Po lin's Big Buddha. Worshipping the idols of capitalism
If there was an award for the most cynical place of worship ever then Po Lin monastery would win hands down. Situated on the Ngong Ping Plateau of Lantau island, Hong Kong, it is home to one of the world’s biggest Buddha statues (over 24 metres tall and weighing more than 2 tonnes). It’s also home to a ‘village’ of faux Chinese hostelries, including a ‘zen noodle’ and a Starbucks (for Christ’s sake), fronted by Carlsberg umbrellas and signs inviting you to enjoy the ‘fabulous shopping and dining’.
It’s no longer a place of worship but a ‘must-see attraction’. The place should be called ‘Buddhaland’, and probably will be one day. It rivals Disneyland for the sugar coating and fakeness of it all. There are even monkey mascots who – a la Disney – you can have your picture taken with.
Not only does the cable car up to the plateau have the option of standard or crystal cars (yes that’s right, the world’s first cable cars with crystal decor) but the ‘experience’ includes the option to visit the world’s first multimedia presentation of the Buddha’s life: Walk with Buddha(tm).
Outside the temple itself (just in front of the temple restaurant and the tenple cafe) there’s the temple souvenir shop where folks can buy all manner of Buddhist-inspired tat. Most people were paying up for varying size bundles of incense. The biggest sticks were $688HKD dollars each (about £55). There were 12 of these mofos burning when I was there. And I thought that Buddhists were against worldly posessions.
