Fo Guang Shan based temple – Nan Hua

What comes to our minds when we think of Africa? The Safari, wildlife, national parks and forests untouched wild natural beauty, various species of birds and things related to all of those. But Buddhist Temple or Monastery doesn’t cross our minds; not even close.

Nan Hua Temple is a Buddhist Temple and a seminary, the largest in Africa located in the beautiful area of Bronkhorstspruit, South Africa; which makes it more fascinating.

The temple is at the suburbs of Johannesburg about 80 km, making it neither too far nor too close destination for a day outing. The temple is so massive that top structure is visible from highway, about 3 km – 4 km distance before approaching the venue. On the backdrop of South African wilderness, it’s quite startling to see a Buddhist Temple, giving a feel of China in Africa. The Buddhist community in and around the temple includes few monks, nuns, staffs and some lay people, both Chinese and non-Chinese.

As most Buddhist temple symbolizes tranquillity, with Nan Hua also there is a sense of pious and saintly environment; peace of mind the moment one enters the gate of the temple. The calmness and purity is so intense that it seems – the air that envelopes you changes gradually as one drives towards the monumental edifice.

The layered architectural carvings and ornamental curved orange coloured roofs are distinctly Oriental, but seem out of place in Bronkhorstspruit, South Africa. But as one gradually enters the temple, the sense of disagreement fades, as the serene, placid and mystique abode which is so fundamental to the Buddhist philosophy seeps through each and every part of the temple premises. The temple is a three-tiered structure with several rooms for meditation, tourists, office purpose as well as for the monks who stay and maintain the place.

Since Nan Hua is a temple; a place of worship besides being a tourist attraction, so one needs to follow certain rules and regulations while visiting. One cannot take pictures inside the temple, maintain silence within the temple and need to remove shoes before entering the temple premises.

We stayed there for several hours in calming environment away from daily life chaos and hustle. It seemed like a spa treatment for our mind, soul and inner self. Nan Hua, the Buddhist temple is a contradistinction in South Africa.