On our trip to Fo Guang Monastery we decided to take the public bus directly from Kaohsiung bus terminal at Nan Hua Road. We looked for a signboard going to Qi Shan / Mei Nong / Jia Xien or Liou Guei that will take us to the monastery. Our travel took us less than an hour to reach the place. Entrance is free.

Founded in 1967, Fo Guang Shan (literally "Buddha's Light Mountain") is an international Chinese Mahayana Buddhist monastic order. It has many chapters around the globe. The headquarters of Fo Guang Shan, located in Kaohsiung is the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan. The organization itself is also one of the largest charity organizations in Taiwan.
The monastery complex is huge and boasts a number of interesting scenes such as Pure Land Cave, Great Compassionate Shrine, Great Wisdom Shrine and Great Practice Shrine, just to name a few.



The Pure Land Cave is pretty interesting as it uses the styles of cave architecture combined with Buddhist art and sculpture.




Then we went to Great Compassionate Shrine. Along the way is the Pilgrim's Lodge offering dining and accommodation needs for the devotees.



Great Compassionate Shrine covers an area of 800 square meters, and is 20 meters in height. Inside the shrine is the six meter white statue of Guan Yin.



"Because of deep mercy and compassion for the living beings of the Saha world, Guan Yin made vows to overcome the sufferings and pain of all living beings, and thus manifests countless transformation bodies to heed the cries of this world and liberate all. Thus she is known as the great compassionate one."


Note: This is the first half of a two-part article of Fo Guang Shan Monastery.