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

[Curt Steinmetz]

It is unlikely that San Son speaks English. Whatever it was he said in 
Cambodian would almost certainly be more accurately translated as "a 
message from the Divine." In Asian (Indian, Chinese, Indo-Chinese, etc) 
religions personal and impersonal conceptions of the Divine are often 
impossible to disentangle. The same is true among westerners - but we 
are less likely to recognize it because the image of a "personal" God 
who is literally a white bearded old man is so pervasive in our culture.

Curt Steinmetz

jkirk wrote:
> "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.
>
>
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