or June, Buddhists in Indonesia observe Vesak annual ritual by walking from Mendut and ends at Borobudur.
The main room housed three beautifully carved large stone statues.
The 3 metres tall statue of Dhyani Buddha Vairocana was meant to liberate the devotees from the bodily karma, at the left is statue of Boddhisatva Avalokitesvara to liberate from the karma of speech, at the right is Boddhisatva Vajrapani to liberate from karma of tought.
(source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendut)
These stone statues are installed at a nunnery temple in Warabidaira (蕨平), Hakuba for a Kuyou (供養 religious devotion) to the deceased and ancestors.
The stelae with writings in the right is Batou Kannon (馬頭観音 Hayagrīva - avatar of Avalokitesvara with horse head), which is usually for deceased horse and other livestock. Other than the above, there are plenty of religious statues in Hakuba. Many are on the roadside.
Folk faith in Japan is an amalgam of Shintou, Buddhism, Taoism and other animistic traditions, and the one in the photo is not a genuine Buddhist practice.
"One prominent Buddhist story tells of Avalokiteśvara vowing never to rest until he had freed all sentient beings from samsara."
Cham Shan Temple (Ten Thousand Buddas)- The 7 level Asian style building contains precious collections of Buddhist arts and artifacts. Experience the tranquility and spirituality of the temple. They provide free guided tours during summer weekends from June to October. A"World Peace Ten Thousand Buddhas Sarira Stupa Temple" has been constructed on 3 acres of land in Niagara Falls in order to facilitate the expounding of Dharma and the propagation of Buddhism. Spreading the Dharma and benefitting all sentiment beings are the Buddhist Order's vows. Since the appearances of statues and stupas facilitate the generation of the Bodhi-mind, raising temples could benefit sentient beings in countless multitudes. Canada is renowned for its serene and picturesque environment. A Bronze Buddha Statue and a Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara's statue are situated in this property so numerous tourists and devotees can cherish this great chance to make offerings and pay homage to the Buddha
Statues like the above is called Roku Jizou (六地蔵 six Ksitigarbhas).
This photo was taken on the approach road to Joujuin (成就院) Buddhist temple in Hirotsu, Ikeda. It is located on an isolated mountainside thickly covered with a forest.
Jizou (地蔵 Ksitigarbha) is one of the four principal Bodhisattvas (菩薩 Bosatsu) in Mahayana Buddhism. Other Bodhisattvas are Fugen (普賢菩薩, Samantabhadra), Monju (文殊菩薩, Manjusri), and Kan-non (観音菩薩 Avalokiteśvara). Bodhisattvas are would-be Buddhas and are considered as the highest-rank saints in the Mahayana Buddhism hierarchy.
Mahayana Buddhism assumes six hierarchical worlds; people reincarnate according to their deeds in their present life into one of the six worlds of god (天道), human (人間道), titan (修羅道), animal (畜生道), hungry ogre (餓鬼道), and hell (地獄道). Each of the Jizou sextet is in charge of a world, and the sextet as a whole are assumed to save all the beings regardless of their reincarnated worlds, which is the reason for the six statues.
Apart from the Mahayana Buddhist logics, Jizou has been worshipped as a guardian especially for children. The sextet statues are often installed on the roadside.
I have an impression that the six worlds idea sounds like a caste system. It might be an influence from Hinduism.
Cham Shan Temple (Ten Thousand Buddas)- The 7 level Asian style building contains precious collections of Buddhist arts and artifacts. Experience the tranquility and spirituality of the temple. They provide free guided tours during summer weekends from June to October. A"World Peace Ten Thousand Buddhas Sarira Stupa Temple" has been constructed on 3 acres of land in Niagara Falls in order to facilitate the expounding of Dharma and the propagation of Buddhism. Spreading the Dharma and benefitting all sentiment beings are the Buddhist Order's vows. Since the appearances of statues and stupas facilitate the generation of the Bodhi-mind, raising temples could benefit sentient beings in countless multitudes. Canada is renowned for its serene and picturesque environment. A Bronze Buddha Statue and a Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara's statue are situated in this property so numerous tourists and devotees can cherish this great chance to make offerings and pay homage to the Buddha
Cham Shan Temple (Ten Thousand Buddas)- The 7 level Asian style building contains precious collections of Buddhist arts and artifacts. Experience the tranquility and spirituality of the temple. They provide free guided tours during summer weekends from June to October. A"World Peace Ten Thousand Buddhas Sarira Stupa Temple" has been constructed on 3 acres of land in Niagara Falls in order to facilitate the expounding of Dharma and the propagation of Buddhism. Spreading the Dharma and benefitting all sentiment beings are the Buddhist Order's vows. Since the appearances of statues and stupas facilitate the generation of the Bodhi-mind, raising temples could benefit sentient beings in countless multitudes. Canada is renowned for its serene and picturesque environment. A Bronze Buddha Statue and a Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara's statue are situated in this property so numerous tourists and devotees can cherish this great chance to make offerings and pay homage to the Buddha.
