A peaceful meditation at Tsz Shan Monastery (慈山寺)

Tsz Shan Monastery, is a development germinated with Mr Li Ka-shing, the tycoon of Hong Kong, who has contributed over HK$1.7 billion from his personal foundation to cover the whole development and daily operating costs of the Monastery.

The project was commenced in 2003 from the planning and looking for the suitable landscape, based on fung-shui and various consideration. It was opened in 2016.

The architectural style was inspired by the more solemn and elegant styles of the Tang, Northern Song, Liao and Jin dynasties, which existed over a period of about 600 years beginning in the 7th century.

There are limited capacity to make the site visit so as to ensure the land is peaceful and quiet. All visits must be booked in advance (we booked 1 month in advance for a weekday visit.)

I just want to share my first time visit experience, as it may be an exceptional personal experience in meditation, Dharma practice and understanding the Buddhism intensively.













Guided Educational Tour
There are two sessions daily for maximum 60 visitors for each session, on first come first served basis. Guided by a volunteer tour guide, he will guide you and escort you the development of the Monastery, details of each masterpiece, the story of each hall and terrace there, not to mention the eye-catching Guan Yin Statue (Avalokitesvara).

Session (AM) : 10:30 ; Session (PM) : 14:30
Estimated tour takes 1.5 hours

To get  the ticket, you got to go to the visitor centre (next to the Lecture Hall, take an elevator to downstairs). There is a refundable deposit HK$100 for each headset.









Guan Yin Statue (Avalokitesvara)

Guan Yin (觀音) is the highlight of the monetary. It has a height of 76 metres, comprising a 70-metre-tall bronze-cast white Guan Yin Statue (including a three-tier bronze lotus platform) built upon a 6-metre high granite base. The statue is coated with white fluorocarbon self-cleaning paint and is modeled on sculptures of the Song dynasty. Guan Yin is a graceful demeanour implying the blessings and protection received through his immeasurable power. She holds a wisdom pearl in her right hand and a vase in her left hand, pouring pure water to cleanse the world.



Water Offering
Visitors can offer water to Guan Yin anytime during visits. Then visitor hold the water bowl in both hands, walking through the Compassion Path, a straight wide pathway with 18 aged Buddhist Pines along two sides of the path. At the end of the path, there is a huge bronze water vessel known as Thousand Wishes Pond, then you can offer the water in the hand into the Pond.



Other Mindfulness programmes schedule
It really has many activities in the Monetary which actually make me very busy to complete all in one time. However, you can check the schedule and activities and plan ahead.

Origin (3D Video)

Time: 10:00am , 11:45am , 2:00pm, 4:00pm

Venue : Lecture Hall (duration of video 7 minutes)

Capacity : 280 per session 

Zen Calligraphy

Last admission : 3:45pm

Participants must be 9 years of age or above

Venue : Universal Hall

Remarks: take off shoes and better to wear socks.

Chinese calligraphy and writing zen is a good meditation. ( I missed it this time)

Walking Meditation  (Ticket Needed)

Time: 2:30pm - 3:00pm

Capacity: 30 per session

Remarks: wear comfortable flat shoes , no high heels

Participants must be 9 years of age or above

Coffee break at the Lecture Hall

There is a complimentary coffee or tea for every visitor to enjoy. A very good quality of coffee latte with a latte art!

慈山寺 Tsz Shan Monastery
www.tszshan.org
facebook:  慈山寺 Tsz Shan Monastery 

Opening Time :
9:30am - 5:00pm

Address:
88 Universal Gate Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong 香港新界大埔普門路88號

How to go there:
Bus: 75K (stop near Ting Kok Road)
Minibus:
20B (Tai Po Market Station to and from Tung Tsz Road)
20T (Roundabout of the monastery to Tai Po Market Station) , full fare :HK$6.9 (departure time from monastery: 11:30am, 12:00noon, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm, 3:30pm,4:00pm,4:30pm, 5:00pm)
Taxi: recommended

Dress Code : 
Proper attire (e.g. sleeved tops, trousers, mid-calf dress or mid-calf pants) must be worn at all times throughout your visit in the Monastery. Improper attire such as sleeveless top or shorts , got to cover with a clothes provided by the Monastery at the entrance.

DIY Beading for Suribachi

That's one of my new kitchen utensils for food grinding. It looks so simple so I have decorated it with the plastic beads. Suribachi is an essential tool for preparation of sesames, sauce, dressing and paste!

Suribachi Costs: HK$12  (US$1.6)

Original Product

Prepare beads of your choice

Completed!

Idea for decorating your party at Home!

I like to have a party at home and I like decorating like a party even though the party is not rolling.

I found a pack of paper bunting with printed images and die-cut in bunting shape, a set of 40 buntings only for US$3.9 (HK$30) at a book store.  yeah!

UV and hot stamping effect

Hong Kong Houseware Fair 2016

I love house, I love houseware too.

In this year, as usual, I visit the Hong Kong Houseware Fair at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre which the exhibition is held from 20 to 23 April 2016.

It is one of the large fairs and you can visit over 2,100 exhibitors worldwide for household products from outdoor furniture to kitchen utensils, from economically use to elegance. I just want to explore any new coming design and trends on the household products.

DIY Wedding Invitation Card

In Hong Kong, wedding invitation usually includes a red invitation card, and a red envelope. Wedding in Chinese culture the theme color should be in Red, for western style white invitation card is also accepted in Hong Kong.  

But for my wedding, my invitation card I can design for myself. I ordered the 10" doilies  from eBay and purchases some sunflower materials and pearl stickers for the decorations. I prefer sunflower to roses.  For doily paper, they are not large enough and not detailed neither at the baking stores and grocery stores. That's why I ordered on eBay, and they were at reasonable prices. 

It turned out definitely unique invitation cards to my guests.

The cost per each card (printing, materials and doilies): HK$6 (US$0.78)