On September 30th, 2008 I was a freelance photographer for Wollongong & Northern Leader and they sent me on assignment to the Nan Tien Buddhist Temple in Berkeley, Wollongong New South Wales, Australia.
Nan Tien Temple, literally means “paradise of the south” in English, is the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere. This traditional Chinese temple has become the most attractive view point and culture exchange place at Wollongong.
My guide around the temple was the Ven. Ru Yi, a female buddhist monk who was kind and patient.
Nan Tien Buddhist Temple
The architecture is stunning and I love the animal guardians on the roof tops, the roof charms or roof-figures.
Nan Tien’s Pagoda is an eight storey resting place for the cremated ashes of devotees and their relatives; it can accommodate the remains of over 7,000 people. Inside the Pagoda is a shrine dedicated to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva who vowed to help all beings reach enlightenment; there is also a wishing bell, visitors may make a wish and sound the bell.
One of my favourite features of the temple is the incense burner.
There is a lovely sculpture walk
There is a tea house at Nan Tien called ‘Dew Drop Inn’
I had an amazing time on assignment and loved seeing my photos in the magazine.