Cham Shan Temple (Ten Thousand Buddas)- The 7 level Asian style building contains precious collections of Buddhist arts and artifacts. Experience the tranquility and spirituality of the temple. They provide free guided tours during summer weekends from June to October. A"World Peace Ten Thousand Buddhas Sarira Stupa Temple" has been constructed on 3 acres of land in Niagara Falls in order to facilitate the expounding of Dharma and the propagation of Buddhism. Spreading the Dharma and benefitting all sentiment beings are the Buddhist Order's vows. Since the appearances of statues and stupas facilitate the generation of the Bodhi-mind, raising temples could benefit sentient beings in countless multitudes. Canada is renowned for its serene and picturesque environment. A Bronze Buddha Statue and a Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara's statue are situated in this property so numerous tourists and devotees can cherish this great chance to make offerings and pay homage to the Buddha 214
瀝水觀音（執金剛神身）又稱"滴水觀音"，一手持瓶作瀉水狀，一手作法印，或持楊枝。
表《普門品》中「若為大水所漂，稱其名號，即得淺處」。
菩薩雕像高 2.45 公尺為花蓮七星潭地標之一，由花蓮石雕家卓文章用花崗岩造立。
起由於每年有多起溺水意外，加上鄰近空軍基地，瑞穗鄉藥師壇城圓禪法師為祈求海、空域平安而設立的。藉由菩薩慈悲的法像安撫人心，庇佑海域作業船隻及民眾。
全球最近因為烏俄戰爭的關係，見證了戰火下的無情，猶如人間煉獄，小弟祈求世界能和平，人人都能平安健康。阿彌陀佛 /\
Congrats on Explore! March 2, 2022
Close-up of the carved sandstone bust of Lokesvara I bought in Angkor, Cambodia. The actual size is less than 3 inches from the chin to the forehead.
I lit an incense stick next to it for the smoke to make it look more mysterious but couldn't capture it well. So I had to settle for this simple image. HMM :-)
Cham Shan Temple (Ten Thousand Buddas)- The 7 level Asian style building contains precious collections of Buddhist arts and artifacts. Experience the tranquility and spirituality of the temple. They provide free guided tours during summer weekends from June to October. A"World Peace Ten Thousand Buddhas Sarira Stupa Temple" has been constructed on 3 acres of land in Niagara Falls in order to facilitate the expounding of Dharma and the propagation of Buddhism. Spreading the Dharma and benefitting all sentiment beings are the Buddhist Order's vows. Since the appearances of statues and stupas facilitate the generation of the Bodhi-mind, raising temples could benefit sentient beings in countless multitudes. Canada is renowned for its serene and picturesque environment. A Bronze Buddha Statue and a Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara's statue are situated in this property so numerous tourists and devotees can cherish this great chance to make offerings and pay homage to the Buddha
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Excerpt from www.niagarafallstourism.com:
Cham Shan Temple (Ten Thousand Buddas)- The 7 level Asian style building contains precious collections of Buddhist arts and artifacts. A "World Peace Ten Thousand Buddhas Sarira Stupa Temple" has been constructed on 3 acres of land in Niagara Falls in order to facilitate the expounding of Dharma and the propagation of Buddhism. Spreading the Dharma and benefitting all sentiment beings are the Buddhist Order's vows. Since the appearances of statues and stupas facilitate the generation of the Bodhi-mind, raising temples could benefit sentient beings in countless multitudes. Canada is renowned for its serene and picturesque environment. A Bronze Buddha Statue and a Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara's statue are situated in this property so numerous tourists and devotees can cherish this great chance to make offerings and pay homage to the Buddha.
