Buddha on the top of the side gate at Wat Langka. For many Cambodians Buddha represents simply peace and relief from suffering and that is enough. A Buddha statue or image is hypostatic which, for Cambodians, means it has supernatural powers and as such should be treated with respect and properly posed. Buddha in this instance is seated in the lotus position, or the Bhumisparsha posture, with the right hand bent over the right knee just touching the ground. The posture is called 'Calling the Earth to Witness' or 'Subduing Mara' and shows Buddha after he has defeated the armies of Mara and gained enlightenment. It's a symbol to all entering the Wat that this is their goal.
The lighting and angle of this shot bring the relief details into almost palpable focus! Thanks for sharing your experiences there, both positive and negative. I may not ever get there but I've gained some appreciation of this place through your images and commentary.
I also love the detail in your photos. The relief detail is amazing on this building. Nice shot and good to know about the positons of Buddha and the meaning behind them.
Tanya, I could just hug you for your comments tonight. My story is very different and this is not a place I can go into it all. I do know what you mean by feeling more like where you are from when you are away from where you are from. I have that, too. I know I need to move, honestly. A move will help this time. I came looking for something here that will never be here. Knowing that, I can really move on now. I miss Asia so much. I will still be foreign there if I get the opportunity to go back but truth be known, I am much more at home being the foreigner. I welcome it. :) Made my night to hear your story though and that you took the time to share it.
it's very important to know something about other cultures, in this way, if we visit another country and we behave accordingly, the people will feel respected. thanks for this info. love the perspective in this photo!
