On a hill in Vietnam, 500 compassionate bodhisattvas meditate

By Quynh Tran April 25, 2019 | 08:52 pm PT

The Linh An Pagoda in Lam Dong has around 500 3-meter high statues of Avalokitesvara, or Guan Yin Bodhisattva.

On a hill in Vietnam, 500 compassionate bodhisattvas meditate

The pagoda is located in Nam Ban Town, Lam Ha District about 30 kilometers from downtown Da Lat, capital of Lam Dong Province. The pagoda is also known as the second Truc Lam Zen Monastery of Da Lat.

It was built in 1993 on a 4-hectare plot more than 1,000 meters above sea level. Initially, the pagoda was a small worshiping place for Buddhists.

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In 1999, given the growing demand for Buddhist studies, the pagoda was expanded on a large scale, with a ‘Main Palace’ of nearly 1,500 square meters. It also has the Sangha hall, the lecture hall, the dining hall, and the Lumbini garden.

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Behind the main hall is a large area of about 6,000 square meters with many species of plants and trees including the crepe myrtle and melaleuca. The garden's main attraction is a profusion of statues of the Guan Yin Bodhisattva standing in rows.

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The statues of Guan Yin Bodhisattva are of identical size, shape and color. Each statue is about 3 meters high and stands on a stone platform, under the shade of the trees.

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Most of the statues in the garden have been donated by Buddhists from all over the country. The name of the patron is written on the stone platform of each statue.

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More statues of Guan Yin Bodhisattva of the same size and shape, painted in gold, are placed on both sides of the main shrine. The total number of statues in the pagoda is nearly 500.

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The Main Palace also has many other statues. In the center of the palace are three statues of the Buddha, each 7.5 meters high.

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In 2017, the Linh An Pagoda began building a 54 meters high statue of Guan Yin Bodhisattva.

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After nearly two years of construction, the basic outline of the statue has been completed. It is expected to be inaugurated later this year.

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Behind the pagoda, on the left is a statue of the Maitreya Buddha built in 2000. The statue, 12.5 meters high, is currently the largest in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong. Inside the statue is a space of 3 floors for display of Buddhist items and for Sangha gatherings.

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The area surrounding the Linh An Pagoda is very peaceful. The pagoda stands on a mountain in front of the Elephant Waterfall.

The Elephant Waterfall is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Central Highlands. Visitors often visit the waterfall along and caves under it on their way to the pagoda.