Todai-ji, Nara. This is Buddha Vairocana. This picture cannot possibly do the massive bronze statue justice, just as my pictures can’t do the Great Buddha Hall justice. It’s all so big. Even as a non-Buddhist visitor, I couldn’t help being awed by the whole temple. You walk in, and you just recognize this spiritual energy everywhere. There are so many people who travel huge distances to pray at this temple, and it’s very humbling. I had to appreciate the whole experience. That said, I can’t imagine what it will be like visiting a cathedral in Europe one day. I’m not Buddhist, and yet I was so moved by the power of the Todai-ji temple… I can’t imagine how awesome it would be to enter St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City or St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice or Notre Dame in Paris.

Todai-ji, Nara.

This is Buddha Vairocana. This picture cannot possibly do the massive bronze statue justice, just as my pictures can’t do the Great Buddha Hall justice. It’s all so big. Even as a non-Buddhist visitor, I couldn’t help being awed by the whole temple. You walk in, and you just recognize this spiritual energy everywhere. There are so many people who travel huge distances to pray at this temple, and it’s very humbling. I had to appreciate the whole experience.

That said, I can’t imagine what it will be like visiting a cathedral in Europe one day. I’m not Buddhist, and yet I was so moved by the power of the Todai-ji temple… I can’t imagine how awesome it would be to enter St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City or St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice or Notre Dame in Paris.