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The Wei Tuo Bodhisattva Hall
Bodhisattva Wei Tuo Hall
(Photo: Simon Song)
At the entrance is a large stone upon which the inscription “Tung Lin Kok Yuen” was carved in Chinese. The words were written by the famous calligrapher Mr. Ye Gongchuo. There is also a pair of couplets inscribed in Chinese on the sides of stone steed adornments stating, “The one light that shines from the East penetrates the truth” and “The nine lotus flowers blossom crossing over to the other shore”. As I entered the front hall I could see a Maitreya Bodhisattva, welcoming visitors with an expression of hearty laughter. Behind the Maitreya statue Wei Tuo Bodhisattva faced the Worship Hall. At the entrance of the Worship Hall, there were another pair of couplets carved on wood written by the famous Chinese revisionist Kang Yau Wei, stating,
“One pointed mindfulness with great perfect mirror wisdom has not the obstruction of the multi-meshed net of Indra,” and,
“Rescue sentient beings in all lands with paramita-s accumulating infinite merits and good deeds”
One main feature of Tung Lin Kok Yuen is the amazing and valuable collection of calligraphy and Chinese-style couplets written by renowned personages, including Li Yuanhong, Xu Shichang, Ye Gongchuo, Kang Youwei, Zhang Xue Liang, Hu Hanmin and Fang Yangqiu. In the magazine “Light in the Human World”, Master Taixu mentioned that Lady Clara Lin-Kok excelled at liaising with people, and at enhancing interactions between Buddhists and those of other denominations. Indeed, as her husband Sir Robert Ho Tung was an outstanding entrepreneur, she undoubtedly had many opportunities to foster excellent socializing and networking skills.
Next to the Wei-Tuo Hall is the reception and main office. Lining the walls here are bookshelves storing the Tripitaka (the entire collection of Buddhist sutras, commentaries and writings on monastic rules). The room’s original antique furniture and bookshelves remain, having been well preserved, and elegantly decorated with the scrolls of Chinese calligraphies and couplets which make the environment tranquil and comfortable.
Other special ornamental attractions of this area are its resplendent floor tiles, made from quality materials imported from Italy, and several stain glass windows – both of which are obviously an extremely rare sight in Chinese monasteries. These touches showed the extent of Lady Clara Lin-Kok’s efforts to demonstrate respect for the Buddha, and indeed manifest the theme of ‘blending’ East and West, reflecting the family heritage of both Sir Robert Ho Tung and Lady Clara Lin-Kok, .
The Worship Hall – Pure Land of the Buddha
Banners are hung from the roof in the Worship Hall. It give an ascetic touch as well as the feeling of solemn and blessing.﹝Photo: Simon Song﹞
As one walks up the stairs to enter the Worship Hall, the first thing that can be seen is a seven storied Medicine Buddha Pagoda. Wind chimes dangle from the roof of each layer, and a statue of the Buddha, accompanied by several lamps, rests at its front. The Bell Hall and the Drum Hall are on either side of the Pagoda. Inscribed on the side of the ‘Great Mercy’ Bell is the entire Mantra of Great Mercy. This elegant bell was donated by Sir Robert Ho Tung and Lady Clara Lin-Kok in 1935, its production itself having been supervised by Ven. Aiting and Madam Lin Leng Zhen.
In the middle of the Worship Hall is a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, with the Medicine Buddha of the East positioned on the left side, and Amitabha Buddha of the West on the right. On either immediate side of Sakyamuni Buddha are statues of his disciples Ananda and Mahakasyapa. The entire Hall itself was built in the shape and style of a small temple, featuring delicate and exquisite carvings. Lamps are placed at its front accompanied by a scroll featuring Chinese calligraphy, and many beautiful banners hang down from its roof.
