The Trip to Myanmar _ the Land of Golden Temples

In the first day of the trip, Ven. Thich Chan Tinh and those traveling with him visited the Shwedagon Zedi Daw _ the Golden Temple, and the Chaukhtatgyi _ the Sleeping Buddha Temple, two of the most famous temples in Yangon city in particular and in Myanmar in general.

Shwedagon Zedi Daw _  the Golden Temple

Shwedagon temple located in Yangon city, this is the most sacred temple in Myanmar. The temple in current still keeping the four holy treasures for the Burmese Buddhists: the Kakusandha Buddha’s stick, the water filter of Koṇāgamana Buddha, a piece of Kassapa Buddha’s robe, and the eight hairs of Sakyamuni Buddha.

The temple lays on the Singuttara hill, where people can get the whole picture of Yangon city.  From the foot to the top having four gates to get into the temple. Each gate has a pair of chinthe’s guarding.

Inside the temple has a stupa was overlaid with gold, 99m in high. The base of stupa made by bricks also overlaid with gold. Above the foot of stupa,there is a terrace, where allowed monks and masculine or Upāsaka only to enter. Next is the bell of the stupa, above the bell is the turban band. Above the turban band is the inverted alms bowl. The next part is decorated with lotus petals, and above the lotus petals is the banana bud. The final part is umbrella crown named hti, which is overlaid with 5448 diamonds and 2317 rubies. The vane with flag form and the spire of Shwedagon Pagoda, for instance, is tipped with a 76-carat diamond (15g).

Spangle overlaid the stupa was done by craftsmen in traditional technique. Devout Buddhists offered spangle for doing it, started from Queen Shin Sawbu period.

From the past, the temple was the important holy place for the Burmese Buddhists. Shoes have to take off before entering the temple. The Burmese normally take circumambulation the stupa for worshipping and showing their reverence to the Buddha as well.

Chaukhtatgyi _ the Sleeping Buddha Temple

Chaukhtatgyi located in Yangon city was built in 1907 and has the tall same as a 6-floor-building. Especially, a giant Sleeping Buddha statue inside with 65m length and 30m in high, carved since 1966.

The Buddha head toward the east and the face toward the south. The blue crystal eyes imported from Japan, a vermillion lips, and the feet were decorated a Dharma wheel and 108 sacred symbols of Buddhism.

The whole face is feeling and vivid, full of compassion. The ancient artistes must have made it with the whole heart and the full-faith into work, then people in modern time still be shaken in seeing it all the time. The whole building cost was donated by devout Buddhists.

It is to say Chaukhtatgyi temple is a famous and important cultural heritage in this area. The temple’s vicinity has some old-time monasteries and over 600 monks, who work in Buddhist Scriptures research, and experienced in Buddhist learning and practicing.