The preserver of Buddhism.In this capacity,an image of the Buddhism means that justice is maintained.the deity conquers the malevolent forces that threaten humanity by performing amiracle with frightens away evil spirits
Excerpt from www.niagarafallstourism.com:
Cham Shan Temple (Ten Thousand Buddas)- The 7 level Asian style building contains precious collections of Buddhist arts and artifacts. A "World Peace Ten Thousand Buddhas Sarira Stupa Temple" has been constructed on 3 acres of land in Niagara Falls in order to facilitate the expounding of Dharma and the propagation of Buddhism. Spreading the Dharma and benefitting all sentiment beings are the Buddhist Order's vows. Since the appearances of statues and stupas facilitate the generation of the Bodhi-mind, raising temples could benefit sentient beings in countless multitudes. Canada is renowned for its serene and picturesque environment. A Bronze Buddha Statue and a Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara's statue are situated in this property so numerous tourists and devotees can cherish this great chance to make offerings and pay homage to the Buddha.
Excerpt from www.niagarafallstourism.com:
Cham Shan Temple (Ten Thousand Buddas)- The 7 level Asian style building contains precious collections of Buddhist arts and artifacts. A "World Peace Ten Thousand Buddhas Sarira Stupa Temple" has been constructed on 3 acres of land in Niagara Falls in order to facilitate the expounding of Dharma and the propagation of Buddhism. Spreading the Dharma and benefitting all sentiment beings are the Buddhist Order's vows. Since the appearances of statues and stupas facilitate the generation of the Bodhi-mind, raising temples could benefit sentient beings in countless multitudes. Canada is renowned for its serene and picturesque environment. A Bronze Buddha Statue and a Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara's statue are situated in this property so numerous tourists and devotees can cherish this great chance to make offerings and pay homage to the Buddha.
Wikipedia: Phra Prang Sam Yot, also known as Phra Prang Sam Yod, is a 13th-century temple in Lopburi, Thailand. The temple was built by King Jayavarman VII of the Khmer Empire in the early 13th century. Jayavarman intended for the temple to be an important location in the royal cult surrounding himself, as it would increase the legitimacy of his rule. In addition, the temple served to showcase the prestige of the Khmer Empire in Lopburi (then known as Lavo) as it had only recently captured the city from its Cham and Mon rivals. One prominent statue in the temple was dedicated by Jayavarman to "Jayabuddhamahanatha", which is translatable to "Victorious Buddha, the Great Protector" - further evidence of the temple's martial origins. Built along the lines of contemporaneous Khmer architecture, the temple is made from brick with a stucco exterior, the latter possibly being inspired by Mon architectural tradition. The structure has three towers, each with a corresponding deity; the north tower is dedicated to Prajnaparamita, the central tower to the Buddha, and the south tower to Avalokiteśvara. The temple is furnished with art depicting Buddhist iconography. Originally dedicated to Mahayana Buddhism, the temple survived the end of the Khmer influence over Lavo, and the temple was later rededicated to Theravada Buddhism when Lopburi came under the control of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. During the reign of Narai the Great (1656-1688) of Ayutthaya, a prayer hall (Wihar) was added to the temple complex.
Hasedera is built on the slope overlooking the Yuigahama beach.
The main draw of the temple is a 9.18 m Kannon (観音, Avalokitesvara) statue, which is prohibited to take photos, unfortunately.
Although the temple is claimed to have been founded in 736 by a priest invited from Hasedera in Yamato (Nara prefecture), then the capital of Japan.
The above is probably a fiction to increase the temple's prestige as the oldest record of the temple dates back to 1264 only. It is likely that the temple was built after Kamakura became the capital of Japan under the Minamoto clan in 1185.
Eastward view from the terrace built on the summit of Nui Ba Den. The Dark Avalokitesvara statue uploaded previously is seen in the opposite direction.
