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Mezzanine

Dharma Hall Topics
Mezzanine Topics

South Seas Freedom Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara


Location Description

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Welcoming you on the Mezzanine storey, is the statue of the compassionate South Seas Freedom Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, seated in the middle of the Dharma Hall.This Dharma Hall is where many Buddhist ceremonies are held.

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On both sides of the mezzanine gallery, you will find an interesting display of wax figures, biographies and introductions to the exemplary deeds of service of both local and overseas eminent monks exhibited in the Eminent Sangha Museum. At the rear of the floor, you will notice a quiet chamber called the Ancestral Memorial Hall where a solemn and compassionate Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha statue is enshrined, surrounded by a number of ancestral tablets.

South Seas Freedom Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara in Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum Dharma Hall

As mentioned above, you will see in the Dharma Hall, a statue of the compassionate South Seas Freedom Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, giving blessings to all visitors.

The South Seas Freedom Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara is seated in the Lalitasana (relaxation) posture with Her left foot resting lightly on a lotus and her right foot atop a rocky ledge by the sea. Her left hand is resting on the ledge while Her slightly raised right hand is resting on Her right knee. Her hair is tied in a high chignon with a crown adorned with lotuses. She wears jewelled necklace, a shawl draped over Her shoulders and a flowy long skirt.

About South Seas Freedom Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara

See 'Bodhisattva Cintamanicakra Avalokitesvara' for more information about Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.

This Avalokiteshvara stone statue (above), displayed in our Buddhist Cultural Museum on the third floor, is iconographically closest to the South Seas Freedom Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara statue. It shares common features such as the hand and leg postures. Seated in the lalitasana posture (the pose of royal ease) with Her head backed by an aureole and Her hair neatly combed and tacked into a tall and ornate tiara, she wears flowy scarves and dhoti pants. Bountiful lotus flowers sprouted from the gushing waters around Her feet. The main difference here between the two statues is that this statue has her upper body twisted in the opposite direction of her lower body, forming an S Curve (i.e., She looks towards Her left while Her feet point to Her right forming a diametrically opposed 'S' shape). Her left hand which is resting on a stack of scriptures, holds an upturned vase.

Shown above is another stone statue in our Museum (ZZ030) which also shares many common iconographic features with the South Seas Freedom Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. Here, Avalokiteshvara's bare feet rest on the rocky formation itself. She wears a thick necklace made of tightly knitted plates of various shapes and sizes, takes the S curve position and Her left hand rests on a rock, holding a ruyi sceptre. She is flanked on Her left by a benign squatting male lion which clenches one end of Her long scarf in its mouth while its eyes glance upwards. Looking to Her left, She holds the other end of the scarf in Her right hand.

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Development of Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum - South Seas Freedom Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara

The South Seas Freedom Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara statue is modelled after a similar Tang period statue at the Shuanglin Templein Mount Wutai.

The statues are hand crafted by sculptors from the Chin Ting Enterprise Co in Fuzhou, China.

They were hand coloured by a team led by Mr Zhang Jian from You Shan Guan Decorative Design Co Ltd in Shanghai, China.

The Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara was consecrated by Most Venerable during the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum Grand Consecration Ceremony on 17 May 2008.

About Dharma Hall

The concept of a Dharma Hall started in China during the Jin Dynasty. This hall is usually located in the monastery's private area, out of bounds to the publicand next to the Abbot's quarters. The hall is normally used for the Dharma lectures by the Abbot and eminent monks to the monks in the temple.

Initial Design of Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum Dharma Hall

 

It is also the waiting area for the Abbot before he is ceremoniously invited to proceed to the main hall for the commencement of various Buddhist ceremonies.

About Longevity Tablets

These tablets are inscribed with the names of our sponsors who have contributed towards the operations of the Temple. These tablets are also used for the annual Rains Retreat Ceremony, where the entire 600 chapters of the Maha Prajna Paramita Sutra are chanted.

These tablets have been specially and exclusively designed for our Temple by Yueqing Global Arts and Crafts Factory in Zhejiang, China.

 

The cost of sponsoring a tablet ranges from thirty to sixty thousand dollars.

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum - South Seas Freedom Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara Ceremonies

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These tablets are also used for the annual Rains Retreat Ceremony, where the entire 600 chapters of the Maha Prajna Paramita Sutra are chanted.

Bibliography:

  1. Charles F Chicarelli, Buddhist Art, An Illustrated Introduction, Silkworm Books, 2004, ISBN 974-9575-54-7, page 105 – 106, fig 57

  2. Tom Lowenstein, Treasures of The Buddha, The Glories of Sacred Asia, Duncan Baird Publishers, 2006, ISBN 9-781844-833054, page 106