"Better
than a thousand hollow words
is one word
that brings peace."
- The
Buddha
Most of the time, the combined heat and traffic in
Divisoria is quite unbearable, making me feel that if I had hypertension, I
think I’ll never get out of that place alive. But another discovery from my
soul searching was worth the distressing jeepney ride to the shopping capital
of Manila.
A hidden gem (but with a very conspicuous golden stupas)
in the midst of a busy and chaotic area, Seng Guan is one of the biggest and
most revered Buddhist temple in the Philippines. It is located in Narra St.,
Tondo, at the back of Philippine Cultural College and a good five-minute walk
away from Tutuban Mall. Established in 1936 in honor of the venerable
Archbishop Seng Guan (a zealous disciple of Buddha), the temple espouses the
Mahayana style of Buddhism.
When I entered the doors of Seng Guan, it felt like I stepped
in another world or in Buddhist term, another plane of existence. The temple
which houses several miniature and life-size Buddha sculptures and intricate
Chinese art works, is almost gilded. Every hall is sparkling in gold and dazzling
in red, colors that signify prosperity and happiness. And even though I’m a
Catholic, I never felt like a stranger to this beautiful place of worship.
Siddhartha
Gautama or Buddha means the “awakened one”
A deity
with several hands
After learning first-hand and by keen observation the
beliefs and principles attributed to Buddha, I’m letting another religion in my
heart.
To live is
to suffer. But suffering could be overcome. This is the basic doctrine
of Buddhism, anchored on the "four noble truths": 1. Existence is
suffering. 2. Suffering is caused by craving and attachment. 3. There is a
cessation of suffering. 4. there is a
path to the cessation of suffering known as the "eightfold path" - right
views, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right
effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. If only people learn to find contentment in
the things that give them lasting happiness, they will achieve the purpose of
life which is to end suffering.
The
Oriental dragon is a powerful symbol of luck
Every incense stick holds a prayer or a wish
Red wooden half moons determine one's fortune in life
Most of the golden totems have pictures of Chinese
couple who died,
believing that their souls would still meet in the
afterlife
Another fascinating
thing about Buddhism is its belief on karma
and reincarnation. Buddhists
believe that people are responsible for their own samsara or the cycle of birth and death. Their attitudes and
actions (karma) produce the causes
and conditions of their next rebirth after death. Anybody who hast lived an
unscrupulous and depraved life, will most likely be reborn a lowly fly in his
next lifetime. The cycle will only be broken once a person reaches nirvana, a stage finally free of any suffering.
And speaking of nirvana, could it be
possible that I have fleetingly reached this stage the moment I entered the
Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas?
Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas
My heart welled with happiness, I almost cried seeing
such blinding beauty. I stayed in this room longer, savoring and admiring the
view from floor to ceiling, from every corner to the center. Hello Buddha you look leaner after all.
Buddha once said that "You, yourself, as much as
anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." So before
I left the temple, I promised to do more good deeds (hopefully), try to follow
the eightfold path, and love myself more. Maybe only then could happiness come
into my life like a shadow that never leaves my side.
Now I think I know what that “one word better than
thousand hollow words” is. And following the Buddhist ritual, I made a final wish
for someone close to my heart.
But I guess I’m gonna cry soon.
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