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Ceremony for the deceased in the ancestors' room. The ceremony is ministered by the abbot of Vien Giac monastery, Ven. Thich Nhu Dien. Family members remember their deceased relatives, a picture of the person being placed at the room's wall. Especially during Ullambana in autumn, the room is highly frequented. Photo at the Ullambana festival, August 1998. |
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A further facet of religious life in the monastery: A class of Vietnamese and German people who have just taking the threefold refuge, show their certificate with their new Buddhist name. Each of the boys and girls, men and women has publicly declared to take one's refuge in the Buddha, the dharma (Buddhist teachings) and the sangha (Buddhist community of ordained and lay). On this occasion, each one receives a Buddhist name, written on the certificate. The ceremony took place in the prayer hall, the class now assembling in front of the main altar Photo at the Vesakh festival, May 1999. |
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The monastery complex is entered and left through the traditionally styled three–wings–entrance portal. Looking at the backside of the entrance portal we see numerous people who eat, talk and socialize. Religious festivals are both a religious and — importantly — a social event. Photo at the Vesakh festival, May 1999. |
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Though the pagoda with monastery and tower in Hanover undoubtedly is the central place of Vietnamese religious life in Germany, also smaller places of worship and veneration are of much importance. Here we find an ordinary middle class house in Barntrup, northern Germany. The house has been rebuilt to a Vietnamese temple or place of worship (Vietn. "niem phat duong"). The garden is styled with religious objects and buildings, also for example a bridge (symbolizing the "crossing over"). Photo at he Ullambana festival, August 1999. |
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Inside the garden of the small, local Vietnamese place of worship. The garden has a building for Quan An, depicted in its female form as Kuan-yin. In front a replica of Siddhartha as a young boy; then on the left side is a replica of a seven layered pagoda tower. The garden is used for meditation classes and the celebration of religious ceremonies, provided weather permits it. Photo at the Ullambana festival, Barntrup, August 1999. |
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The shrine room with the richly decorated main altar, placed on first floor of the house. The altar has the statues of Buddha Amitabha in front, followed middle by the statue of Siddhartha with his right hand finger pointing moon-wise and at the back the largest statue of Buddha Shakyamuni seated in meditation. Typically, the altar is decorated by numerous flowers, metaphor for transitoriness and various paraphernalia. Photo at the Ullambana festival, Barntrup, August 1999. |
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The altar in the shrine room in full size. At the front there is a Vietnamese mother and her daughter performing devotional practices. Monk Thich Tu Tri is thankful of the donation just received by them. Photo at the Ullambana festival, Barntrup, August 1999. |
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The shrine room also houses the altar for the ancestors and deceased. As in the main monastery in Hanover, we find small pictures of deceased family members placed to the wall above the altar. The altar cupboard has the typical items such as fruits and flowers, incense sticks and candles as well as urns (only short time kept). Photo at the Ullambana festival, Barntrup, August 1999. |
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Part of the Ullambana festival at a local temple or place of worship is to donate a meal to the sangha. The monks and nuns are especially served with various kinds of dishes. On the front right side sits Ven. Thich Nhu Dien, abbot of the monastery in Hanover. To the left, we see two statues of Buddha Shakyamuni decorated with lotus flowers. To the back a map of South East Asia, remembrance of previous flight and origin. In front of the map stands Quan An or Kuan-yin, Bodhisattva of compassion. Photo at the Ullambana festival, Barntrup, August 1999. |
