To experience a piece of the Buddhist culture in Brisbane visit the
Chung Tian Temple in Underwood Road, Priestdale. This beautiful and peaceful work of art welcomes everyone from 9am to 5pm every Tuesday to Sunday.
You can learn about the history of Buddhism throughout the ages in the museum. It features a number of spectacular art works and artefacts from China, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Tibet.
Arch over the entrance
Or enjoy the peace and serenity of the Meditation Hall, where for a small donation, you are able to engage in personal meditation to improve clarity of thinking or peace of mind. There are also a number of classes and retreats that are offered for those that are interested.
Maybe you would prefer to sample the delights in the Tea Room, where you can reflect on the beauty of the temple, enjoy the refreshments or just familiarise yourself with the Buddhist culture.
Another space to enjoy at the temple is the Lotus Treasury World. This is a representation of the Buddhist beliefs of peace, harmony and tranquillity.
However a highlight for me was the Temple Pagoda. A seven level structure that is designed in the traditional Chinese fashion and is a peaceful and stunning memorial for all of the teachings of Buddha.
Followed closely by the Ch'an gardens that are immaculately kept and are an adventure in themselves, filled with various statues of monks, dragons and elephants.
Ch'an gardens
The one small disappointment was that photography was not allowed inside the buildings. I can understand and respect this from a spiritual perspective, but the artist in me just wanted to capture the sheer beauty of the site. You will just have to go and experience it for yourself.
