Monday Mood: the Calm after the Storm

I’ve driven by them countless times yet never took the time until only recently to visit a few of the astonishing Buddhist temples of Vancouver. What a humbling experience, especially after having come from the shopping meccas of the likes of IKEA, COSTCO and Home Depot on a dull and rainy afternoon. I’m not kidding when I say those places gave me a headache, however my mood changed and I immediately felt calmer and more relaxed after stepping inside a much more peaceful environment. Not to mention a whole different world. Here are some photos I took of the impressive Tibetan and Chinese Buddhist temples. I hope you like them.

Thrangu Monastery Canada

Located in Richmond, British Columbia, it is the first traditional Tibetan Monastery in the Pacific Northwest.

The Monastery teaches in the Buddhist tradition that one needs to accumulate both merit and wisdom in order to generate the auspicious circumstances for realization. photo: d. king

The Monastery serves as The Very Venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche’s seat in North America. Here, Rinpoche continues his teaching activities in the West. Students come to study and practice under his direction in a traditional monastic setting. Photo: d. king

The International Buddhist Temple

This truly impressive complex of gardens, ornate buildings, shrines and statues of Buddha is also located in Richmond, B.C. Modeled after Beijing’s Forbidden City in China, the temple showcases elaborate carvings and stonework, beautiful Chinese gardens, and art gallery-quality paintings, works of calligraphy, ceramic murals and sculptures. Totally exquisite! Let’s walk through the garden: