We traveled for 16 days though the fascinating cities and rural country sides
of Beijing, Nanjing, the Sacred Mountains, Jiu Hua and Huang Shan, Ningbo,
the Sacred Island home and sacred mountain Pu Tuo Shan, and Shanghai.
Three Australians, Carmello, Uli and Marion who are creating a documentary on
Feng Shui joined us to shoot some classes and scenery in Beijing. We truly
enjoyed their good sense of humor and light impact on the group.
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We had a wonderful opportunity to meet this "Living Buddha" in
Beijing. He gave the group a short lecture on "Feng Shui and Black
Sect Buddhism". Afterward, he encouraged us to carry a talisman for
protection while traveling and while assisting clients with Feng Shui. He
then performed a blessing ceremony on the talismans many of us in the
group had purchased earlier that day. |
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James discusses the Feng Shui design and architecture of Tian An Men
Square. |
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James and Lidia sign a petition in the Forbidden City for Beijing to win
the bid for the 2008 Olympic Games. |
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Carmello, Uli, and Marion (the Australian film crew) take a short break
from filming us. |
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James discusses the Yin Feng Shui of the Sacred Way leading up to the
Ming Tombs. |
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The Round Altar is considered the center of ch’i in China. Ancient
Taoist masters determined this acupuncture point of ch’i and recommended
the Emperor to carry out rituals here at specific times of the year to
keep the ch’i flowing between Heaven, Earth and Humans. |
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After traveling to Nanjing, we decide to have our class for the day in a
local park. |
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Lidia and Helen perform a "Releasing ritual" at this lovely
spot on Jiu Hua Mountain. |
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Some decide to get a lift up Jiu Hua Mountain on the hand carried sedan
chairs |
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Jack waves goodbye as he is carried up the mountain, leaving us
huffing and puffing on the stairs. |
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A group of monks laugh when James shows them a photo that he took of
them a few years ago on a previous Feng Shui tour. The photo is in the
ChinaStudies tour brochure. The monks were very pleased with the photo
and asked us for the brochure.
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Judi has one of the monks carve her name onto the prayer board. Each day |
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The monks pray for each person on the prayer boards. A few more from the
group decide to have their names added to the boards. |
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James and his old friends pose for a group picture. |
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On our way through the countryside, our local guide located for us a
Loupan(Chinese Feng Shui compass) craftsman. We visited his workshop and
someof us purchased some of his excellent works of art. |
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At the workshop there were many Loupans of various sizes and styles. |
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We continue through the countryside and enjoy viewing the undulating
dragons! |
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The architecture changes along with the scenery in the countryside
revealing ancient peoples desire to live in harmony with their own unique
environment. |
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Looking down from the top of Jiu Hua, it seems hard to believe we
climbed this far! |
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Candle and incense burners are carefully tended outside each
temple on JiuHua Mountain. |
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This hall is named "Hall of 500 Arhats". There is an image of
each Arhat (Buddhist saint) gilded in gold. |
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We enjoyed a quiet moment inside one of Jiu Hua’s many temples. |
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We traveled next to the King Ashoka Temple in Ningbo. Inside, ChinaStudies arranged to have a private viewing of the "Rites of
Sakyamuni Buddha". We were then allowed to individually view one of the
ancient "Sharia" or relic of the historical Buddha. |
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Iris takes a stroll in the beautiful gardens at the King Ashoka
Temple.
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Jack takes a well-deserved break from climbing the stairs from the
sacred cave on Pu Tuo Shan Island (Home of Kuan Yin the Bodhisattva of Compassion and Mercy).
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Judy plays with one of the temple lions that is supposed to be on
guard outside one of the many temples on Pu Tuo Shan.
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Jack and local guide, John (who has joined us on all five of our
visits to Pu Tuo Shan!) outside the cave of Kuan Yin.
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The group at the Kuan Yin Temple. |
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Lidia, Ann and Judith on Pu Tuo Island. |
