Chinese He Hua Temple
The Chinese He Hua Temple in Amsterdam
The Chinese He Hua Temple in Amsterdam is a temple that was built in 2000 by the Chinese Buddhist Association. The temple is located in the city center of Amsterdam, and it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. The temple is open to the public, and visitors can take tours of the facility and participate in religious ceremonies. The Chinese He Hua Temple is a beautiful example of Chinese architecture, and it is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world.
Location & Opening
The Zeedijk in Red Light District is home to the Chinese He Hua Temple. Zeedijk used to be the main street in Amsterdam’s Chinatown, and the temple is one of the oldest buildings in the area. The Zeedijk runs from the Nieuwmarkt to the Central station, and the temple is located on the eastern end of the street. It is a place of worship for Buddhists, and it is also used as a community center. The temple is open to the public, and it is a popular tourist destination.
In 1994 a few prominent Chinese entrepreneurs filed a request with the Amsterdam City Council to build a Chinese Buddhist temple on the playground at the Zeedijk. The plans for the temple were designed in collaboration with the International Buddhist Progress Society (IBPS) under the guidance of Venerable Master Hsing Yun.
The temple was officially opened by queen Beatrix on the 15th of September in 2000 and has been daily use since.
The temple, is one of the many branches of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order, found throughout the world. “Fo Guang Shan” is Mandarin for “Buddha” (fo), “light” (guano), and “mountain” (shan). The order was founded in 1965 by Venerable Master Hsing Yun and has its international headquarters in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Fo Guang Buddhism is rooted in the Mahayana tradition that emphasises that Buddha hood is within everyone’s potential reach. Fo Guang followers strive to bring Buddhism into their daily life and aptly term their faith “Humanistic Buddhism”. The objectives of the Fo Guang Shan are:
- To promote Buddhist teachings through cultural activities.
- To foster talent through education.
- To benefit society through charitable programs.
- To purify human hearts and minds through Buddhist practice.
The Chinese He Hua Temple is built on the Amsterdam Zeedijk, to encourage both spiritual development and cultural exchange. With its Chinese origin, the temple undoubtedly provides Buddhists from a Chinese background with a religious centre in a familiar setting. Equally important is the Temple’s role in making Buddhism more accessible to people from other backgrounds.
Buddhists do not aggressively proselytise to gain converts. For many, one of the great appeals of Buddhism is its focus on individual thinking and self-realization. The founder of Buddhism, Sakyamuni Buddha, said that no one should blindly follow his words; rather one should come to know life’s truths through one’s own experience and discovery.
The Chinese He Hua Temple actualises Master Hsing Yun’s words: “May the Buddha’s light shine in all realms, and the Dharma water flow in the five continents.
Entrance
The entrance fee for Chinese He Hua Temple in Amsterdam is free. You can explore the temple and its grounds without having to pay any money. The temple is open to the public and is a popular tourist destination. If you want to learn more about the history and culture of the temple, you can take a guided tour. The temple is a beautiful place to visit and is well worth taking the time to explore.
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