This post was originally published on 28 March, 2023, and moved here, to my new blog.
I absolutely love visiting Buddhist temples. Every one has it’s own energy. Some feel empty, and some feel full of energy and peace. All over Thailand, from Bangkok to the most rural places imaginable, there are temples (Wats) in the most surprising places. Most are extravagant, the product of faithful Buddhists paying tribute through design, construction, and attention to detail. They are bordering on ostentatious – oh, hell, they are ostentatious. By design. There are many temples in Vietnam as well, but to a lesser degree, though. They tend to be smaller in area and height, with a lot more Chinese influence (the fat “happy Buddha” is a common figure) but they all still contain the ineffable forms that make me feel such an imposter for my lack of knowledge of Buddhist teachings:
The statues.
I get the images and renderings of the Buddha, in all of his forms from different cultures (and they do vary a bunch), but it’s the supporting cast of characters that I never understand.
Like This guy: What, and who is this? I get the idea of them guarding entrances to temples, but he really doesn’t seem too intimidating.
I just struggle with this little guy in the Buddhist pantheon.
This guy seems super stoked! Probably because he gets to ride a lion-thing with hooves.
This guy doing a serious parade wave while riding a house cat.
I love the hair on this guy, Not to mention the fact that he is playing a flute while riding a unicorn-donkey!
A praying mer-man? Again, I have no idea where this guy fits in with the rest, but he could use a good tail surgeon.
I do remember reading something abut this one riding in on a dragon-horse thing to save the day, but, again, I am a bad Buddhist and can’t really recall all of it. And, just out of curiosity, why is he dressed as Fred Flintstone? With a cape?
This one has one job: Hold up the bell and try to look like a scary two-headed lizard with helmets on.
I really like him. He is doing his job perfectly!
What the actual fuck!!!???
Many of these temples have images of goats. Yeah, don’t ask. I don’t know the meaning of them either, but I get it. I love goats too! This one from Vietnam seems to be the lord of all that is goat-y. You have to love the look on his face.
I think this one just looks a little smug.
And this one is my absolute favorite. I just call this one the “sublime goat”. He seems so perfect, like enlightenment was just a walk in the pasture for him. I felt such peace just standing with this one, breathing, and taking in all my surroundings. silly, I know, but, again, I warned you. I am a buddhist imposter…
And then nature says, “Hey, hold my beer and check this out!”
This was a natural rock formation that we saw on a boat trip in the freshwater marshes in Khao Sam Rot Yot National Park. It definitely looks like a seated Buddha, hands in lap, with a really silly smile on his face. Or, conversely, it could be a kid sitting there grinning, with his cellphone in his hand, probably posting on Facebook.
I am going with the first explanation.
Wind, Water, Waves, Wander 