Chiang Mai Abbot swaps shrine angels' swords with M16s, grenades

[webfact]

Abbot Swaps Shrine Angels' Swords With M16s, Grenades
By Khaosod English


Chiang Mai City Pillar Shrine, 2 June 2014.

CHIANG MAI — The abbot of the City Pillar Shrine in Chiang Mai has ordered local artists to alter the angels painted on the shrine’s walls by swapping their traditional swords with modern weapons.

"In the ancient time, these angels were equipped with ancient weapons like spears, swords, and knives," said the abbot, Phra Kru Suwattana Mettakhun. "But we decided to give them M16 rifles, M79 grenade launchers, handguns, and grenades, so they can have diverse choice of weapons."

"These are the weapons that are up to date," the abbot said.

The new weapons were added to the four Guardian Angels, who flank the entrance to the City Shrine, during a recent renovation of the sanctuary.

The murals chronicle the legend of the construction of the City Pillar and Phra That Jedi Luang Temple, another prominent religious site of Chiang Mai province, said Phra Kru Suwattana.

"We aim to restore and strengthen every part [of the shrine], so that it will be a monument and a sacred site that stands alongside Chiang Mai and the nation in many years to come," the abbot said.

Although the renovation has not been entirely completed, temple-goers and tourists are already allowed to visit the shrine and take photographs with the modern-equipped Guardian Angels. However, women are not permitted to enter the shrine due to a local custom.

According to the chronicles, the City Pillar was built in 1296 under the reign of King Meng Rai of the then-Lanna Kingdom.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1401775302


-- Khaosod English 2014-06-03

[Costas2008]

It looks ridiculous

[Tatsujin]

That somehow just seems so wholly inappropriate . . . but then I'm not Thai so I guess I don't understand . . .

[casualbiker]

Stupid is stupid does!

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[khwaibah]

The Abbot

needs to get up todate himself as this is what the army is packing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMI_Tavor_TAR-21

IWI-Tavor-TAR-21w1.jpg

[bigbamboo]

More proof that religion was man's worst invention.

[Seastallion]

What a relief that is! From the headline I thought the Abbot had bought some weapons and paid for them with ancient relics.

[smedly]

Rather silly man, doesn't quite get the meaning of tradition, why stop at the swords and spears and dress them up in modern army fatigues and helmets - the mind boggles

[JoeThePoster]

Too bad he couldn't give that angel a polio vaccine.

[BSJ]

Well that's different! You can substitute different with any of the following: crass, inappropriate, gross, stupid, really stupid, ugly.

[Trembly]

Why doesn't he future proof them and give them phasers

[Seastallion]

Why doesn't he future proof them and give them phasers

Or REALLY future-proof them and leave them with swords.

[chainarong]

It go's without saying that this is the type of person Thailand needs to lead them into the future , I am very disappointed some one else never thought of this sneaky maneuver , then again I guess Thaskin is busy forming anew government in ?????

[ameadi]

Isn't religion the worst but the stupid monk

[Thaddeus]

Why doesn't he future proof them and give them phasers

Go the whole nine yards and make one of the Angels a Wookie.

[johnlandy]

Stupid is stupid does!

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

And Bubba would have a field day here in the realm 'wouldn't he'?

[Luger2]

The Abbot

needs to get up todate himself as this is what the army is packing.

Tavor_TAR-21

The Abbot-directed artwork is reflective of the Red Shirt's preferred weapon, the M-79 Grenade Launcher

[boggle]

Maybe, just maybe he is smart and it is he way to protest something going on. Think outside the box sometimes.

[JohnnyJazz]

The Abbot

needs to get up todate himself as this is what the army is packing.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMI_Tavor_TAR-21

IWI-Tavor-TAR-21w1.jpg

Really advanced stuff. They even included a token for shopping cart.

[chainarong]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Maybe, just maybe he is smart and it is he way to protest something going on. Think outside the box sometimes.

I thought at first glance , that the monk was portraying how Thailand is seen in the eye's of the beholder , then I thought No , he's a real fun guy and likes a good laugh , maybe he's taking the micky out of everyone , but hey it's different so who gives a toss.

[Eyjafjallajokull]

Religion of peace & equality

[JacChang]

I always see that abbot playing counterstrike on the weekends when I go to the internet café.

[klauskunkel]

Question to abbot:

If the angels are now carrying M16s, what are the demons packing?

[hookedondhamma]

That somehow just seems so wholly inappropriate . . . but then I'm not Thai so I guess I don't understand . . .

nothing to do with being thai and all to do with being stupid. I can't for the life of me guess which group of monks in Bangkok give ecclesiastical titles to monks such as this, even worse making them an abbot.

Pretty sure there are thai not too happy with this ... but really, who would speak up? Plus, I am sure the abbot is waiting for a multitude of 'likes' from facebook.

Edited June 3, 2014 by hookedondhamma

[TheGhostWithin]

The Abbott is obviously not aware what the spears and swords depicted being held by the ancient ones are. Perhaps instead of trying to modernise his religion, he should spend more time meditating and understanding the underlying message and concepts of the teachings. Although I respect that he has spent many more hours than me learning certain aspects of Buddhism, I fear he has much to learn on the true meaning of Bhuddism and its' interlinked message alongside various other belief systems which have not been tampered with throughout time.

[bangrak]

Is this abbot ripe for the lunatics' asylum, or is it something worse? Aren't the Buddhist authorities going to undo this madness, asap?

[kaldoverde]

It being the Jedi Luang temple and all, he could have given them lightsabers instead.

[jonesthebaker]

Too bad he couldn't give that angel a polio vaccine.

what does that actually mean. i mean what relevance does it have to the topic?

please - i am interested in how you form such a link i your mind?

[SunsetT]

An Abbot should understand that it is 'symbolism'....................'symbolic protection of the shrine'.................It will really shatter many tourists' rose-tinted idealistic religious shangrila view of Buddhism and Thailand!

If he's trying to make a political statement then he doesn't understand or respect his own religion.

[Nepsydaz]

So much for the "Culture" that foreigners are often blamed of spoiling....

Bravo...