by Loti | Mar 18, 2013 | Art, Buddhism, Religions, Thailand
Thailand. The soles of the Reclining Buddha at the Wat Pho temple in Bangkok are inlaid with Mother of Pearl. Of the 108 scenes, each represents a depiction of enlightenment. Flowers, baskets, flags, animals. As you can see from the photo, all very intricate and shiny. So what exactly is Mother of Pearl? Well, I had no idea other than it is iridescent. So I learned it is also called nacre (good Scrabble word) and is made in much the same way as a pearl. Produced by a mollusk, such as an oyster or abalone, it is a blend of minerals secreted by the mollusk inside their shells to protect them from foreign objects and parasites. A pearl is made by the same substance deposited around an object (inserted naturally or by humans) lodged in the mollusk’s shell. Mother of Pearl is used in jewelry, furniture making, buttons and musical instruments. Items made using nacre are considered to be organic since they originate from living creatures or plants. While it is very resilient and tough, it scratches easily. Another amazing work of nature used by us humans to enrich our lives!...
by Loti | Mar 18, 2013 | Buddhism, Religions, Thailand
Thailand. Another interesting mystery. This is the largest gold Buddha in the world weighing over 5 tons and standing (well actually sitting) almost 10 feet tall in the Wat Traimit temple in downtown Bangkok. The origins remain unclear but it is believed to have been made in the 13th century. No one is sure where the statue was cast which is part of the mystery. At some point, again no one is sure, the statue was covered completely in plaster to hide it from thieves, possibly marauding Burmese. And then it was completely forgotten for a couple of hundred years. Made of over 175,000 ounces of gold it is worth $300 million at today’s prices. No small amount to be just forgotten. Seriously how do you overlook a few hundred million dollars for over 200 years? At any rate, in 1955, as a plain plaster Buddha, it was being moved to a new location and was dropped. Some of the plaster chipped off and it was discovered to be be made of solid gold underneath the stucco. So viola. One of the most stunning statues I have ever seen. ...
by Loti | Mar 2, 2013 | Religions, Thailand
Thailand. I admit I don’t know much about Buddhism, but I am learning, a lot. And there is so much to learn. With over 350 million Buddhists worldwide, there is great debate – religion or philosophy? Well, it depends on who you ask. The Dalai Lama says “From one viewpoint Buddhism is a religion, from another viewpoint Buddhism is a science of mind and not a religion. Buddhism can be a bridge between these 2 sides.” OK, so it is neither or both? Not really sure. Some of the tenants of Buddhism are: Lead a moral life Be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions Develop wisdom and understanding Sounds pretty peaceful. In fact, while Buddhists have fought in wars, there has never been a war in the name of Buddhism. Hmmmm. So, while I have no idea whether it is a religion or a philosophy, nor am I sure it really matters, I do know it is a fascinating way of life. One I sure want to know more about! ...
by Loti | Feb 24, 2013 | Religions, Thailand
Thailand. So what does a reclining pose for Buddha mean? In the case of the longest reclining Buddha in Thailand, at 160 feet long and 50 feet high, it illustrates Buddha passing into Nirvana. Nirvana? Simply put, Nirvana means a state of peace or bliss. Or as we now know, it could also mean you were born on a Tuesday since a reclining Buddha pose represents Tuesday birthdays. This monument is spectacular, completely covered in gold leaf with the eyes and feet inlaid with mother-of-pearl. While the temple is over 300 years old, the Reclining Buddha was commissioned in 1832 under the reign of King Rama III. And there are all sorts of rules and customs involved in viewing Buddha statues. First, you must take your shoes off and leave them outside (which is a little weird because my first thought was what happens if someone takes my shoes), no bare shoulders or knees are allowed, and you should never point your feet at a Buddha. And if you are really into the customs, you should walk clockwise around the statue, and enter the temple with your left foot and leave with your right foot (which sounds a lot like not stepping on a crack in the sidewalk when I was a kid). And in acknowledging it’s importance as a Bangkok landmark, it was Obama’s first stop on his recent Asian tour. And yes, even he had to take off his shoes. ...
by Loti | Feb 15, 2013 | Religions, Thailand
Bangkok. Next to the Grand Palace, where the murder of the king took place, is Wat Po, a Buddhist temple which is home to the reclining Buddha. In addition to the 160 foot long reclining Buddha, the outer cloister of the temple houses over 400 sitting Buddha’s. What is fascinating to me, each Buddha is slightly different. Notice the placement of the hands and the width of the heads. Different. Each posture has a particular significance in the life of Buddha, many of which resemble yoga poses. Coincidence? And in Thailand, there is a unique pose for each day of the week. Some Buddha poses are standing, some sitting and even one is reclining. And Wednesday has 2, one before noon and one after noon. With only 3 seasons and yet 8 poses for a week, it seems Thailand beats to a completely different time clock. So, depending on the day of the week you were born, you have your own pose. Mine (I was born on a Friday) is a standing Buddha with arms crossed in contemplation. Hmmm. Not sure what that says about me. What is yours? ...
