The Mystery and the Mastery of the Orient Part One: Lungshan Temple — Dragons, Prayer and the Wisdom of the Buddhas

The older I become, the more I realize that every sacred journey begins long before we arrive at our destination.

Sometimes it begins with a quiet whisper. Sometimes with an invitation. And occasionally it begins with an inexplicable pull towards a place our soul somehow recognizes.

Taiwan was one of those places for me.

For many years I have studied the ancient mystery schools of Egypt, explored the Akashic Records, walked forgotten temples, and searched for the wisdom that has united spiritual traditions across the world. Yet as my plane descended into Taipei, I felt that familiar stirring inside me—the feeling that I was about to learn something entirely new.

My first sacred destination was Lungshan Temple.

Established almost three hundred years ago, Lungshan is one of Taiwan’s most treasured spiritual sanctuaries. Dedicated primarily to Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, it is a living temple where Buddhism, Taoism and traditional Chinese folk spirituality exist in remarkable harmony. Unlike many ancient temples that now serve mainly as historical landmarks, Lungshan continues to pulse with daily devotion. It is alive with worshippers, incense, chanting and quiet acts of faith.

The moment I stepped through its entrance, I understood why.

A Living Temple

There is an energy within Lungshan Temple that is difficult to explain until you experience it yourself.

The air carries the sweet fragrance of incense that has been offered continuously for generations. Intricately carved wooden beams stretch overhead, each telling stories of gods, immortals, celestial beings and dragons that seem almost alive as they dance across the rooftops.

Unlike many sacred sites where silence dominates, Lungshan has its own rhythm.

The soft murmur of prayers.

The gentle ringing of bells.

The sound of wooden prayer blocks being cast for guidance.

Families arriving together.

Elderly worshippers moving slowly from altar to altar.

Young professionals quietly stop on their way to work.

No one appears rushed.

No one seems disconnected.

Instead, every person becomes part of a shared conversation that has continued here for centuries.

As someone who has spent much of my life teaching people how to enter the Akashic Records, I was struck by a familiar feeling.

The temple itself felt like a living record—a place where countless prayers, hopes, griefs and moments of gratitude have been lovingly stored within its energetic walls.

The Language of Dragons

One of the first things that captures your attention at Lungshan Temple is the extraordinary presence of dragons.

They crown every rooftop.

They spiral around pillars.

They emerge from clouds carved into ancient stone and timber.

In Western mythology dragons are often portrayed as creatures to conquer. In the East they represent something entirely different.

Here, the dragon embodies wisdom, prosperity, protection and the harmonious balance between Heaven and Earth.

As I stood gazing upwards, I realised these magnificent beings were not simply decorative.

They were teachers.

The dragon does not fight the river.

It becomes the river.

It rides the storm rather than resisting it.

It understands that true strength comes through balance rather than force.

It reminded me how often we try to control life instead of flowing with it.

Perhaps spiritual mastery is not about becoming more powerful.

Perhaps it is about becoming more aligned.

The Wisdom of Prayer

One of the most moving experiences during my visit was participating in the temple’s traditional prayer rituals.

Holding the incense with both hands, I watched local worshippers bow with extraordinary sincerity before each altar.

There was no performance.

No need to impress anyone.

Just genuine devotion.

Watching them reminded me that prayer is one of humanity’s oldest universal languages.

Whether in an Egyptian temple, a Christian cathedral, a Native American ceremony or a Buddhist sanctuary, prayer has always represented the same thing.

Hope.

Connection.

Surrender.

As I offered my own prayers, I became aware that Taiwan was preparing for an approaching typhoon.

The conversations throughout the city reflected the uncertainty that accompanies powerful weather systems. Yet inside Lungshan Temple there was remarkably little fear.

Instead, there was faith.

Families prayed for protection.

Business owners prayed for their communities.

Parents prayed for their children.

Some simply offered gratitude for another day.

I found that deeply moving.

It reminded me that while we cannot always change the forces of nature, we can always choose the energy we meet them with.

The Stillness of the Buddhas

Throughout the temple, magnificent statues of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas quietly observe the thousands who pass before them each day.

None appear hurried.

None appear concerned.

Each radiates a profound stillness.

Standing before them, I found myself asking a simple question.

What if enlightenment is not about escaping the world?

What if it is about learning to remain centred while fully participating in it?

This is perhaps one of the greatest teachings Buddhism offers us.

Presence.

Compassion.

Awareness.

Not as lofty ideals, but as daily practices.

In our increasingly distracted world, that may be one of the greatest forms of mastery available to us.

A Personal Conversation

During my meditation within the temple, I experienced something beautifully simple.

There were no dramatic visions.

No elaborate mystical experiences.

Instead, there was a quiet inner knowing.

A gentle reminder that wisdom rarely arrives through noise.

It arrives through listening.

The message that settled into my heart was clear:

“Slow down.”

“Observe more than you speak.”

“Trust that every sacred place reveals itself in its own time.”

As someone who has spent decades guiding others through spiritual journeys, it was a timely reminder that no matter how much we think we know, we are always students first.

Every culture carries a piece of the greater truth.

Every temple holds a different key.

Every journey expands our understanding of the Divine.

The Beginning of a New Journey

As I left Lungshan Temple and looked back at its magnificent dragons rising towards the sky, I realised this visit marked the beginning of something much deeper than tourism.

It was an invitation.

An invitation to explore the mystery traditions of the Orient with the same curiosity that first drew me to Egypt all those years ago.

Over the coming weeks, I will be sharing my experiences travelling through Taiwan’s sacred temples and ancient spiritual sites. Together we will explore the teachings, symbolism and timeless wisdom that continue to inspire millions throughout Asia.

Because no matter where we travel in the world, every authentic spiritual tradition ultimately points towards the same destination.

Not a place.

But a state of consciousness.

And perhaps that is the greatest mystery of all—that although our paths may look different, every sincere seeker is walking towards the same light.

All my heart Amanda