Continuing with Hong Kong the city (Lantau Island Monasteries)

Po Lam Zen Monastery

This monastery can be found on the Ngomg Ping to Tung Chung trail.

Leaving Ngong Ping, I passed an archway with inscriptions (sorry I can’t read Chinese) and found out what it means with having to be later. After walking for about an hour I came across a rest area with views of Tung Chung and the surrounding mountains, what a great view, it was also peaceful, all you could hear was the birds. Having done many hikes I found this to be one of the best because it was a good trail and just quiet. Then, out of nowhere, I came across the Po Lam Monastery (Po Lam meaning “jewel of the forest”) and what I found was space, with no fences or gates. Following the path, I went directly into the monastery gardens, vegetables and flowers of course, with such wonderful color, monks at work.

They recognize me by smiling and waving. Where else would you receive such a friendly welcome? I could immediately feel at home, where else Po Lin Monastery? I do not think so. Having been to several monasteries I found this to be different, tucked away on the side of a mountain surrounded by trees and the peace and quiet was something else. Having dropped off hundreds of tourists at Ngong Ping, rushing to click the camera to reach the tranquility of Po Lam, where meditation would not be hard to find. This monastery is used as a retreat for visiting monks (bhiksus) and nuns (bhiksunis), as I was told by a nun who came up to me and asked if she wanted to talk, so I did. The nun told me why it was a retreat for monks and nuns from China and beyond. Prayer and meditation are a way of life and occasionally you need to break away so come to Po Lam where the way of life is so simple let that happen. Reading I once heard of a monk who brought a visiting cassette player with him, but was reminded that it would mess one’s mind and was taken away. While talking to the nun I asked her about wars, her reply was, the greedy man always wants more, there is enough on this earth to please everyone, just a simple sentence that means a lot. That is why being a monk or a nun is a possession of the mind, not of the price. Thinking about what you just said, how true it is that I have to admit that I always want more, but there is a right and a wrong way to get more.

The monastery operates with rules comprising of prayer and meditation and an early start at 3:30 am, morning prayer from 4-5:00 am, meditation at 5:30 am. 30 pm there day finally ending at 9:00 pm. The buildings are not the best in the monastery, but some beautiful flowers are worth visiting like I have never seen before and the monastery itself is a beautiful building.

My time there taught me how to relax because it was so easy in such a peaceful place, the question will surely come back. I mention how I got here earlier, I met hikers coming the other way and it’s only 1 hour from NgongPing (less if you walk faster than me which wouldn’t be hard), but if you want to see and feel a sense of satisfaction, then this is the place to visit.

The inscription on the arch, there to remind us all to let go of the dust of samsaric life (of course, a Buddhist saying).

My next article will be on lantau trails.