At the centre of the Grand Buddha Hall, the “Three Buddhas,” also known as the “Three Buddhas of the Three Times,” are enshrined. Shakyamuni Buddha is flanked by his disciples, Venerable Ananda and Venerable Mahakasyapa. The statues, crafted by Shanghai artisans under the commission of Lady Clara Ho Tung, were sculpted under her instruction to embody both solemnity and compassion.

The term “Three Buddhas of the Three Times” has two interpretations: the “Horizontal Three Buddhas,” based on spatial designation, and the “Vertical Three Buddhas,” based on temporal designation.
The Horizontal Three Buddhas represent the Shakyamuni Buddha in the Center, Medicine Buddha of Lapis Lazuli Light in the East and Amitabha Buddha in the West. The Vertical Three Buddhas represent Dipankara Buddha in the Past, Shakyamuni Buddha in the Present, and Maitreya Buddha in the Future. To rescue sentient beings, the Buddha manifests in different forms, but regardless of time or space, the three Buddhas are ultimately one, without distinction.

Unlike conventional monasteries that incorporate folk tales as altar motifs, the altar at Tung Lin Kok Yuen is adorned with intricate carvings inspired by Buddhist scriptures, effectively portraying the Buddha’s teachings and significant moments of Dharma transmission.