Saratchandra Buddhist CenterGaldamez, AlejandraAnthropology of Magic, Religion and Witchcraft/ Section 1025Dr. Leanna WolfeJanuary 22nd, 2017

The Hidden Temple

The Saratchandra Buddhist Center is located on10717 Oxnard St. North Hollywood, CA 91606. It is located right on the main street of Oxnard St. At first when passing by, the center it looks just like a regular apartment. Since it is basically right in the middle of a community, but if you take a closer look you will see that it is not just a regular apartment. It is actually a Buddhist Center.

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Guardians of the Gate When you first enter the

Buddhist temple the first thing that you are greeted with are the Guardians of the Gate. You are suppose to walk through the Guardians to make sure that you are protected.

They are also there as the protectors of the temple from any wrong doing.

Guatama Buddha

The first thing that you see when you walk into the Buddhist Center is the present Buddha Guatama.

The statue that is sitting outside of the temple is completely made out of marble.

Stands at least 20 feet tall. Is surrounded by a Bodhi tree, several flower, and candles.

Guatama Buddha or also know as the (The Awaken one) was a prince before he became a Buddha.

This particular Buddha was able to clear his mind of any defilement, and reach the state of enlightenment.

The Awaken one

The Buddha Guatama was a prince. It said that he did not care for

material wealth, but that he search for something greater in his life and that was being enlighten.

One day he left his palace to go to be with his people, and that’s when he saw1. An old person2. A sick person3. A corpse4. A monk

He went on a journey, and meditated for six years, and when he finally awaken he had learned The Four Noble Truths1. The presence of suffering2. The cause of suffering3. The end of suffering by

achieving Nirvana4. The path leading to non

suffering.

There was a little alter set up at the bottom of the Gautama Buddha statue.

There were rose pedals sitting in a bowl of water Candles inside of glass jars that will be lit at night Flowers decorating the whole alter.

The 27 Buddha's before GuatamaThere are 27 known Buddha. It is said that there are an infinite numbers of Buddha in the past, but the ones that truly reached enlightenment are the 27 known ones not including the present Buddha. The Buddha statues are completely made out marble, and all of the statues had roses outside of there case as a sign of respect.

The first three Buddha’s Tanhankara Medhankara Saranankara All three lived before the time of

the Dipankara Buddha. These three were the first of

Buddha’s you would start walking clockwise, and all the 27 Buddha’s would be named.

Deepankara

One of the Buddha's of the past. He gave the prediction who would become

the future Buddha which turns out to be Gautama.

Deepankara was the Buddha who reached enlightenment prior to Gautama Buddha.

It said that he lived on Earth for one hundred thousand years.

Deepankara is widely known as the Buddha of the past, Gautama as the Buddha of the present, and Maitreya as the Buddha of the future.

The Buddha was actually separated from all of other Buddha’s that were outside.

Had a very small alter, and this Buddha was considered to have been Maitrya (the future Buddha)

This Buddha also happen to be the only one with red roses.

Only had one glass jar with a candle Compared to all of the other Buddha’s at the center this

one seem to be pushed to the side.

Sirlanka Buddha for Meditation The Sirlanka Buddha is

located in the main building, and this the meditation room.

The statue is completely made out of marble

There was a small alter on the bottom for a monk that had passed away honoring his memory.

All of the decorations surrounding the Buddha are used during a festival.

Meditation Class

Every Friday the Saratchandra Buddhist Center is open to the public to come in a take a free meditation class.

This sign is always outside where you are able to contact them with any inquiry regarding the temple.