6 November 2017 / leggypeggy

Enjoying the views from a Mongolian temple

Aryapala, Buddha, Buddhism, meditation, monasteries, national parks, prayer wheels, religion, temples, Terelj National Park

The sweeping view from Aryapala meditation temple

Inside the temple

Many of you have commented on how flat and barren the Mongolian landscape is, so I thought I’d share a different view.

On the way to our homestay, we drove along Turtle Rock Road to visit the beautiful and peaceful Aryapala meditation temple, in the Terelj National Park northeast of Ulaanbaatar. This temple is perched on a mountainside at the end of a picturesque valley, which is probably even more scenic in spring and summer.

The Buddhist temple is open to anyone who wants to mediate while being free from outside distractions. The long path up to the actual temple is bordered by 100s of signs with topics for mediation that give food for thought. You’ll probably agree that many of the sayings seem especially relevant these days. Click to enlarge images.

On the helpless

On enemies

On crooked friends

On deceit

On grudges

On caution

There are also signs and monuments relating to other aspects of Buddhism, such as ‘The Elder White’ or ‘White Grandpa’. In Mongolia, he is the protector deity of the nature that oversees Mother Earth.

There is also the Great Prayer Wheel of Kangyur. This prayer wheel is filled with a complete Kangyur (printed in Tibetan), the 108 volumes of works spoken by the Buddha himself.

When you reach the temple (after a long uphill trudge and a very rickety bridge), it’s not immediately obvious that the outline of the complex is supposed to resemble an elephant. The main building is the head, the 116 steps of staircase are the trunk and the walkways at the sides represent the ears.

Poor John on the rickety bridge to the temple

Path to the temple

Great Prayer Wheel of Kangyur. The painting to the left is of ‘The Elder White’

There’s also a cave there with a statue and footprints of the Buddha inside. Whenever I see that, I am reminded of my mother’s comment years ago in Burma. She had flat feet and when she saw the Buddha’s footprints she said, No wonder he sat down all the time. He had flat feet.

The inside of the temple is stunningly beautiful and colourfully decorated. I was especially grateful that we were allowed to take pictures—something not always permitted. There’s a mantra—Om Mani Padme Hum—that is supposed to be repeated 108 times at the temple, and our guide, Nasaa, did exactly that.

Nasaa saying the mantra

Ceiling

Chair

Wall decorations

Bell

Buddha

Art

While we were there Poor John walked all the way around the temple, but the rest of us decided it was too wet and icy. No need to break an arm.

But we wouldn’t have missed the view for anything. Fortunately we were there on a reasonably clear day and could see far into the distance.

We also enjoyed sharing the space with a group of school children. The young boy standing at the very back of the pic was wearing a set of Dracula teeth and having great fun growling as everyone.

I liked the Little Miss we saw by the exit. I think she’d had a great time.

P.S. Do you have a favourite from the topics for meditation?