XN000022-1980-05-10 — Page 8

SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1980

·

7

SNT OPENS TEMPLE OF TEN THOUSAND BUDDHAS

*****

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY (SATURDAY) OFFICIATED AT THE CEREMONY MARKING THE COMPLETION OF THE TEMPLE OF TEN THOUSAND BUDDHAS AT THE MIU FAT BUDDHIST MONASTERY, TUEN MUN.

MR AKERS-JONES SAID THE MONASTERY HAD, SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1950, GIVEN VALUABLE HELP IN SETTING UP SCHOOLS AND PROVIDING ACCOMMODATION FOR THE AGED. THROUGH ITS TEACHING OF THE BUDDHIST DOCTRINE IT HAD ALSO HELPED TO BALANCE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW TOWN OF TUEN MUN WITH PRAYER AND CARE FOR THE SOULS OF ITS PEOPLE.

HE CONGRATULATED THE ABBOT, THE REVEREND SIK SAI CHUN, AND BUDDHIST LEADERS AND THE GENEROUS SUPPORTERS ON THEIR ACHIEVEMENT OF THIS MAGNIFICENT TEMPLE. HE SAID HE WAS SURE THAT THE TEMPLE WOULD BECOME A LANDMARK AND PLACE OF PILGRIMAGE TO MANY VISITORS.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE THREE-STOREY TEMPLE OF TEN THOUSAND BUDDHAS BEGAN SIX YEARS AGO. IT COST $60 MILLION.

THE TEMPLE, OCCUPYING AN AREA OF 20 500 SQUARE METRES, IS ACKNOWLEDGED AS ONE OF THE GREATEST TEMPLES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA. IT IS DECORATED WITH MORE THAN 10 000 SCULPTURES OF BUDDHAS AS WELL AS CHINESE AND THAI PAINTINGS.

THE MIU FAT BUDDHIST MONASTERY IS AN ORGANISATION WHICH PUTS INTO PRACTICE BUDDHA'S DOCTRINES THROUGH ITS EDUCATIONAL AND WELFARE INSTITUTIONS. THESE INCLUDE THE NEI MING INSTITUTE, THE NEI MING KINDERGARTEN AND THE MADAM LAU KAM LUNG SECONDARY SCHOOL WHICH HAVE A TOTAL ENROLMENT OF 5 000, ALSO THE HONG KONG BUDDHIST COLLEGE, WITH ITS RESEARCH CENTRE OF PHILOSOPHICAL STUDIES.

THE MONASTERY ALSO OPERATES A CONVALESCENT HOME FOR 100 OLD PEOPLE. AN INFIRMARY AND A HOUSE FOR THE AGED FOR AN ADDITIONAL 150 PEOPLE ARE BEING PLANNED.

E

18 .....