Behind the Hall of the Buddha are statue of Guanyin Bodhisattvah (Avalokitesvara) with Bodhisattva Samantabhadra on the left and Bodhisattva Manjusri on the right. On the two sides of bodhisattva Guanyin are Sudhana and Bodhisattva Samantabhadra holding ten thousand scrolls of sutras riding on a white elephant. Bodhisattva Manjusri is holding a ceremonial scepter riding on a green lion. On the two sides of the shine are two scrolls of couplets written by Hu Han Min which said “Great wisdom is a void observing liberation with the true self. Great practice is formless manifesting pure Bodhi”. Another couplet written in calligraphy by Zhang Xue Liang is wood craved during the early years, which said,
“The school branches out sects in the South and in the North originated from the same source propagating dharma all over as the core of all teachings.
“In the seas of the East and the West numerous masters teaching oneness to overcome sufferings in the world by transmitting wisdom in Dharma halls.”
Lin Kok Memorial Hall
Lin Kok Memorial Hall was built in memory of Lady Clara Lin-Kok in 1954
Walk up the stairs behind the Worship Hall is the Lin Kok Memorial Hall. It was built in 1954 in memory of Lady Clara. At that time, Po Kok Free School had a shortage of space, therefore, they expanded it by building on a 3rd floor which is the Diamond Hall today.
Ancestral Hall
Ancestral Hall (Photo: Simon Song)
The Ancestral Hall is located on the 2nd floor. In the middle is the Sai Kan Hall which is dedicated to the memorial of Ho Sai Kan, son of Sir Robert Ho Tung who died young. On the sides are four small Ancestral Halls including Chung Yun Hall, Huian Hall, Kam Yan Hall, and Xunyan Hall. There were paintings of ancestors on the wall, such as the parents of Lady Clara Lin-Kok, mother of Sir Robert Ho Tung, mother of the first wife of Sir Robert Ho Tung, etc.
There are couplets written in calligraphy hung up on the walls. One of the calligraphy was written by Lai Jixi, a scholar during the Qing dynasty. It said,
“The three schools of teaching originated from the same source. Check out history, Confucius emphasizes kindness and righteousness while Buddhist focuses on compassion and mercy basing on same principal.
The five proper behaviors emphasis on first caring for the parents and remembering the roots, then care for others to attain great wisdom.”
Another pair of couplets written by Da Kun accurately described the moral conduct of Lady Clara Lin-Kok. It said,
“To build Po Kok Free School with compassion like great Masters and teachers.
To establish Tung Lin Kok Yuen to propagate dharma with merits after Master Huiyuen.”
This is exactly how Lady Clara learnt from Bodhisattva Samantabhadra as an exemplary which touches me deeply.
Dinning Hall
As I walked down the building I passed the dinning hall. On the walls was a scroll of calligraphy written by Yip Kung Chuk which said “work hard, be brave, and improve oneself zealously”. There were photos of former Directors, including Ms. Lin Ling Jin, the successor in 1938 of the first Director Lady Clara. Ven. Man Sang , the 3rd Director in 1951, and Ven. Hui Ming, the 4th Director in 1999.
History and Culture
We rested at the reception. The portrait photographs of Sir Robert Ho Tung and Lady Clara’s wedding were hung up on the wall. There was a photo of the 99 year old Master Xuyun and Sir Robert Ho Tung when they first met. Master Xuyun was 14 years older than Sir Robert. The Master was invited to Sir Robert’s house. Below the photo was a paragraph describing the meeting, “This photo was taken when the 100 year-old Master Xuyun visited my house at 8 Seymour Road, Hong Kong. The Master was 14 year older and more energetic than me.”
Next it is a Bodhisattva Guanyin Mandala made of hairs weaved by a Japanese Buddhist woman in 1954. She apologized for the killing of the Chinese by the Japanese during the World War II. She cut her hairs and made such a Guanyin Mandala. It was presented to Tung Lin Kok Yuen as a gift by the Heads of the Caodong sect and the Japanese Buddhist Association.
I left Tung Lin Kok Yuen in the sunset. The visit impressed me deeply with their preservation of historical treasures and memory of war that we experienced. I felt lucky that many of the precious treasure, Buddhist arts, calligraphy, and heritages were well preserved at Tung Lin Kok Yuen, which will stay forever in my memory.
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