Visiting Yonghe Lama Temple is a deeply spiritual experience, offering a moment of peace and reflection amidst the bustling city of Beijing. This travel journal provides a detailed guide on how to properly offer prayers and pay respects within the temple, ensuring that visitors can make the most of their visit while adhering to the temple’s customs and traditions.
Before Entering the Hall
- Number of Incense Sticks:
- Three sticks of incense are typically used to pray for oneself.
- Six sticks are for praying for two generations of your family.
- Nine sticks are for three generations.
- Thirteen sticks symbolize the fulfillment of all virtues, but usually, three sticks are sufficient.
- Lighting Incense:
- When lighting incense, hold the sticks together and light them all at once.
- If the flame is too strong, gently wave the incense up and down to extinguish the fire using the natural wind. Do not blow it out with your mouth.
- Offering Incense:
- Hold the incense with your left hand above and your right hand below, raising it above your head.
- After bowing, place the incense in the ash burner, then you can enter the hall to kowtow.
After Entering the Hall
- Entering the Hall:
- Men should step in with their left foot first, while women should use their right foot.
- Avoid walking through the central door.
- Order of Worship:
- Begin by worshipping in the main hall.
- Then, proceed to the other halls.
- Finally, you may explore the temple or attend to any other matters.
- Posture for Worship:
- Kneel on the cushion with both knees, press your palms together, and ensure that the space between your palms is hollow.
- Raise your hands above your head, lower them to your mouth level while making a wish, and then to your chest.
- Mentally recite your wish, and then bow down, palms facing upward. Remember, make only one wish at a time; don’t be greedy!
- Fulfilling Vows:
- If your wish is granted, remember to return the following year to give thanks.
Dharma Items Distribution
Yonghe Lama Temple has three places where you can obtain Dharma items:
- The first is located at the entrance (no ticket required).
- The second is near the incense offering area (you’ll see it on your right as you walk in; it’s the largest).
- The third is on the left side of the Yongyou Hall (next to the consecration area, though it’s smaller, it offers a wider variety).
Important Notes
- In winter, the queue to obtain Dharma items closes at 14:30, and in summer at 15:00. Be sure to arrive before this time, or you may miss out!
- Popular incense ash bracelets are unavailable on weekends and the 1st and 15th of the lunar month, so plan accordingly.
- Once you’ve obtained your Dharma items, they can be consecrated for free at the west side of Yongyou Hall.
- Remember, you cannot bring your own incense into the temple, but you can obtain it inside (next to the second Dharma items distribution area).