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Visiting the Theravada Buddhist temple

Decent Essays
For my cultural event I decided to revisit a Theravada Buddhist temple that I once visited previously but rather briefly. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t visit the temple since it is a different religious practice than my own. This temple is called the Wat Florida Dhammaram. The name may seem bewildering to most people but I have learned what the name means. I found out at the temple that the word “Wat” in three different countries (Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos) is defined as a Buddhist monastery or temple. This temple differs in that it is a Theravada Buddhist Temple. Prior to my visit at the temple I never knew what Theravada meant. Theravada is the more conservative of the two major traditions of Buddhism Theravada and Mahayana. What I discovered at the temple was beauty and culture every where I laid my eyes upon. At the Buddhist temple I was in awe of the appeal of the temples edifices, statues, and of course the scenery. The temple is decorated heavily in gold with intricate elaborate designs, numerous statues dispersed around the temple, and tall southern oak trees providing fresh air and shade. The Meditation Hall (Uposatha hall) caught my eye immediately as I entered the Buddhist temple. The Uposatha hall is used for religious ceremonies, meditation, and Dhamma study. While in the Uposatha hall that several restrictions are strictly observed. Restrictions such as conservative clothing must be worn at all times. No shoes are allowed inside the temple which I know is common
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