This Linh Phong temple was open on a beautiful day, which was lucky because the day before had been foggy and gray. It has recently become well-known in the country for possessing Southeast Asia's largest statue of Shakyamuni Buddha sitting on a lotus. Located atop Ba Mountain, with a wonderful landscape of mountains and sea, overlooking the East Sea. Personally, I was only partially interested in it because I was more interested in the story of a Zen monk who practiced alone in a cave and then gradually established this monastery. As a result, the temple's name is also known as Ong Nui Pagoda (monastic practice on the mountain).
It is currently located in Cat Tien commune, Phu Cat district, Binh Dinh province, at an altitude of around 100 meters, leaning against Ba mountain. The road across Phuong Mai peninsula with semi-desert sand dunes, about 26 kilometers northeast of Quy Nhon city, appears hotter and more airy than the surrounding small and terrible roads. To get to the location or the surrounding structures, you'll have to climb around 600 steps.
Looking back in time, it is stated that in the early 1700s, a monk came to this mountain to reflect and retreat. He practiced and lived in a natural cave he discovered near big stacked boulders, which he named Hang To. He eventually built a small meditation hall and began treating individuals as they descended the mountain. Then, in 1733, Lord Nguyen Phuc Chu built a grander monastery, the Linh Phong Zen Monastery, and bestowed the title Tinh Giac upon him.
The old temple, which has seen countless wars, chaos, and destruction, only has one tower and a three-way gate. The new temple was completed in 1990 with a beautiful red tile roof when viewed from afar and is the most sacred location of the people here.
Each pillar, roof top, corridor, and window is painstakingly etched with dragon motifs. Rows of verdant trees, little lakes, and miniatures surround the temple.
Hang To Cave, where monk Tinh Giac resided and practiced, is surrounded by forests and contains only a small shrine and tablet. The cave is small and low, with three sides that are hidden, and it is near to a little creek. The hermit lifestyle must be as basic as that, with just enough cover from the sun and rain to keep the outer world at far.
The statue of Shakyamuni Buddha seated, including the pedestal, is 108 meters tall and 52 meters wide, with work beginning in 2009 and ending in 2017. It is made of reinforced concrete and was finished in 2017. There is a location for sermons, a library, and a visitor's ceremony inside the hollow. Many functions must be served by the way followed by the stairs from the mountain's foot. As a reference to his great reverence and sanctity, the higher the Buddha image is, the larger it is, and is adorned by Arhat statues on both sides through each step. My eyesight is also satisfied by the gorgeous green panorama of the sea and green rice fields.
I'm curious as to why the Buddha's lotus seat is painted white rather than lotus hue, or whether it's due to the visual response when viewed from a distance. Do you think this hue is beautiful?
This place now becomes spacious when expanding potentially to meet more religious business needs due to its elevation position with magnificent views on all four sides, cool after completing the steep stairs. More stuff are being added to the fresh items left behind. Is this the best option?
Thank you for taking the time to read this article.
*** Image courtesy of a GoPro 8 ***