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THE GOLDEN BUDDHA
Excerpt from Radical Compassion
By Tara Brach
Within the walls of a Thai Monastery, existed a giant statue of the
Buddha made of plaster and clay. This statue had survived centuries
of storms, changes in government, and political turmoil. Although the
statue wasn't particularly beautiful, it was deeply revered. In its
presence, people felt a soothing sense of comfort and familiarity.
In 1957, the time came for the Monastery to receive some renovations.
In preparation, the monks were planning to move the statue. It was
dry season and the air was particularly hot and arid. As the process
began, one monk noticed a large crack on the surface of the statue.
Curious, he beamed a light inside. Upon peering in, he discovered a
golden light emanating from the crack. Immediately, he shared his
discovery with his fellow monks. Shortly after, a group of them
gathered with hammers and chisels to chip away at the plaster clay.
Soon, the group's efforts revealed a great, great treasure: the statue
was made of solid gold. Historians believe the statue had been
covered several hundred years earlier in order to protect it from an
attack by the Burmese Army. This is the largest golden statue of the
Buddha known to exist today.
What I love about this story is that the statue was purposely covered
over with plaster and clay so it could survive difficult years. Much in
the same way we cover our own innate goodness with defense
strategies and coping mechanisms in order to survive difficult times.
EMERGE 2024