Hall of Enlightenment

The Hall of Enlightenment is home to Thousand Hands Guan Yin, who watches over each niche with her boundless compassion and grace. As one of the most deeply revered manifestations of Guan Yin, Thousand Hands Guan Yin unfolds her countless arms to wield an array of auspicious symbols such as the Dharma Wheel, prayer beads, a sun disc and a moon disc.

In her presence, the end of life on Earth is not seen as the end but the start of a quest for enlightenment at Sukhavati (the Western Pure Land). These symbols help Thousand Hands Guan Yin guide the souls entrusted to her care on their journey there.

Two identical monuments of Thousand Hands Guan Yin, one overlooking the single niches in the front and the other with an eye on the double niches in the rear, serve as custodians here. Each is a masterpiece in its own right, carrying a trove of details that our artisans carefully shape and etch out of rich terracotta wood.

The craftsmanship is unmistakable: each monument radiates a patchwork of miniature palms and shows off ornate silhouettes lining the sides of the lotus pedestal.

Another Thousand Hands Guan Yin monument guards the interior of each niche. Snow-white with gold trims, this monument amplifies Thousand Hands Guan Yin’s spiritual light while offering each soul a window into Sukhavati.

The facade of each niche provides a glimpse into this pilgrimage. Depicting a serene vista of the sea under a horizon shimmering with stars, it’s punctuated by a golden vessel on one side and a blossoming lotus on the other. They signify each soul’s embarkation on his or her journey and Sukhavati respectively.