Nun Hua Temple, Bronkhorstspruit

(Please note: There are many pictures on this page, so it may take a time downloading)
The Nun Hua temple at Bronkhorstspruit is about one hour's drive from Jo'burg. It is owned by Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA) who follow a Pure Land Buddhist tradition. They paid for the Lam Rim Centre in Johannesburg with a generous no-strings-attached donation.
BLIA is an affluent and energetic organisation based in Taiwan. They have many generous devotees and this is clear from the enormity and the quality of the whole temple complex.
The site totals some 1000 hectares (2500 acres) and is overseen by Master Hu Li - a quite, gentle monk with great vision.
In this picture, we see the current temple building that also incorporates good quality accommodation for visitors.
But there's still more...
From the entrance to the temple building, we see the main gate. There are a total of five gates to the site, each having a similar style to this one.
Another view of the temple from the road to the site of the new temple currently under construction. The basic building was constructed from local materials, but the decorations (including roof tiles, artwork etc) were imported from Taiwan.
From the front of the current temple, we see the new temple under construction. It's enormous! It was designed by Master Hu Li.himself.
Master Hu Li has plans for this to be the Centre of Buddhism for the whole African continent. He wishes to train local people as monks and nuns to spread the dharma to other countries. And it's not just Pure Land Buddhism. He wishes to establish training in Tibetan Buddhism on this site also.
The size of the temple looks small here, but...
Here we see Master Hu Li accompanied by Peter (left) who works here and Roger (centre) approaching the gate to the new temple.
Roger, always enthusiastic about working on the Lam Rim Centre and spending so much time on it, was overawed at the scope of this project. I could almost see plans forming in thought-clouds above his head!
Inside the new temple complex, we are at the top of the steps to the main temple. We can see the entrance gate on the left and the current temple on the right.
Just in front of the gate is the entrance lobby, which is large enough itself. The structure on the right is an L-shaped building connected by a cloister to the entrance lobby. There are four of these - one at each corner of the site.
This is the inside of the new temple - a matrix of scaffolding at present. We went on a tour underneath this. It was too dark to take photos effectively. There are many meeting rooms and seminar rooms of all shapes and sizes, together with kitchens, toilets etc. So it appears that the greater part of the major structure is complete. It will not be long before they cover this area.
Now this is another temple, behind the main temple! This is specifically for their Master (his name escapes me) who is at the Fo Kuang Shan temple in Taiwan.
This temple is directly behind the main temple and linked to it by the steps and pathway that we can see here. This represents the transmission of their lineage, from the Master's quarters to the disciples in the temple.
Back to the current temple...
This is a covered courtyard between the front entrance and the meeting halls and meditation rooms at the back.
A view at the back of the current temple, from one of the meditation rooms on the top floor. There are workshops here where artwork and other decorations are worked on and prepared for installation in this temple and the new temple.
On the top floor, this room is a shrine to the Bodhisattva of practice. We were given the Chinese name, but I understand it is Samantabhadra. He is sitting on an elephant and the big black pot on the table in front represents his many offerings.
This is another view of Samantabhadra. In the background, we can see three of the many niches around the wall where people can practise their meditation. Also around the wall are smaller niches with rupas...
All these rupas are carved in wood. I don't know how many there are. It could be 1000, but I think it may be slightly less.
The rupas seem to be Quan Yin. The figure of Quan Yin appears everywhere here. It is a female deity representing Chenrezig.
In the temple, there's an interesting museum with many artefacts. They are largely from this tradition, but there are some Tibetan figures, implements and texts. Geshe-la is looking at some here.
The display cases along the left hand side are predominantly figures of Quan Yin.
Geshe looks at some of the Quan Yin figures while Peter and Roger look on.
Geshe-la said this multi-armed figure is Tibetan. I don't recall which one it was.
This display of Buddha and five disciples I found particularly attractive. It was beautifully crafted and gilded.
In one of the meditation rooms was this beautiful 1000-armed Chenrezig.
Geshe-la was requested by Master Hu Li to address some of the monks training at the Centre. He gave a brief general talk followed by questions. There are two monks by his side. I think the one in the middle was from Cambodia and the one on the right from the Mahabodhi Society in India.
All the monks here were black apart from two. Master Hu Li says that the dharma will propagate better in South Africa with indigenous monks.
Finally, a photograph of Geshe-la and the trainees. This Training Centre is actually a separate building on the site. There are many buildings under construction - not just the temple complex. There is an estate of bungalows for sale to retired Buddhists that will sell for R185000 (£17,000) each. All occupants will have to keep the five precepts and maintain a strictly vegetarian diet. No meat is allowed on site here.

The Nun Hua Temple is an enormous project. It leaves me quite speechless. When Master Hu Li asked Geshe-la what his plans are for propagating the Dharma in South Africa, it seemed a question almost out of place. Geshe-la humbly answered that he just wished to help others develop their minds.

Temple Inside Outside Garden People Back

Return to Lam Rim Bristol main page

Emoyeni Geshe-la Nun Hua Durban Ixopo