The Byodo-In Temple on Oahu, Hawaii

saviib (42)in #travel • 6 years ago (edited)

The Byodo-In Temple

The Byodo-In Temple is located at the foot of the Ko'olau Mountains in Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. This temple was established June 7,1968; this was done to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants. The temple on Oahu is a smaller scale replica of a 950-year-old Byodo-in Temple, a United Nations World Heritage Site in Uji, Japan.

The Byodo-In temple on Oahu is a non-practicing Buddhist temple, which welcomes all faiths of worship to meditate or bask in its beauty. The Byodo-In temple is a Hawaii state landmark and truly a hidden gem.

Luckily on my visit, I was able to ring the Bon-Sho (sacred bell). The bell is a five-foot high, three-ton brass bell cast in Osaka, Japan, from a mixture of bronze and tin, by permission of the government of Japan.

The resonant sound of the Bon-Sho creates an atmosphere of tranquility for meditation that travels for some distance. A soft wooden log called the “shu-moku” is used to strike the bell.

The bell is customarily rung before one enters the temple to spread the eternal teachings of Buddha. Ringing the bell will purify the mind of evil spirits and temptation. It is said that ringing this bell will bring you happiness, blessings, and a long life.

Upon entering the main hall, I was awestruck at the large Buddha in the main hall. It is believed that the Amida Buddha is the largest carved Buddha outside of Japan, measuring over 9 feet tall. The famous Japanese sculptor, Masuzo Inui, carved this Buddha statue. When sculpting was completed the statue was covered with cloth and painted in golden lacquer, gold leaf was then applied. Around the Buddha are 52 smaller sculptures depicting Boddhisattvas (enlightened beings).