Buddhist Temples

There is no doubt that if one is experiencing Myanmar (for the record, that's meanmar, we had been prouncing it wrong, mYanmar) then you go to temples.  It's so much a part of the culture.  Mostly, though not exclusively, Buddhist temples.  So one sees literally thousands of replicas of the Buddha.  Sitting, reclining, always smiling, androgynous, with lipstick that is bright and ranges in color.  I wouldn''t call it idol worship, but it's close.  One thing that does stand out to me is the difference between the Christian idol, Jesus Christ, and the Buddha.  The image of Christ that is put forth is grim to say the least.  Jesus on a cross, nails in his hands and feet, a look of pain and anguish on his face.  Contrast that to Buddha. Smiling, lip stick on, sometimes reclining in an extremely sensual pose.  Now I am not knocking Christianity.  It is just an observation.  Actually my understanding is that  the philosophy of Buddha is that there will be pain and sufferring in life.  It is inevitable.  But rather than Jesus suffering for mankinds sins, the Buddha says go in to your mind to relieve that suffering.  That is where salvation is.

     So we have been on a temple tour, among other things of course.  A few highlights.  The Golden Rock.  This is a huge rock precariously balanced on a the side of a mountain.  By all rights it seems that that rock should just tumble down.  On top of the rock sits a small Buddhist Temple.  An entire village has been created around the rock.  One gets up there in the back of a truck, about a 40 minute ride.  No other way.  People are crammed in to the max and since it is a pilgramage sight (everyone must go in their lifetime) there is no lack of attendees.  The truck will not go until it is stuffed.  I felt much more cramped than I do on a United flight, and that is saying something.  A bit more trivia about the rock.  It is said that a hair of the Buddha is what keeps it from falling.  They also say that one can pass a string underneat the entire rock.  Being a skeptic, well what can I say.  

     Another Temple that did blow me away was the Kawgun Caves.  It is an incredible rock formation that does form a cave.  But the outstanding thing are the literally thousands of small Buddhas that have been carved and attaced to the walls.  They go up to dizzying heights at mind boggling angles.  How on earth did they do that?  Inside the cave are an array of Buddhas in various poses.  This cave was located in the middle of no where.  If one were busing it, it would be an entire days adventure to experience it.   Who and why it was created I have no idea.  

     After returning from the South we spent one more quick night in Yangon, then headed North.  After a mostly interesting two day road trip we have arrived in Bagan.  This area is famous for its vast array of ancient temples and is one of the most visited sights in Myanmar.  So the scene has changed a bit.  More on the ride here and Bagan in the next post.  

     Know that we are all healthy and loving being on the road.                JB