Nan Tien Buddhist Temple, Wollongong
The Year 12 Studies of Religion cohort engaged in an excursion on Thursday 10 June to the Nan Tien Buddhist Temple in Wollongong to appreciate and experience the practice of temple puja, an aspect of the Buddhism HSC course. The breakfast stop, at McDonald’s Heathcote, en route set the tone for a highly engaging day. Temple puja is a set of devotions to the Buddha, the role model of the path to enlightenment and escape from suffering. Students were able to observe Buddhist adherents engaging in puja but also experience and practise their own development of mindfulness.
They were very focused during the origami session, producing a range of lotus flowers, the symbol of Buddhism. Meditation, with the nuns, was another attempt to be still and cultivate the mind. The removal of shoes, bowing and silence are components of this ancient practice. It was quite uplifting to see that these young adults were able to detach from music, laptops, mobile phones and other devices to give due respect to the nuns, tour guides and teachers. The sharing of a vegetarian meal for lunch further enhanced their understanding of this faith tradition.
Year 12 Studies of Religion students on an excursion at the Nan Tien Buddhist Temple in Wollongong
Year 12 Studies of Religion students on an excursion at the Nan Tien Buddhist Temple in Wollongong
Year 12 Studies of Religion students on an excursion at the Nan Tien Buddhist Temple in Wollongong
Students making origami Lotus flowers; an Auspicious Symbol of Buddhism
Origami by students; the lotus flower is an Auspicious Symbol of Buddhism
Ms Martina Cooper
Head of Religion
E: mcooper@waverley.nsw.edu.au
