Nan Tien Temple facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nan Tien Temple
The main entrance to the Nan Tien Temple complex, with the Great Mercy Shrine at centre.
Religion
Affiliation	Buddhist
Sect	Fo Guang Shan
Status	Active
Location
Location	Berkeley, New South Wales
Country	Australia
Location in New South Wales Show map of New South Wales Location in Australia Show map of Australia
Architecture
Architect(s)	Brewster Hjorth
Founder	Hsing Yun
Groundbreaking	1992
Completed	1995
Website
https://www.nantien.org.au/

The Nan Tien Temple (which means "Southern Heaven Temple" in Chinese) is a large Buddhist temple complex. It is located in Berkeley, New South Wales, near the Australian city of Wollongong. This beautiful temple is about 80 kilometers south of Sydney.

Nan Tien Temple is part of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist group from Taiwan. This group was started in 1967 by a respected teacher named Hsing Yun. Fo Guang Shan has over 120 temples all around the world. Nan Tien Temple is one of the biggest Buddhist temples in the Southern Hemisphere.

History of the Temple

The main temple building.

The tall 8 Level Pagoda at Nan Tien Temple.

Visitors exploring the temple grounds.

The Nan Tien Temple was built by the Mahayana Buddhist group called Fo Guang Shan. It was finished in 1995. The Fo Guang Shan group began in Taiwan in 1967. It was founded by the Venerable Master Hsing Yun.

This type of Buddhism, called Mahayana Buddhism, teaches that everyone can become a Buddha. Fo Guang Shan followers try to live their Buddhist beliefs every day. They call their way of thinking "Humanistic Buddhism". This means they focus on how Buddhism can help people in their daily lives.

Master Hsing Yun chose this spot for the temple because of Mount Kembla. He thought the mountain looked like a sleeping lion, which is a good sign. The temple also looks out over Mount Keira. The land for the temple was given by Frank Arkell. The hill behind the temple is leased from the local government for 100 years. This helps keep the area peaceful. The temple pays just one dollar a year for this lease.

Exploring the Temple Complex

The Nan Tien complex looks like a Chinese palace. It was built using modern building methods. Australian architects designed it, and Australian workers built it. The temple sits on a large hillside with beautiful gardens.

Inside the complex, you will find many interesting things. There are meeting rooms, a museum, and places for events. You can also find a restaurant and rooms for people to stay. The temple has two huge prayer halls. These are called the Great Mercy Shrine and the Great Hero Hall.

Inside these halls, there are many large statues of Buddha and Bodhisattvas. A Bodhisattva is someone who delays their own enlightenment to help others. There is also an eight-level pagoda. This pagoda is a special building where the ashes of 7000 people can be kept.

The front hall has a statue of the Thousand Handed Avalokitesvara. This figure is known as Kuan Yin in Chinese culture. The main hall at the back has statues of the Five Dhyani Buddhas. These are Amogasiddhi, Ratnasambhava, Vairocana, Amitabha, and Akshobhya. Both halls have thousands of tiny Buddha statues on their walls. The complex also has places for monks, nuns, and visitors. There is a large garden with another pagoda.

The temple's design is special because it mixes different Buddhist styles. The pagoda looks very Chinese, with its curved roofs. The main temples look like buildings from Tibetan monasteries. They are tall, painted buildings on high stone platforms. The courtyards have gardens that look like Japanese gardens. The statues and shrines often use bright colors, like those seen in South-East Asian art. This is different from the simpler styles often found in China.

Visiting the Temple

The Nan Tien Temple is a very popular place for tourists in Wollongong. It offers weekend retreats for visitors. These retreats are great for people who want to learn about Buddhism or Chinese culture. During a retreat, you might take classes in t'ai chi, calligraphy, or meditation.

If you want to stay overnight, there is a place called the Pilgrim Lodge. It is like a motel with 100 rooms. It is located on the temple grounds, next to a large lotus pond.

Local Chinese Buddhists see Nan Tien as a true Buddhist temple. It often holds special festivals and events.

Nan Tien Institute

The Nan Tien Institute (NTI) is a private school that offers higher education. It is approved by the government. NTI teaches subjects like Buddhist studies, health, and wellbeing. It uses a special way of learning called contemplative education.

NTI offers advanced study programs. These include Applied Buddhist Studies, Health and Social Wellbeing, and Mental Health. They also have short courses on meditation, mindfulness, and health. The institute opened in 2015. It is located across the Princes Motorway from the Nan Tien Temple. A bridge for people to walk across, connecting the university and the temple, was finished in 2018.

Images for kids

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  Looking over the temple towards Mount Kembla and the Illawarra Escarpment.

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  Shrine to the Five Tathagathas in the temple.

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  Steps to the 8 Level Pagoda at Nan Tien Temple.

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  Water feature in the temple, with statues of various bodhisattvas.

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  Shrine to Guanyin in the temple.

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  A small statue of a bodhisattva in the temple.

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  Another small statue of a bodhisattva in the temple.

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  The Free Life Pond in the temple.