Getting Closer to the Buddha

Buddhist practitioners light and burn incense sticks. They raise the burning sticks above the head and bow to the statues of Buddha. Then they place their sticks vertically on burners from which smoke wafts.

Worshippers do so in a hope to talk to the Buddha who will appear in the smoke. This is the scene you will see in most of the functioning Buddhist temples in China.

Incense burning is a common Chinese religious ritual in Chinese Buddhism as well as Chinese ancestor worship and Taoism. The most common practice is that followers burn three sticks of incense at once, one for the Buddha; another for the Buddha’s teachings, known as the Dharma; and a third for the community of Buddhists, the Sangha.

So incense smoke is a soul link between worshippers and the Buddha. With joss sticks burning, people are getting closer to the Buddha and it also reminds us to burn ourselves, to give and to sacrifice though in reality, many people come here  praying for health, love, money and the list can be much longer.

What would you talk with Buddha if you have the chance to burn incense sticks? For sacrifice or taking? If you  are planning your Beijing tour, do allocate one or two hours visiting Lama Temple, also known as Yonghe Temple or Yonghe Lamasery.  You will be infected by the solemn and mythical atmosphere of incense burning and praying.

Burning and Praying before the Hall of Harmony and Peace, the main building of Lama Temple

Burning and Praying before the Hall of Harmony and Peace , the main building of Lama Temple
Burning and Praying before the Hall of Harmony and Peace in Lama Temple

The Buddha appears in incense smoke

 The Buddha appears in incense smoke
The Buddha appears in incense smoke

What does she say to the Buddha?

What does she say to the Buddha?
What does she say to the Buddha?

Burning a joss stick and praying

Burning a joss stick and praying
Burning joss sticks and praying

Leaning to burn incense sticks

Leaning to burn incense sticks
Leaning to burn incense sticks

Raising joss sticks over the head and taking to the Buddha

Raising joss sticks over the head and taking to the Buddha
Raising joss sticks over the head and taking to the Buddha

Try to experience incense sticks burning experience

Try to experience incense sticks burning experience
Try to experience incense sticks burning experience

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How to Visit Lama Temple

Tip: Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for Beijing guided tours:

Beijing Day Tour
Beijing Tour Packages
Beijing Winter Tour
Beijing Autumn Tour
Great Wall Tour
Car Rental in Beijing
Beijing Tours
China City Tours
China Tour

Further Readings


Best Time to Visit Beijing
How to plan a trip to Beijing

Top 10 Attractions in Beijing
How to Visit Forbidden City
How to Visit Temple of Heaven
How to Visit Summer Palace
How to Visit Ming Tombs
How to Visit the Great Wall of China
How to Visit Tiananmen Square
How to Visit Hutongs
How to Visit Olympic Sites

Top 10 Markets in Beijing
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Beijing
Beijing Shopping

Wangfujing Walking Street
Qianmen Commercial Street
Gui Jie ( Ghost Street) Food Street

Any questions, just drop a line.

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