Buddha Statue Construction Halted After 9 Years

ofparadise · Post by **ofparadise** » Thu Sep 09, 2021 12:34 pm

Buddhism in KH is quite different to say the least. Took me some time to figure it out. To understand it, I had to approach it without the lens of traditional theological concepts of Buddhism. It to me, feels closer to the Tua Pek Kong school of thought which is a mix of Taoism, Buddhism, Hinduism and local clan traditions.

Refs:
[.] https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... _Singapore
[.] https://www.roots.gov.sg/places/places- ... ong-temple

SternAAlbifrons wrote: ↑Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:03 am
Samana Johann wrote: ↑Thu Sep 09, 2021 8:38 am , btw., although good and happiness is a matter of ones own deeds and not a matter of 'matter', form. May it foster faith and may it not foster attachment to body, form (actually the Sublime Buddha was not happy about making images, since people are strong attached to body, gave instead Bodhi-tree and Chedi as proper places for increasing faith by Buddhanusati, reflection on the perfect Enlightened one). Body, form, mostly gets subject to trade and conflicts.
Thanks Samana.
I "renounced" my Buddhism when i saw how off-track the faith/philosophy is in Cambodia. In my view.
What's the point in calling, or regarding, myself as a buddhist when everybody else all around me including the monks and institution regard it in a totally different way.
I am thinking particularly of Buddha's deification here. I'm talking about everybody going to the Wat to pray for money, success and miracle cures.
I'm talking about the highest monks facilitating KR mass murderers to end their days in perfect peace - and forgetfulness.
And for the oppressors to just "pay a fine" ie a fat donation - or taking the head monk for a holiday in Koh Kong in the Merc. (every week i see the head monks from all over Cambodia with their shit-eating grinning Rich and Powerful benefactor soaking up the the sights - with their soulful smiles in perfect harmony.

Please don't get all post-modern about this. "Ah whatever... karma will deal with them as it does with everybody" just doesn't cut it.
The Sanga is a huge re-enforcer of an attitude that lets these bastards get away with anything.
"Suck eggs with a smile, Peasants. We learned monks certainly ain't going to rock the boat and call all this waywardness out."

Sorry Loak, i realise this is spoken without "dispassion". i offer you the highest respect by being perfectly honest instead of just putting on my sweet smile and being "nice".
highest regards

KunKhmerSR · Post by **KunKhmerSR** » Thu Sep 09, 2021 12:44 pm

I'm happy it doesnt get finished. It's just so much 'cambodian' with that backstory

Samana Johann · Post by **Samana Johann** » Thu Sep 09, 2021 8:17 pm

SternAAlbifrons wrote: ↑Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:03 am
Samana Johann wrote: ↑Thu Sep 09, 2021 8:38 am , btw., although good and happiness is a matter of ones own deeds and not a matter of 'matter', form. May it foster faith and may it not foster attachment to body, form (actually the Sublime Buddha was not happy about making images, since people are strong attached to body, gave instead Bodhi-tree and Chedi as proper places for increasing faith by Buddhanusati, reflection on the perfect Enlightened one). Body, form, mostly gets subject to trade and conflicts.
Thanks Samana.
I "renounced" my Buddhism when i saw how off-track the faith/philosophy is in Cambodia. In my view.
What's the point in calling, or regarding, myself as a buddhist when everybody else all around me including the monks and institution regard it in a totally different way.
I am thinking particularly of Buddha's deification here. I'm talking about everybody going to the Wat to pray for money, success and miracle cures.
I'm talking about the highest monks facilitating KR mass murderers to end their days in perfect peace - and forgetfulness.
And for the oppressors to just "pay a fine" ie a fat donation - or taking the head monk for a holiday in Koh Kong in the Merc. (every week i see the head monks from all over Cambodia with their shit-eating grinning Rich and Powerful benefactor soaking up the the sights - with their soulful smiles in perfect harmony.

Please don't get all post-modern about this. "Ah whatever... karma will deal with them as it does with everybody" just doesn't cut it.
The Sanga is a huge re-enforcer of an attitude that lets these bastards get away with anything.
"Suck eggs with a smile, Peasants. We learned monks certainly ain't going to rock the boat and call all this waywardness out."

Sorry Loak, i realise this is spoken without "dispassion". i offer you the highest respect by being perfectly honest instead of just putting on my sweet smile and being "nice".
highest regards

Honest and certain views do not necessary mean that they are 1. wise and 2. good for oneself and others, good householder. How ever, if not fallen into a hole where no more way is out, it would be good if good householder would like to straighten up thought, in ways which lead to liberation. Always welcome if after such. Yet surely this place here isn't the best for heal, rather otherwise. May he let it be known if after rightly ease.

