5. Dambulla Cave Temple (Ancient Buddhist Sites in Sri Lanka)

Описание: Dambulla Cave Temple complex is located in central Sri Lanka. Sections in temple complex date back to 3rd, 2nd,1st Century BC, including some burial sites hundreds of years earlier. It was designated and protected under World Heritage status in 1991. The five main caves tucked in under a rock overhang contain shrine rooms and paintings revised over centuries of Buddhist development and devotional practice by kings in Sri Lankan history. The exterior colonnaded architecture that is seen today was built in the 1930s.

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Narrator text:
After the first few days visiting in Sri Lanka, I began to fall in love with this country. I remember that last time when I was on pilgrimage in India, at roughly the same time of the year, the temperature there was scathingly hot. However, in Sri Lanka, although it is already June and July, the weather is still very refreshing. The people here make you very happy, because when you greet and smile at them, they respond with sincerity from their heart. I feel that Sri Lanka truly is the Land of the Buddha... a Pure Land.

Today we come to visit the Dumbulla Cave. Having visited many caves, the solemnity of the Buddha statues impressed us deeply. However, the most profound impression occurred after we visited the caves and sat outside in the garden. Many travellers came and spoke with us, including English, American and local visitors. They asked questions about Buddhism. Upon reflection, it seemed that people nowadays need to learn more about religion.

When they come to visit this spiritual place, like the American traveller who talked to me just now, they rediscover a meaningful part of themselves. Many craftsmen and emperors in the past constructed so many Buddhist caves and statues in order to kindle a feeling of appreciative joy in the visitors' heart. Yet today, for a variety of reasons, it is difficult to find resources and manpower to construct Buddha statues. However, we can use modern technology instead, like the Internet, radio and television stations, to propagate Buddhism.

I felt just now that many people want to know more about Buddhism, yet the avenues are lacking. For us as modern Buddhists, we need to use modern technology to share the teachings, so that those interested in Buddhism have a way to learn more. The craftsmen and emperors in history made their effort in Buddhist statues, today we need to employ contemporary ways to propagate Buddhism -- this is the responsibility for modern-day Buddhists.


Produced by Buddhistdoor (2010, 2014)

Filmed on location at Dambulla Cave Temple, Sri Lanka

Hosted by Walter Ngai (on short-term monastic retreat)
Videography: Scott Chan
Voiceover narration: Andrew Lau
Video editing: Herbert Ip
Graphic design: Dick Choi

Music:
"A Peaceful Sanctuary" - by Jorem Lim
"Resignation" & "Easy Lemon" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)