Temple of Supreme Bliss

Sometimes I need to get away from the chaos of city life. So, between meals in George Town, we decided to visit the Temple of Supreme Bliss also known as Kek Lok Si Temple. The name alone gets a spot on my must-see list. It is a huge complex covering 30 acres, high on what’s called Crane Hill (resembles a crane spreading its wings and has geomantically correct feng shui for a temple). In 1885, the priest Venerable Beow Lean arrived in Penang from China to raise donations for his own monastery. Instead, the Chinese in Penang convinced him to lead the construction of Kek Lok Si Temple. As the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, it is an important pilgrimage center for Buddhists across the world. George and I hired a GRAB (SE Asia’s version of Uber) for the 25 minute ride up the mountain and spent the morning walking the temple grounds, climbing the Pagoda stairs, and admiring the views of George Town and its seaport.

A landmark is the seven-story “Pagoda of King Rama VI of Thailand” who laid the foundation in 1891. It is a combination of architectural styles (the octagonal base is Chinese; the middle tiers are Thai; the spiral dome is the Burmese crown) designed to represent the blend of Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism, the remaining major schools of Buddhist teaching.

The other main attraction is this 99 ft. tall bronze statue of Kuan Yin (Guanyin) the Goddess of Mercy representing the compassion and Divine Mother aspect of Buddhism. She is the protector against all fears. The leading Chinese Hakka tycoons of Penang, including Cheong Fatt Tze who built the Blue Mansion, provided financial support. She stands high on the hill in a pavilion with 16 bronze columns. While it is the tallest statue of Kuan Yin in the world, its height was limited so it would not cast a shadow on the Penang State Mosque.

Sweeping views encompassing both the old and modern George Town.

This fierce guardian statue represents a Luohan (Chinese translation of the Sanskrit word Arhat "foe-destroyer") – Buddhist monks who achieved enlightenment and protect the Buddhist faith. Luohan are holy icons of the martial arts practiced in Shaolin Temples.

The Pagoda of King Rama VI is also known as the pagoda of 10,000 images of Buddha. 1,2,3,4,5,6…I was skeptical at first of the claim that there are 10,000. After a morning walking around the temple, I believe there are more than 10,000.

The Venerable Beow Lean wanted the Temple to serve also as a worldwide retreat and learning center for Buddhists. Here are monks receiving lessons in the Hall of Great Vows, which is a shrine honoring Bodhisattva Ti Tsang (Ksitigarbha, the Saviour of the Lost Souls). In 1904 the Manchu Emperor Guangxu bestowed 70,000 volumes of the Imperial Edition of the Buddhist Sutras. Other Chinese rulers, such as His Majesty Emperor Kuang Xi and Empress Cixi of the Ching Dynasty, also gave gifts. Chief Abbots of the Temple have been Chinese, but in 2002 the first Malaysian abbot was named.

The color blue usually represents tranquility, purity and healing. It is believed that when meditating on the color blue, anger can be transformed into wisdom.

…a sampling of the 10,000 images of Buddha. The interior walls of each tier of the Pagoda are lined with images, some ceramic and some pressed metal. The photo, bottom left, are roof tiles which can be purchased by pilgrims for merit-making. Since at least 500 BC the swastika has been a symbol in Asia and India of divinity and spirituality.

The grounds of the temple complex are landscaped with gardens, ponds, and walkways.

Throughout the morning more and more visitors arrived and by noon the temple grounds were humming with activity. This fellow found a shaded and quiet spot to hide and check his messages. And a good time for us to depart the Temple of Supreme Bliss.