Buddha's Brand of Air Con

Yesterday we went way off campus to the island of Lantau. It was a lot easier than we thought as all of the MTR trains are organized into colours with various points for you to transfer. Plus Hong Kong is such a western friendly place that all directions, maps, and indicators are in english as well.

So we got to the top of the mountain by a bus trip that was more like a car chase scene from "Hunter" (terrible cop show from the 80's. I was never sure if I liked it or hated it).

Once we got to the top we noticed two things about the weather: it was bloody hot, but not humid like where we came from. So it wasn't so bad. Still it wasn't the best weather either.


As you can see, the giant buddha of Po Lin Monastery sits at the peak of a mountain and has a giant staircase to get to the top. Why is it that reaching enlightenment always means sweating and clawing your way up staircases? Once we got to the top there was the usual assortment of artifacts, scrolls, patrons, and staues. Very nice. But best of all there was air conditioning. YES. Believe it or not, Buddha sits atop an airconditioned pedestal. Now THAT is enlightenment.

I don't have any shots of the interior of the buddha or of the monastery as photography is strictly prohibited. Guess you'll just have to go and see it for yourself.

Then we sat down to a vegetarian lunch. The brochure made it sound like it was a meal provided by the monastery. Years ago I attended a monastery in China where they literally had the monastery provide monk's food which was exotic and delicious. The meal I got at Po Lin was in a typical chinese restaurant setting, and the dishes didn't seem all that different from what you'd find on a chinese take out menue. Mind you it was delicious and healthy.

So I can't say I came away with spiritual enlightenment, but I saw a piece of history at a place on the planet I've never been to before, among the faithful in a monastery, sustained by nutritious food, in the cool comfort of the Buddha's air conditioning. Well may be I am enlightened: I am happy and I know that next time I will take the cable car instead of the bus.