The water body in the haze is Hồ Dầu Tiếng which is a reservoir constructed by damming the Saigon river. The reservoir is located 20 km to the east of Tay Ninh City and 70 km to the northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. It is the largest irrigation reservoir in Southeast Asia. Construction started in 1981 with funding from the World Bank according to Wikipedia.
The Saigon river is not a tributary nor a distributary of the Mekong. Hence HCMC is not part of the Mekong Delta unlike Tay Ninh City.
Cham Shan Temple (Ten Thousand Buddas)- The 7 level Asian style building contains precious collections of Buddhist arts and artifacts. Experience the tranquility and spirituality of the temple. They provide free guided tours during summer weekends from June to October. A"World Peace Ten Thousand Buddhas Sarira Stupa Temple" has been constructed on 3 acres of land in Niagara Falls in order to facilitate the expounding of Dharma and the propagation of Buddhism. Spreading the Dharma and benefitting all sentiment beings are the Buddhist Order's vows. Since the appearances of statues and stupas facilitate the generation of the Bodhi-mind, raising temples could benefit sentient beings in countless multitudes. Canada is renowned for its serene and picturesque environment. A Bronze Buddha Statue and a Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara's statue are situated in this property so numerous tourists and devotees can cherish this great chance to make offerings and pay homage to the Buddha
The Jayatataka baray is a man-made reservoir located in Angkor Archaeological Park. Once dried up, the Jayatataka baray is now filled with water again, as at the end of each rainy season, all excess water in the area is diverted into it. Neak Pean temple is located on an island in the middle of the baray.
(commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jayatataka_Baray.jpg)
Neak Pean (or Neak Poan) ("The entwined serpents") at Angkor, Cambodia is an artificial island with a Buddhist temple on a circular island in Jayatataka Baray, which was associated with Preah Khan temple, built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. It is the "Mebon" of the Preah Khan baray (the "Jayatataka" of the inscription).
Some historians believe that Neak Pean represents Anavatapta, a mythical lake in the Himalayas whose waters are thought to cure all illness. The name is derived from the sculptures of snakes (Nāga) running around the base of the temple structure, neak being the Khmer rendering of the Sanskrit naga. "They are Nanda and Upananda, two nagas traditionally associated with Lake Anavatapta."
Neak Pean was originally designed for medical purposes (the ancients believed that going into these pools would balance the elements in the bather, thus curing disease); it is one of the many hospitals that Jayavarman VII built. It is based on the ancient Hindu belief of balance. Four connected pools represent Water, Earth, Fire and Wind. Each is connected to the central water source, the main tank, by a stone conduit "presided over by one of Four Great Animals (maha ajaneya pasu) namely Elephant, Bull, Horse, and Lion, corresponding to the north, east, south, and west quarters....The stone conduits in the little pavilions are fashioned to represent the heads of the Four Great Animals...the only exception being that on the east, which represents a human head instead of a bull's." Originally, four sculptures stood on the floor of the lake. The only remaining statue is that of the horse Balaha, a form of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, saving sailors from the ogresses of Tamradvipa. The temple on the lake was originally dedicated to Avalokitesvara. Willetts believed that "this is Jayavarman as he would have wished to have appeared to his people"
Buddhist Putuoshan, China 普陀山——中国浙江
Mount Putuo (Chinese: 普陀山) is an island southeast of Shanghai, in Zhoushan prefecture of Zhejiang province, China. It is a renowned site in Chinese Buddhism, and is considered the bodhimanda of Avalokitesvara (Guanyin), a revered Bodhisattva in many parts of East Asia.
You will see this unusual architecture soon after getting out of the cable car station on the summit.
Judging from the script written at the foot of the statue, which reads 西補佗山 (western Potalaka mountain), the dark statue on the top of the tower is Quan Âm or Avalokitesvara.
Nui Ba Den is originally a sacred mountain that enshrines Linh Sơn Thánh Mẫu (霊山聖母) or the mother goddess of holy mountain. It is a typical Đạo Mẫu or mother goddess worship on par with Bà Chúa Xứ of Núi Sam in Chau Doc.
The temple in the lower mountainside houses a dark skinned statue of Linh Sơn Thánh Mẫu a.c.a. Bà Đen (black lady).
I suppose Sun World regards dark coloured Avalokitesvara as Bà Đen based on the understanding that the folk belief has merged with Mahayana Buddhism. It would be an example of religious syncretism.