How ever, maybe a starter on general things: Wisdom over Justice, which could release from harmful ideas a lot, actually. Maybe good householder likes to give himself some good times for a attentively read. What ever one does, he does for himself. Metta&mudita

SternAAlbifrons · Post by **SternAAlbifrons** » Thu Sep 09, 2021 9:12 pm

Thanks Loak - but I am not talking so much about "justice" and the misdeeds of others.

I am taking about the waywardness of the Cambodian Sangha.
So many things that are so far removed from the Buddhas teachings so as to be in direct contradiction - left totally uncorrected.
The deification of Buddha being the most obvious, but surely you know of a long list more.

Or is that kind of stuff not important?
It may not be the responsibility of the monk, or anyone else, to keep others on the right path
- but if is not to ensure that the Buddha's teachings are kept straight, and clear, to the people - what is the role of the Sangha's teachers?

I don't see much true guidance in evidence about some very obvious waywardness. (with due respect, i think the Buddha would agree that that is the case. He wasn't blind.)
Should i just let it slip?
Just look at the head monk with the bent power-puffed politician hop out of the Merc - sanctifying the status quo so firmly in the poor people's eyes
- and just get on with toiling my own Right Path. Unquestioningly.

Once again, i apologise for my forthrightness. Please take it as a sign of respect. (it is, in my native culture)

Yobbo · Post by **Yobbo** » Thu Sep 09, 2021 9:58 pm

There is a lot of devotion to the teachings of the Apple & the Samsung

John Bingham · Post by **John Bingham** » Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:36 pm

CEOCambodiaNews wrote: ↑Wed Sep 08, 2021 2:23 pm

Around 9 years later, now that the sculptures are at their finishing stages, the authorities have just realized that the sculptures were not sculpted in accordance with the initial blueprint topic. The original blueprint was designed to sculpt the Buddha of Enlightenment, however, the actual sculptures show the scene of Buddha defeating the force of demon (Mara), before enlightenment.

Where is this sculpture showing the scene of Buddha defeating the force of demon (Mara), before enlightenment? The bas-relief doesn't show that and to me both that and the big statue look like the Buddha of Enlightenment?

atst · Post by **atst** » Thu Sep 09, 2021 11:42 pm

Typical Khmers, let them build anything unsupervised and if will be built wrong no matter what they are building, is it building without a tradesmen like manner with the intention of getting paid to rebuild or is it just ignorance I'm not sure. :stir:

John Bingham · Post by **John Bingham** » Thu Sep 09, 2021 11:49 pm

atst wrote: ↑Thu Sep 09, 2021 11:42 pm Typical Khmers, let them build anything unsupervised and if will be built wrong no matter what they are building, is it building without a tradesmen like manner with the intention of getting paid to rebuild or is it just ignorance I'm not sure.

I don't think they have done anything wrong, and if they have the photos don't show it. This was done by a well meaning charity. My guess is that some local official isn't happy with them getting any acclaim. Someone wants to take it over basically.

Brody · Post by **Brody** » Fri Sep 10, 2021 12:14 am

John Bingham wrote: ↑Thu Sep 09, 2021 10:36 pm

Where is this sculpture showing the scene of Buddha defeating the force of demon (Mara), before enlightenment? The bas-relief doesn't show that and to me both that and the big statue look like the Buddha of Enlightenment?

Yeah, this one depicts the birth of the Buddha. The woman reaching up, holding onto the branch is his mother. You can see the baby Buddha at her feet, after having taken 7 steps and gesturing at the heavens.

and the big statue depicts the moment of enlightenment when the Buddha reaches down to touch the ground as he proclaims the Earth itself as the witness to his enlightenment, in response to Mara telling the Buddha that no one will know that he had achieved enlightenment because no one was there to witness it.

SternAAlbifrons · Post by **SternAAlbifrons** » Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:53 am

Hocus Pocus (imo)
ANYthing to divert from the teachings. Man just can't help it.
ffs all this idolatry crap and supernatural gods and spirits is exactly what the Buddha called out as BS.
Delusion.

It wouldn't worry me so much, we all need to revere something greater than ourselves - it leads us to a higher place - if at least the monks would pay a bit more attention to the actual teachings of the Buddha instead of making grand, or gold embossed, statues out of concrete and dirt - and then getting/allowing/facilitating the people to get down on their knees to pray to them for material things.

(sorry Buddha if i have offend you, sincerly, but you know i loathe hypocrisy more than anything else on the planet.

HEy! There i go, even me, talking to a man who is dead as if he were God. Lucky no Cambodian monk is ever going to pull me up on that outright heresy)

:stir:

, but sincere as well

Buddha Statue Construction Halted After 9 Years

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