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Near the city of Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand, shines Wat Rong Khun, a Buddhist temple poised to become one of the most stunningly beautiful in the world. Painted all white for purity with glittering glass for the teaching of the Buddha, the temple is designed by the Thai Buddhist artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, and is expected to be finished in 2070.
Wat Rong Khun is rich with symbolism derived from Buddhist and Hindu traditions, as well as some more unorthodox sources. Inside, Wat Rong Khun contains the expected statues of the Buddha, but the Buddhist artist has also included images of Superman, Batman, and Neo from The Matrix who he believes further the Buddha's message.
“Only death can stop my dream but cannot stop my project," Chalermchai Kositpipat reportedly said about Wat Rong Khun. Kositpipat refers to the temple as an offering to Lord Buddha and believes the project will give him immortal life.
Have you been to this temple, or another particularly unique place of worship? Share your experiences with us in the comments section.
Near the city of Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand, shines Wat Rong Khun, a Buddhist temple poised to become one of the most stunningly beautiful in the world. Painted all white for purity with gl...
Near the city of Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand, shines Wat Rong Khun, a Buddhist temple poised to become one of the most stunningly beautiful in the world. Painted all white for purity with gl...
Metta World Peace's vicious elbow to James Harden's head at his most recent game shocked basketball fans and NBA officials alike Sunday afternoon. The possible...
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By Amanda Greene Religion News Service LUMBERTON, N.C. (RNS) Andrew Bowen sat yoga-style in his armchair, absent-mindedly fingering a set of Muslim prayer beads in...
The Dalai Lama's message is essentially "educating the heart" -- an education that is not merely about developing the mind, it is about fostering an environment where we can learn empathy.
One day, I stepped off the treadmill and picked up the phone. I didn't even know what I was doing. But I found myself calling a publication that had left a voicemail about Rielle Hunter. I was going to confirm the affair.
Living the life we want to live means that in those moments of apparent failure, loss, and setback, we see in even more detail the beauty and possibility of those things that are within our means to influence and enhance.
Thich Quang Do is a monk and outspoken defender of human rights in Vietnam. I met him in the monastery where he is confined by the government and was detained by policemen upon leaving.
I visited Wat Rong Kuhn in early 2007. I was with a small group driving past on the way to do a "border run". On the way back, after spending the night in Chiang Rai, we went to the temple. Lots of visitors, both Thai and foreigners. Just the exterior is amazing in itself, like a palace of glass or ice. I was surprised by what I had seen inside with heroes of western popular culture along with more traditional Asian icons. One of the high points of my four month stay in Thailand.
Arkadin: I visited Wat Rong Kuhn in early 2007. I was
Thai friends took me to Wat Rong Kuhn, and I was gobsmacked. The most amazing place I've seen in a lifetime of traveling. The energy of the place is palpable. At any given time there are about 100 volunteers working on the project that will take another 60+ years to build out. I watched the artist working on a mural of a nuclear warhead wrapped in vines. My friends explained he is Thailand's Picasso, which might enlighten a few of the commenters. Taking pictures inside temples is very boorish and bad form, so nice to see what I remembered so vividly posted with apparent consent. The Bridge over Hell into Heaven is the perfect rendition of the scary stories an old rabidly Christian lady used to try and scare me with as a kid.
Skagitonian93: Thai friends took me to Wat Rong Kuhn, and I
Why can ideologies not take examples from today? Why should the only valid reference be an out dated referance that few if any people truely understand? Your post preaches kindness secound but starts of with jugmentalism and hate. The trinity is a rationaliztion some prist came up with when asked how there can be 3 gods when the bible says there is only one true god. It makes no sence. jesus taught kindness and many other good ideas the church that came after him has ignored most of his teachings about kindness and love unless it pertains to christians solely.
jgthomas: Why can ideologies not take examples from today? Why should
I guess that's a good interpretation. I've seen both Superman and the Matrix and I guess their teachings reflect Buddhism. I like it when people experiment with different religious teachings, but this I have to admit is a tad bit strange.
xstriker420xx: I guess that's a good interpretation. I've seen both Superman
Buddhism loves to absorb other philosophies/religions, that is why some people call it 'syncretistic'. So it is not much of a surprise that it easily absorbs The Matrix. But if it were a real representative of Buddhism, I would have expected that I would have like that movie more than I did. It reminded me more of Valentinian Gnosticism!
Syllogizer: Buddhism loves to absorb other philosophies/religions, that is why some
Here in Texas, almost all the new Protestant churches, especially those of the Southern Baptists, look more like banks or sports arenas than churches. I take this temple any day.
janalyce: And St. Peter's Basilica isn't "gaudy?" Here in Texas, almost
"Kositpipat refers to the temple as an offering to Lord Buddha and believes the project will give him immortal life."
Yep, we certainly have the potential to realize our innate immortality (amrita) and leave the life of samsara. The only problem is we continually get attracted to phenomenality which kind of ruins our ability to hit the fourth meditation (dhyana) realizing pure and lucid spirit.
Erdgeist: "Kositpipat refers to the temple as an offering to Lord
I was there in 2007 most of it had been completed but they were still putting some of the pieces together and I was able to watch the workers glue the pieces one by one truly amazing . This temple is a major attraction even with the Thai people and a must to see when visiting the areas in Northern Thailand . The detail of the hands in the water around the temple adds a mystical feeling as you walk towards the main part of the temple . I now live just 150 from the temple and have visitors coming from the states in a couple weeks . I will take them to see it along with the other temples here in Chiang Mai ....
wmburtt1955: I was there in 2007 most of it had been
Its unrealistic to believe that there will be any form of life here in 10,000 years, at least none that resembles human beings. Look at what weve done to the environment in just the last 200 years and the Repubs are hard at work disabling the EPA so it can be further destroyed. People had best enjoy our last few generations here, while they still can.
VoiceOfReality2012: Its unrealistic to believe that there will be any form
Seems like the EPA wants to "Crucify" everyone in their own words...Maybe there will be Michael Jackson like creatures? or Cancer monsters? Or huge roaches? What the hell do you care? You will be dead in less than 70 years......and maybe the EPA will recycle you :)
cherryripe: Seems like the EPA wants to "Crucify" everyone in their
Someone needs to find out what that artist is smoking. Because I might be wrong her but aren't the super heros fictitious? So is he leading his Buddus Sect into imagination land?
JimsObie: Someone needs to find out what that artist is smoking.
Since the age of the internet, you people have been complaining about people who follow the bible. You hide on the internet and make nasty comments. No matter where I go on the internet, if it's a story involving Christianity, there will be a troll making a nasty comment about the faith. Funny though, in my 30 years on Earth and the many countries I have been to, I have never met a troll say something nasty about my religion to my face.
blizzard_man_robot_voice: Since the age of the internet, you people have been
I think the artist was making a point. Superman, Batman, Neo are all seen as almost demi-god like figures in popular fiction. They're very much like the heroes of the classic stories when you think about it.
I'm guessing the artist was trying to incorporate modern myths in with the old ones. It kind of makes sense. In the future well look at heroes like Achilles, Hercules, and yes... even Jesus, and put them alongside images of Superman, Batman, Spider-man.
SuperHeretic: I think the artist was making a point. Superman, Batman,
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The Huffington Post | By Jahnabi Barooah Posted: 04/26/2012 7:35 am Updated: 04/26/2012 7:35 am