Front Hall

Before stepping into the Front Hall, you will see two groups of statues, one on either side of the main entrance welcoming visitors as they arrive. On the right side is an adult elephant, leading a herd of small elephants, while on the left side is a large lion surrounded by three cubs. Both the lion and the elephant have symbolic meanings in Buddhism. The elephant represents noble dignity, for the Buddha rode a white elephant into his mother’s womb. Thus, the figure of an elephant is used to commemorate the Buddha’s birthday, the day that he descended into the human world. The lion is the king of beasts. Peerless in its world, it is the ruler of its realm. In many Buddhist sutras, the lion is a metaphor for the Buddha’s fearlessness and majesty. The sound of the Buddha preaching the Dharma is known as the “lion’s roar,” for his words could wake living beings from their dreams. Then, they can finally be themselves, understanding their own lives with pure awakening.