Indianapolis Buddhist temple, sculpture garden call Raymond Park home

The 317 Undertaking tells stories of lifetime in all of Indianapolis’ lively neighborhoods – 317 words at a time. Have a idea for a story in one particular of Indianapolis’ neighborhoods? Let us know at 317task@indystar.com.

It can be tucked absent so that most passersby would not even know it really is there. But on South Franklin Highway in Indianapolis’ Raymond Park neighborhood, concealed powering a home, is a Buddhist temple and sculpture backyard.

The Phap An Temple made the eastside neighborhood dwelling a number of many years in the past. When they acquired the soccer-subject-sized lot, it was overgrown and entire of brush, mentioned Deborah Nguyen, a Temple member. But customers worked to clear it out and convert it into one thing specific.

On the outside, the Temple making itself is a basic framework formed like a barn. The within is a different tale: it really is lively, warm and welcoming.

Greeting people as they generate down the gravel entrance is a eco-friendly Buddha statue standing much more than 8 toes tall. The Buddha is sitting legs crossed, fingers jointly in the statue’s lap, and eyes closed: The meditation pose. There are 5 statues in whole all-around the temple and garden, just about every a different pose.

The positions express various meanings — these kinds of as conquering fears, sensation guarded, locating peace and calm, therapeutic struggling, and summoning contentment and happiness.

“People today definitely like them,” Nguyen reported. “Just about every week members go out to the backyard garden and clean up to acquire care of the statues. It exhibits how essential they are.”

Buddhism emphasizes the value of character and dwelling in harmony with the natural planet, Nguyen explained. Which is why the sculpture back garden is this kind of a major house for coming collectively and feeling grounded, she explained.