Experiencing Buddha in Omaha temple garden
Driving through a neighborhood in northeast Omaha, I’ve seen a garden full of statues. I’ve always wondered what they were. Finally, being the inquisitive lot I am, I turned down a side street and pulled into a parking lot. I met a woman of Vietnamese descent. I asked what the garden was for, and she said it was to honor Buddha. Sure enough, as I turned and got a better look at the scenery, I saw a large Buddha sculpture staring back at me.
The Chua Quan An Temple is located near 38th Street and Sorenson Parkway. I always thought it would be a beautiful area to walk around and take in the view. I was right. The woman I spoke with couldn’t speak full English, so we communicated the best we could. I asked if it was OK for me to walk around and take photos of the statues and the flowers. She acknowledged it.
As I walked through the garden, a statue of a woman – likely the mother of Buddha from what I’ve read online – stood over the area. She was surrounded by a small garden, along with urns.
Buddhism is a religion or philosophy based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha, or Buddha. From what I understand, it’s basically a religion of finding peace, happiness and contentment inside you, developing your inner peace. NBA coaching legend Phil Jackson is a strong supporter of Buddhism.
On a slight incline was another Buddha figure. He was at the front of a group of statues in position of pray, as if he were leading a prayer session.
The sculptures were beautiful. The flowers surrounding the displays were impressive. For a mid-autumn day, roses and mums were in bloom. The power of Buddha?
After taking in the beauty of the garden, I walked to the doorway of a temple. As I looked inside, the same lady invited me in. You must remove your shoes before entering. She allowed me to shoot some photos of the altar area.
I enjoyed my visit to the Buddhist Temple. It was an educational experience.
July 10, 2022 @ 3:20 pm
I came from Florida and had seen it so I made my way over to get a better look and it was as if nobody is taking care of it any longer and this was July 2022 it’s sad to let such a place go down hill. People have been going over the fence so most of it is pushed down and the weeds and grass needs to be done. It almost looks abandoned. Can some see if they could help bring it back to life if indeed it is closed the phone number is out of service and I want to go there to meditate. If they need help maybe they can get sponsored.