Return to Taiwan: Time to Explore the Outside

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Time to Explore the Outside

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Afterward we decided to explore on the outside and headed across the bridge and toward the temples on the mountainside. The Buddhist Xiangde Temple shares the mountain with a Catholic Church. We saw the temple and several shrines, but did not spot the Catholic Church that we are aware of. It is supposed to be an attraction for backpackers, so perhaps we did not climb high enough. There were so many steps and Kaylee was a champ. As we were heading up, someone told us it closed soon and we hustled a bit faster to make it to the top.

Additionally this area houses a tall white-robed statue of Guanyin, the Bodhisattva associated with compassion, a 7-story high octagonal Tian Feng Pagoda (we did not know we could climb to the top of the enclosed spiral staircase), the Daxiong Baodian Temple, which is huge and a giant gold Bodhisattva statue. Here is an explanation of Bodhisattvas from the Dalai Lama: Bodhi means enlightenment, the state devoid of all defects and endowed with all good qualities. Sattva refers to someone who has courage and confidence and who strives to attain enlightenment for the sake of all beings. Those who have this spontaneous, sincere wish to attain enlightenment for the ultimate benefit of all beings are called Bodhisattvas. Seems like a good endeavor. The statues are imposing. Quite a lot to see on our climb. It was great!