English brochure of Sun World writes the name of the statue as "Lady Buddha," which, I think, is non-sense.
Tokyo Monorail was completed in 1964 to improve the access to Tokyo Haneda International Airport for the first Tokyo Olympic. The train in the photo is painted with Kiki & Lala, Sunrio's twin characters.
The high-rise building is a recent construction by Nomura Real Estate Development Co. Ltd. as part of the Ten'nouzu Isle redevelopment. It currently houses Canon IT Solutions Co. Ltd., a Canon group company.
Canon was established in 1933 and produced the first "Kwanon (Avalokitesvara)" branded 35 mm film camera in 1934. It is now a multinational corporation headquartered in nearby Oota City (大田区) of Tokyo specialising in optical, imaging and industrial products. It does not only produce cameras but also medical equipment and semiconductor manufacturing devices.
Neak Pean (or Neak Poan) ("The entwined serpents") at Angkor, Cambodia is an artificial island with a Buddhist temple on a circular island in Jayatataka Baray, which was associated with Preah Khan temple, built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. It is the "Mebon" of the Preah Khan baray (the "Jayatataka" of the inscription).
Some historians believe that Neak Pean represents Anavatapta, a mythical lake in the Himalayas whose waters are thought to cure all illness. The name is derived from the sculptures of snakes (Nāga) running around the base of the temple structure, neak being the Khmer rendering of the Sanskrit naga. "They are Nanda and Upananda, two nagas traditionally associated with Lake Anavatapta."
Neak Pean was originally designed for medical purposes (the ancients believed that going into these pools would balance the elements in the bather, thus curing disease); it is one of the many hospitals that Jayavarman VII built. It is based on the ancient Hindu belief of balance. Four connected pools represent Water, Earth, Fire and Wind. Each is connected to the central water source, the main tank, by a stone conduit "presided over by one of Four Great Animals (maha ajaneya pasu) namely Elephant, Bull, Horse, and Lion, corresponding to the north, east, south, and west quarters....The stone conduits in the little pavilions are fashioned to represent the heads of the Four Great Animals...the only exception being that on the east, which represents a human head instead of a bull's." Originally, four sculptures stood on the floor of the lake. The only remaining statue is that of the horse Balaha, a form of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, saving sailors from the ogresses of Tamradvipa. The temple on the lake was originally dedicated to Avalokitesvara. Willetts believed that "this is Jayavarman as he would have wished to have appeared to his people"
For sunset-viewing at Angkor, the Bayon temple is not normally recommended as it is surrounded by tall trees, blocking any views of the sun at the horizon. However this pic was taken at sunset and the very brief golden glow of the sun on the trees was quite magical. This is my last pic of the Bayon faces, some of you will be glad to know :-)
Cham Shan Temple (Ten Thousand Buddas)- The 7 level Asian style building contains precious collections of Buddhist arts and artifacts. Experience the tranquility and spirituality of the temple. They provide free guided tours during summer weekends from June to October. A"World Peace Ten Thousand Buddhas Sarira Stupa Temple" has been constructed on 3 acres of land in Niagara Falls in order to facilitate the expounding of Dharma and the propagation of Buddhism. Spreading the Dharma and benefitting all sentiment beings are the Buddhist Order's vows. Since the appearances of statues and stupas facilitate the generation of the Bodhi-mind, raising temples could benefit sentient beings in countless multitudes. Canada is renowned for its serene and picturesque environment. A Bronze Buddha Statue and a Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara's statue are situated in this property so numerous tourists and devotees can cherish this great chance to make offerings and pay homage to the Buddha
The dashboard often becomes an altar for the driver.
This photo was taken in a taxi from Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.
Inviting cat is a charm for business prosperity. It is probably of Japanese origin but the one in the photo is not made in Japan. It is made in somewhere outside of mainland China judging from the scripts used. They read:
- (May) fortunes come from eight (all) directions,
- A sail with tail wind, and
- (May) luck of money invites fortunes.
The one in the right is Quan Âm (Avalokitesvara), a bodhisattva of Mahayana Buddhism popular in Vietnam. This deity should be male but it often has a female figure in Vietnam.