Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Dong Zen Fo Guang Shan - Squash Garden

Dong Zen Fo Guang Shan is a monastery located in Jenjarom, Selangor. We were fortunate to have the support of this monastery when we organized a Buddhist youth exchange programme in this premise from Jan 1-10. That is the reason why I have been missing from blogging lately. We had the opportunity to stay in the dormitories of this monastery during our one-week programme there.

The nuns, monks, students and staffs who live here lead a very disciplined lifestyle. Their days start early. As early as 5.30am, they are already gathered at the main shrine hall for morning chanting. Breakfast is at 7am. The meals served are all vegetarian and don't let that deceive you coz the food here are so delicious that we didn't find ourselves missing out on meat. The monastery compound is so serene and beautifully landscaped. I would like to take the opportunity to share with you what I have enjoyed during my stay there.

For a start, today I will share with you the little squash garden in Dong Zen Fo Guang Shan. There are miniature pumpkins and miniature bottle gourds. The former is usually used as offerings during prayers. The latter is grown for ornamental use. It can be used as a container or for decorative purposes after the fruit has dried and seeds have been removed. The size of the gourd was no more than 1 foot in length. Both plants look beautiful with their climbing vines and hanging squashes.




















7 comments:

Bangchik and Kakdah said...

The place is serene and yet with plants as shown, it is really radiating and thriving... ~bangchik

Green thumb said...

I must say that it was the most fortunate experience that you had. I have always been curious about the monastery life style, and reading your post made me yearn to have the experience myself....if only I could do that someday.

James David said...

Those squash look so beautiful, really wished I could grow them in my garden.

Stephanie said...

The structure/treliss is nice. The squash look very healthy. A good way to beautify the space also with orange squashes all over. They did a good job!

Autumn Belle said...

The squashes here looks very healthy and this seems to be a good harvest. The garden here is truly well maintained and beautiful.

Wendy said...

cool little pumpkins! My father also grows his gourds this way - over a trellis so that the squash hang down.

Nathan said...

Nice blog. Visit my site for some great tips for your garden at www.plottips.blogspot.co

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