Yuen Kwok Buddhist Temple Introduction
The Montreal Chinese Buddhist Society was founded by a lay follower who wanted to ensure
that the local Chinese diaspora had a Chinese Buddhist facility for their worship. This temple
eventually evolved into the Yuen Kwok Buddhist Temple and to this day remains a very
important Buddhist institution in Montreal.
Inside Yuen Kwok Buddhist Temple
Heavenly King Hall
Yuen Kwok Temple’s unique design is modeled after traditional layout of Chinese Buddhist Monasteries. The Heavenly King Hall is the first hall following the entrance. In this hall, Maitreya Bodhisattva is centered and flanked by the four heavenly kings and Weituo (Skanda) behind Maitreya.
There are numerous portrayals of Maitreya and it differed over time. Before the Song dynasty,
he was portrayed as a serene figure with a large crown symbolizing the next Buddha to come or
the upcoming Dharma King. After the Song Dynasty, Budai monk became a more popular
portrayal. This style embodies Maitreya’s kindness and compassion for all sentient beings.
The four heavenly kings each rule a cardinal direction surround Mt. Sumeru in ancient Indian cosmology. The four heavenly kings are: Dhṛtaraṣṭra of the East, wielding a Pipa (stringed instrument) that can use music to propagate the Dharma Viruḍhaka of the South, wielding a sword that eliminates false and heretical teachings.
Virupakṣa of the West, followed by a snake which can defeat poisonous dragons Vaiśravaṇa of the North, wielding an Umbrella that is used to control the weather.
Weituo (Skanda) is a protector of the Dharma. He has vowed to uphold and protect the dharma
until the arrival of the next Buddhas. He is backed to Maitreya and facing the Buddha in the
Main Hall to show his utmost respect for the Dharma.
Main Hall
The Main Hall is based off the teachings from the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment, enshrining the Huayan Trinity. The historical Buddha (Sakyamuni Buddha) is in the center and above him is a plaque that reads “The Great Light Treasury” in Chinese, representing the Buddha preaching the teachings of Perfect Enlightenment while in this state. Manjushri Bodhisattva is to the Buddha’s left and Samantabhadra is to the Buddha’s right. The full text of the Suture of Perfect
Enlightenment is carved on the wall behind the three statues and all remaining 10 Bodhisattva mentioned in the sutra are portrayed as wall carvings along the two walls of the Main Hall.
The Buddha in the middle is the historical Buddha and founder of Buddhism, Sakyamuni Buddha. The Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree in India 2500 years ago.
The Buddha fully understood the true nature of reality and used that knowledge to guide all sentient beings to leave dukkha (suffering) behind and achieve nirvana (quiescence).
Manjushri Bodhisattva represents great wisdom and is often portrayed riding a lion. The is the king of the jungle and when it roars all other beasts are silence. The lion is analogous to Manjushri’s great wisdom and its roar is the Buddha Dharma, with its ability to clear stress and suffering and provide the bodhi path for all sentient beings.
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva is renown for ten great vows and practice and is often portrayed riding a six tusk white elephant. Samantabhadra’s ten great vows are the foundation for all sentient beings to reach Buddhahood. The white elephant represents the strength and conviction of Samantabhadra’s vows and practice, the six tusks represents the six paramitas and the white color is how proper practice and purify our minds. In Samantabhadra Meditation Sutra, proper repentance practice is described and becomes the foundation to Chinese Mahayana Buddhism’s repentance practice which is the foundation to practice of purifying our
thought and conducts to this day.
Hall of Avalokiteshvara
Avalokiteshvara (Guan Yin) Bodhisattva is from the mythical Mount Potalaka in the South Indian Sea. A common saying in Chinese is “Every family knows Amitabha Buddha and every
household knows Guan Yin Bodhisattva.” Describes how Guan Yin is the most revered and enshrined Bodhisattva not only in Buddhism but in Oriental Culture.
In the Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva Universal Gate chapter of the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha explains how Guan Yin’s great vow of compassion enables Guan Yin to appear in innumerable forms to life sentient beings out of suffering.
Due to the different types of hardships that we endure in life, enshrining Guan Yin not only reminds us of Guan Yin’s compassion but also allows us to emulate and grow our compassionate nature to bring happiness to others.
Five Contemplation Hall (Dining Hall)
The dining hall in a Chinese temple is officially called the Five Contemplation Hall. This large space can be used for various activities. Free vegetarian lunch is offered every Saturday after regular religious services.
The Five Contemplations is used to guide all in how to be mindful even during meal times
1. Calculate how much work is done for this amount to come from other places: Contemplate where our meal comes from (farmers, transport, preparation etc.) and have gratitude for all the work others have done to prepare our meal
2. Consider if one’s conduct is complete or incomplete to receive this food: Contemplate on our own conduct and virtue, are we deserving of this meal and do we need to conduct ourselves more wholesomely.
3. With guarding of the mind from faults, greed and other poisons as the goal: Contemplate if our minds are driven by greed and other poisons (anger, ignorance, arrogance etc.) Ensure we are not wasteful or harmful when consuming our meals
4. Properly take as medicine, for curing the body’s withering state: Understand that our meal is a means to ensure we have a healthy form and not to indulge in extravagance or pleasure of food.
5. For accomplishing the path, should we be receiving this food: Our meal is to ensure we have a form strong enough to continue the Buddha Dharma path with the results of one day attaining Buddhahood.
Hall of Merit (Hall of Remembrance)
Hall of Merit or Hall of Remembrance is located behind the Main Hall. This hall enshrines Kṣitigarbha (Earth Treasure Bodhisattva). Kṣitigarbha’s filial piety is described in the Kṣitigarbha Sutra. After witnessing his mother in the Hell realm, He made a vow “To not attain
Buddhahood until the Hell realm is empty” and dedicates all his time to lift all sentient beings out of suffering. Plaques along the wall is remembrance for belated monastics, laity and patron ancestors and past loved ones. With Kṣitigarbha’s guidance we wish all those who came before us can be reborn in a better place.
