The battle between the Buddha and the Rice Goddess
Four stories that show how the Buddha loses out to the Rice Goddess in a number of ways. I hear the following: 'Good, all that talk, Mr. Buddha. But first of all we need rice'. It may argue for the healthy, earthy mindset of many. It also shows how the ideas of the population can differ widely from the 'official' version.
What did the Buddha say when a man told him he had meditated for 25 years to walk on water? Why did he eat with a prostitute and not with a Hindu priest?
Who was the Buddha?
Who was the Buddha? 'I see the Buddha as a wandering monk for 40 years, charismatic and wise, but also with all other human qualities', writes Tino Kuis. Maybe even a revolutionary.
Happy Chinese New Year! The Year of the Tiger
Chinese people all over the world today celebrate the New Year with the wish of good luck: “Gong Xi Fa Cai!”. It's the year of the tiger. The festivities around the new year last no less than 15 days. If you want to experience some of that, visit Chinatown in Bangkok.
The Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Kaew
The most sacred Buddha statue in Thailand is the Emerald Buddha. The statue can be admired in the central ubosoth of Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok.
Mahachat, the 'Great Birth', and its celebration
Mahachat, the penultimate birth of the Buddha, is the story of the generosity of Prince Wetsadorn Chadok (usually called Prince or Phra Wet for short) who gives away everything, even his children and his wife in the end. The adventures of Chuchok, an old rich beggar with a beautiful young woman is part of this story.
The Jataka Stories
In the story, about a day trip to Phetchaburi at a temple, wall paintings of the Jataka stories were mentioned. The Jataka stories? I wanted to know more about that and luckily a little searching on the internet gave the answer
Happy Chinese New Year: The Year of the Ox
Chinese people all over the world today celebrate the new year of the ox with the congratulatory wish: "Gong Xi Fa Cai!", the festivities last no less than 15 days. If you want to experience some of that, visit Chinatown in Bangkok.
VOC in Thailand
It has been several years since the Dutch embassy, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's reign, published a book about a journey made by a Dutch VOC captain in 1737, at the invitation of the then king.
Wat (temple) Muang houses the largest seated Buddha image in Thailand at 84 meters high, 92 meters including the pedestal.
Kid Mai Café of life and death in Bangkok
It is not surprising if a café or other catering establishment is focused on a certain theme, but it is rare if the theme concerns life and death. In the Kid Mai Death Awareness Café in Bangkok, people drink a drink in an atmosphere of life and death.
The Great Buddha of Khao Tao
It didn't happen last time: the climb to the big Buddha of Khao Tao. From Khao Takiab, five kilometers south of Hua Hin, the golden statue is clearly visible.
Karl Marx and the Buddha, how radical Thai thinkers try to reconcile both views. Radical Thai thinkers were not averse to Marxist ideas, while most did not want to abandon Buddhism. How did they manage that? A brief consideration.
Happy Chinese New Year: The Year of the Pig
Chinese people all over the world today celebrate the new year of the pig with the congratulatory wish: "Gong Xi Fa Cai!", the festivities last no less than 15 days. If you want to experience some of that, visit Chinatown in Bangkok.
Buddha's helping hand
Before returning home after a literally long journey, I stay in Bangkok for another two days and as usual I take the MRT to Hua Lamphong, the main station of the Thai railways. Not to travel further but to try to take some nice pictures there. For me it remains a unique place where you can capture beautiful scenes with a little bit of luck.
A special Buddha
We drive on Sukhumvit from the Chayapruek Road to the North. At the first traffic lights you have a school on the right and a temple on the left. My companion tells very casually about a special Buddha in this temple.
The Metteyya, the future Buddha
In November 1883, King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, traveled to Lopburi in his royal boat. In Wat Mani Cholakhan he handed out monk's habits, the annual kathin ceremony. When he wanted to pay homage to the Buddha by lighting candles, he saw to his surprise and chagrin that the only statue there represented the Metteyya. He asked that that image be removed and replaced with an image of the Buddha so that he could prostrate himself before the Buddha.