A Thai man won 5000 baht for ‘best outfit’ at his office’s Songkran party in Udon Thani province yesterday, but a senior Buddhist monk says that dressing like the Emerald Buddha is “inappropriate.”

 

The Emerald Buddha is a statue of the historical Buddha in a meditative pose, made out of the semi-precious stone jasper and considered the “sacred palladium of Thailand.” It is housed at Wat Phra Gaew (“The Temple of the Emerald Buddha”) on the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

 

Phra Phrayom Kalayano, the abbot of Wat Suan Kaew, says the man who dressed in the Emerald Buddha costume doesn’t know what should and shouldn’t be made fun of. He called the outfit “inappropriate.”

 

The Emerald Buddha is highly revered, even by the King of Thailand, said the monk. The Emerald Buddha undergoes a ceremonial costume change three times per year at the start of the summer, rainy and winter seasons. The ceremony is only performed by the King of Thailand.

 

Songkran marks the start of the Thai New Year. Phra Phrayom reflected on revered Thai monk Buddhadasa’s famous teaching, “Don’t be more stupid in the New Year than the year before.”

 

Full Story: https://thethaiger.com/thai-life/thai-mans-emerald-buddha-songkran-office-party-outfit-is-inappropriate-monk-says

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-04-11

 

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Is that the one stolen from Laos?

Thank goodness it's Thai man in the costume.

 

There would be serious 'netizen lynch-mob outrage' if a foreigner had worn this costume.

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

“Don’t be more stupid in the New Year than the year before.”

In this country, logic tells me that should be impossible.

 

However, I'm often wrong.

Inappropriate behaviour by the monks is better accepted. Such a conservative country and so sensitive for some issues.. It looks nice and is not offending at all.

 

it's just for fun, relax guys.

Dalai Lama reaction when he heard what Phra Phrayom Kalayano said:

 

 

(If I ever go the path of enlightenment it will be the Mahayana one, **** the miserable Theravadas!)

 

 

 

 

Think the Monk hood should be looking at it's own

behavior more closely.

Before pointing fingers at what is no more that light hearted fun. 

8 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Inappropriate behaviour by the monks is better accepted. Such a conservative country and so sensitive for some issues.. It looks nice and is not offending at all.

Suggest next year he wears a Mohammed costume as fancy dress.

 

What could possibly go wrong?

 

Reminded here of the Nzer Philip Blackwood who was sentenced to 2.5 yrs hard labour in Myanmar for displaying a picture of Buddha wearing headphones at his bar. Yes, people can be 'sensitive' over such matters. 

 

As I mentioned earlier, as a Thai he'll get away with it. A westerner, less likely.

 

Thai New year's resolution, and note to self:

 

“Don’t be more stupid in the New Year than the year before.”

 

Excellent advice!

His abbotness has his values upside down: this office guy did not do drugs, molested boys or girls, embezzled donations, got drunk or fight..., unlike a slew of your own orange boys. Clean up your monks to gain some respect first before preaching how someone should dress up.

16 hours ago, proton said:

Is that the one stolen from Laos?

Yes that is the same (one and only actually) Emerald Buddha, although recovered from Laos would probably be a more appropriate phrase as it was taken there from Chiang Mai in the first place.

11 hours ago, Enoon said:

Dalai Lama reaction when he heard what Phra Phrayom Kalayano said:

 

 

(If I ever go the path of enlightenment it will be the Mahayana one, **** the miserable Theravadas!)

 

 

 

 

Then he said 'Come on little boy, give us a kiss and bite my tongue' 

49 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

Yes that is the same (one and only actually) Emerald Buddha, although recovered from Laos would probably be a more appropriate phrase as it was taken there from Chiang Mai in the first place.

where did they steal it from?

Wiki:

According to Cambodian Royal Chronicles as compiled by Ros Chantrabot, the legends state that after remaining in Pataliputra for three hundred years, The Emerald Buddha was taken to Sri Lanka to save it from a civil war. The emerald Buddha then somehow arrived in Cambodia, giving its name place known as Russey Keo.^[7] When the Thais attacked Angkor Wat in 1432 (following the ravage of the bubonic plague), the Emerald Buddha was taken to Ayutthaya, Kamphaeng Phet, Laos and finally Chiang Rai, where the ruler of the city hid it until it was found in 1434.^[4]

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

doesn’t know what should and shouldn’t be made fun of.

There is nothing in the story that suggests he was making 'Fun' of it, he is not even smiling, he entered a competition to win it. It is the 'Netizens' who found it funny. And please any man wearing an off the shoulder 'frock' need to take a long hard look at himself.

4 hours ago, proton said:

5 hours ago, Moonlover said:

Yes that is the same (one and only actually) Emerald Buddha, although recovered from Laos would probably be a more appropriate phrase as it was taken there from Chiang Mai in the first place.

 

4 hours ago, proton said:

where did they steal it from?

Wiki:

According to Cambodian Royal Chronicles as compiled by Ros Chantrabot, the legends state that after remaining in Pataliputra for three hundred years, The Emerald Buddha was taken to Sri Lanka to save it from a civil war. The emerald Buddha then somehow arrived in Cambodia, giving its name place known as Russey Keo.^[7] When the Thais attacked Angkor Wat in 1432 (following the ravage of the bubonic plague), the Emerald Buddha was taken to Ayutthaya, Kamphaeng Phet, Laos and finally Chiang Rai, where the ruler of the city hid it until it was found in 1434.^[4]

Yes it does seem to have a chequered history doesn't it. That's according to legend of course.

 

According to legend 4 artifacts (bone fragments) from the Buddha somehow found their way into the chedi at Wat Phrathat Phanom Woramahawihan in That Thanom. Work that one out. ????