The Temple Lifestyle
In Tucheng City, there was a temple called Jeng An Temple(震安宮). It was not so famous as Xingtian Temple or Longshan Temple, but it was an important place for people who live in Tucheng City.
However, I was there for the other reason. “What kind of daily life that people who working in a temple have?” This idea fascinated me to follow the staff in Jeng An Temple.
Mr. Liao was a staff in Jeng An Temple. His shift was from 12:00 to 21:00, some of his responsibilities were explained the history of this temple, giving the amulet to people and chat with the visitor etc. Sound quite boring for a lot of young people I believe. But if people were older than 60, this lifestyle might not so bad.
Finally, after some works, Mr. Liao could had some free time for a moment. What was the sound? See he was so happy for what he watching at, what was that? Oh, it was a Taiwanese opera, I could feel a generation gap at that moment. However, after I watched with them, I understand the trend for twenty years ago and the influence of Chu Ko-Liang.
Why Mr. Liao want to contribute his time in this temple? He said, the feeling was good when I get older but still could help people. This place also was so pretty to be a workplace, just like working in a museum. People also came for helping or chatting. No lonely, still could help people, this life still good for him.
When the night has come, there was a solemn voice with the raining sound. The source was Mr. Liao and the chanting people, they need to chant for every day, even busier at the 1st and 15th of every month.
After the chanting, because the raining, less people came to the temple, unless some people who were also the staffs for this temple, after we heard some bad news about flood in Taipei. Mr. Liao said, people wanted a place to pray for peace and good weather, because so many things we couldn’t change by ourselves, at that moment the only thing we could do was pray, that’s the reason why we need religion.
Time was near 21:00, it was the time for closing. Mr. Liao used an incense to inform the gods in Jeng An Temple. Mr. Liao said that gods just like human, they also need to take a rest, so we respect them for they were the seniors of us, not only for their identity.
After few minutes, Mr. Liao close the temple with other staff and leave. We understand that some people using religion for cheating other’s money and respect. However, some people still want to use religion to help people for getting a peace heart. How luxury temple might important for some people, but the most important thing is the people who has the passion for helping people. “I feel good because I could help people, that’s why I love my job.” Said by Mr. Liao.
