Thailand Earthquake Beheads Buddha Statue

[Jessie Fong]

Myanmar and parts of northern Thailand were rocked by a strong earthquake on Tuesday that killed one person and hurt several dozen more.

Another casualty of the seismic disruption was a huge statue of the Buddha in the Chiang Rai province of Thailand, which was decapitated by the earthquake. Monk Phra Pathompong reported that the statue's head, located at Udomwaree temple, fell off during the shaking.




Thai villagers examine a damaged Buddha statue following an earthquake in Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, Tuesday, May 6, 2014. Officials said Tuesday that one person was killed and several dozen were hurt in the earthquake that struck northern Thailand and Myanmar a day earlier, smashing windows, cracking walls and roads and damaging Buddhist temples. (AP Photo/Wichai Taprieu)

The iconic white temple of Wat Rongkhun near Chiang Rai was also damaged, and will be closed indefinitely for repairs, according to the Bangkok Post.

Chalermchai Kositpipat, the celebrated artist who owns the amazingly ornate structure, told the Post, "We couldn't sleep inside last night because the tremor was almost non-stop. The engineer who built the temple and I checked the damage last night and we thought it wasn't too bad. But come morning we were shocked by the extent of the destruction."


Kositpipat is still investigating the extent of the devastation, but he worries that if the structure is too damaged the temple may have to close for good. The temple is known for its elaborate white exterior and unorthodox interior murals, which feature statues of the Buddha as well as images of Superman, Batman, and Neo from the Matrix, because the artist believes they further the Buddha's message.

"We're desperate. Our works over the past 20 years disappeared in one day," he said.

Thailand's Meteorological Department said the quake was magnitude 6.3.

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Yet another example of impermanence ... just overnight, the statue was damaged and the temple had to be closed indefinitely for repairs.

[Jessie Fong]

This article was extracted from ... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/06/thailand-earthquake-buddha-temple_n_5273216.html

[grandmapele]

It is scary to think that Thailand is experiencing magnitude 6.3 richter earthquakes. Coupled with the shifting global weather, it does not bode well for Mother Earth, or is it Mother Earth protesting what is happening around the world.  Are humankind's negative attitudes and actions boomeranging back to us? Wars, slavery, persecution and humans harming human, animals and fishes- all these reflect the lack of care for the environment. Are humans moving forward technologically to destroy themselves? Did Man forget that we are interdependant, not just amongst humans but animals as well. Even the lowly earthworm has a role to play-loosen the soil for the roots of the plants. Can Man agree to disagree and not create harm? Billion dollar question.

[fruven]

Definitely it is impermanence. The environment we live in is never permanent. If one live is able to live for hundred of years surely the changes one can see is manyfold.

Restoring Buddha statue is a very beneficial activity. One accumulate merits and good karma. Since it is an outdoor Buddha statue many sentient beings are blessed when they see the Buddha image. The Buddha status also blesses the environment.

[cookie]

The earthquake killed one person and hurt several others. The damage by this earthquake could have been worse. Maybe the beheaded Buddha statue was a form of purification against more fatal damage in the area of disaster. Restoration works must be done immediately and switfly to rectify the damages so that the statue can continue to bless the land and other sentient beings in the that area.

[eyesoftara]

I remember during the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, Buddha statues and mosques are the only standing structures is the most devastated areas and thousands died. This Earthquake in Thailand has almost the opposite effect. Only 1 died but the head of the statue dropped. I wonder how the karma worked here? Perhaps the statue absorbed the karma? Or is it that when great things are being done; ie the building of this temple; big obstacles arises.
Anyhow, I believe Mr Chalermchai Kositpipat of Wat Rongkhun will rebuild. Good Luck to him and may the Dharma flourish.

[Big Uncle]

It's not surprising to find that the earthquake had destroyed the temple considering the magnitude of the earthquake. Due to collective negative karma of the people, the sacred works of art are destroyed. It is not that the Buddha does not protect but it is due to our immense negative karma that images of the Buddha were destroyed.

In Tibet, there were instances where large earthquakes didn't destroy huge statues in the temples of Dorje Shugden. Due to the faith and immaculate practice of Dorje Shugden, whole temples were safe from the ravages of earthquakes. This is due to the miraculous activities of Dorje Shugden and this only shows the power of Dorje Shugden due to the karma of our time. This shows how effective his practice is and this will become more and more apparent over time.

