[Buddha-l] Buddha-shaped termite nests in Cambodia

[jkirk]

"I believe the termites are trying to bring us a message from
God," said devout Buddhist San Son.."

I always wonder what people in SE Asia mean when they say such
things as message from God.
Cambodians aren't the only ones.  Who do they think God is?
Buddha? Brahma? Jesus? 

Piously yours,
Joanna

============
To: Baopiguy
Subject: [Buddha-l] Buddha-shaped termite nests in Cambodia

Does this beat a grilled cheese picture of the Virgin Mary?




*Buddha-shaped termite nests in Cambodia *

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 11/16/2008

PHNOM PENH--Hundreds of devout Cambodians have flocked to see
five unusually shaped termite nests that look like seated figures
of Buddha, witnesses said Sunday.

The iconic insect homes appeared on the cement floor of
56-year-old Kuong Keo Ry's house
<http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20081116-17
2531/Buddha-shaped-termite-nests-in-Cambodia#>
near Phnom Penh, shortly before a traditional death festival held
in October when she was mourning her late husband.

"I am happy that my house has been chosen. After other people and
I pay respect to the Buddha shapes, we all feel content," the
widow told AFP by telephone.

She said she first became curious about the nests in October
because she would sweep them away every day -- but that the
wood-munching bugs would rebuild them overnight.

Over the past month around 50 to 60 people had come to her house
every day to view the Buddhas, Kuong Keo Ry said.

A journalist who went to see the termite Buddhas said he was
"thrilled" 
by them.

"It's like a miracle to me," said Sok Samnang, who hosts a
Cambodian television show.

"One night after we put jasmine ornaments around the five Buddha
shapes, they became higher. Each of them is 50 centimeters (19
inches) tall and looks exactly like a seated Buddha," he said.

Cambodian Buddhist scholars have said that the Buddha shapes
represent apparitions of deities.

"I've never seen anything like this before in my life. I believe
the termites are trying to bring us a message from God," said
devout Buddhist San Son, 60, who visits the nests regularly to
pray.

Buddhism permeates all aspects of culture in Cambodia, despite
attempts to eradicate it by the former Khmer Rouge regime.


_______________________________________________
buddha-l mailing list
buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com
http://mailman.swcp.com/mailman/listinfo/buddha-l