[bambi]

Oh dear! How sad that the statue and the temple was destroyed like that. All the years of hard work gone just like that. Maybe the workmanship was not good enough and thats why only the head broke during the earthquake?
I do hope that they get sponsorship and volunteers to help reconstruct the place. It would be a waste to just let it go.

[maricisun]

Impermanence. This really shows us everything is impermanence. How 20 years of hard and dedicated work to benefit so many sentient beings can just be damage overnight.
But to restore the Buddha statue accounts for tremendous merits to be collected as well. Maybe it is a sign that these people need to collect more merits.
Let's hope the ruins can be repair as it would definitely be a waste if it is to be closed indefinitely.

[Freyr Aesiragnorak]

Yes, this sure is impermanence. And nothing more, as with all existing phenomena the statue had to either decay or fall apart eventually. It just so happened that it was an earthquake that make the head of the statue fall off. That is all. As for why only the head fell off but the majority of the rest of the body was not damaged is simple, the neck area was the thinnest part of the statue, therefore it could not support the weight of the head area of the statue amidst the shaking from the earthquake.

But hey, they can see this as an opportunity for beneficial work that will collect a lot if merit... The restoration of a holy Buddha statue.

[Big Uncle]

Perhaps the earthquake was due to enraged nagas of the land who are sensitive to the deeds mankind like polution and war. We all know that Myanmar had a recent Muslim Rohingya massacre. I am not familiar with what exactly happened but there must be some truth with what happened. And as a Buddhist country, killing is inherently negative action.

Therefore, mass killings would definitely have an adverse effect especially for a nation that prides itself to be Buddhist. The damaged statues of Buddha to me is very telltale of what happened. The teachings of the Buddha was severely damaged not by the earthquake but the deeds of the people and the Sangha of the nation. The damage due to the earthquake is just a sign perhaps from the blessings of the 3 Jewels. That's what I feel about this.

[Klein]

Perhaps the earthquake was due to enraged nagas of the land who are sensitive to the deeds mankind like polution and war. We all know that Myanmar had a recent Muslim Rohingya massacre. I am not familiar with what exactly happened but there must be some truth with what happened. And as a Buddhist country, killing is inherently negative action.

Therefore, mass killings would definitely have an adverse effect especially for a nation that prides itself to be Buddhist. The damaged statues of Buddha to me is very telltale of what happened. The teachings of the Buddha was severely damaged not by the earthquake but the deeds of the people and the Sangha of the nation. The damage due to the earthquake is just a sign perhaps from the blessings of the 3 Jewels. That's what I feel about this.

There is a high possibility that the nagas are not happy with the people around that area. Nagas control water and earth. When nagas are not happy with the people, they can create drought, floods and earthquakes. Perhaps the people of Thailand should do pujas to appease the nagas in that region. These pujas are done not to take refuge in them, but to make peace offerings to them so that there won't be these sort of calamities.

[Aurore]

Perhaps it's a sign or warning to the Thais to remember one of the core teachings of their religion which is impermanence. In the recent past years under the new style of leadership termed as "digital leadership" of Thaksin, the Thais were advised on how to get rich. This lure of materialism has caused a great degeneration amongst the people and especially the new generations.

Well, at least now there is a chance for collection of merits after restoring the statue.

[buddhalovely]

Well, wasn't it said that the earth was part of the universe and that the universe is controlled by God? If an earthquake, a natural element of life, decides to behead a buddha statue would that entail any significance?
I mean, maybe Thailand collectively has a dire amount of bad karma? I'm not good at putting meaning to something that cannot be explained,or that is caused by a higher form of power. We believe in balance, that good cannot exist without bad and bad cannot exist without good. Destruction leads to more incentive ways to better our planet, or ways of living i guess. We get knocked down, to be put to place, so to speak.

[Galen]

Maybe because of the political turmoil in Thailand which is affecting the government and people. Maybe this earthquake is to purify some negative karma so that something better will come up. Maybe also as what Klein said, the nagas around the area is not happy and therefore create some disturbances. So, pumas are to be done to help the situation.