A short trip in the countryside: rice fields and old temple to fantasy realm.
On a sunny day, the urge to get into town center made me call up my friendly tuk-tuk driver. So, we decided to visit the annual town fair some thirty minutes away. After the long lockdown, I was quite curious to see whether local people would be out shopping at the fair-ground. In the past, wooden furniture especially big chunky pieces from tree trunks would be in high demand. But I doubted if people would be able to spend their money extravagantly. We made our way along narrow lanes flanked by rice fields.
The atmosphere at the fair was very quiet and lonely so I couldn’t bring myself to take any photos. There were many stalls full of all kinds of merchandise but there were lacking crowded customers. I was quite dismayed by the sluggish atmosphere and the pace of the slow down in local economy. These weren’t good signs for the future prospect of this town. I had a quick look at the plants market where about 30% of regular vendors had disappeared. I did notice that prices of plants and saplings have gone up by 40% from previous year. Luckily, I had bought all my plants and saplings several months ago at much cheaper prices. I couldn’t help feeling sorry for these vendors who wouldn’t make so much profits this year. I also know local nurseries that have plants at much more friendly prices.
After a complete flop at the annual fair, my spirit needed to be boosted with soothing vibes so we went to the river. I needed to visit an old temple by the river. This temple has several names: Phra Tad Klang Nam, Wat Lanong, Wat Tad. The original temple and pagoda had perished by force of nature. This site is very sacred and highly respected by people in the north-eastern provinces. The old record found in Ceylon and Laos told a story of five Arahats (enlightened monks) who were requested by the King Asoka (the famous Buddhist King) of India to travel across continents to spread the Buddha’s teachings.
These monks traveled to South-East Asia with several pieces of Buddha relics. This old temple by the river was built by these monks with the help of local villagers. The pagoda with the Buddha relics inside gave way and collapsed into the river over 256 years ago. The water currents in Mae Khong River changed their courses; the strong currents had destroyed the riverbank on the Thai side causing several landslides along the river. As a result, a large chunk of land had disappeared as the river got wider! We could still see the remaining base of the pagoda during the dry season when water level began to recede up to six meters.
The new temple building has paintings telling stories about the collapsing pagoda. Most devout and superstitious Buddhists would visit this temple to ask for favors and help from those angels who are guarding the Buddha relics lying on the riverbed. The first time I visited this temple, I was struck by the strong vibes circling around the place. Then I looked at the old paintings inside telling me about the history of this temple. So, those Buddha relics are still there with all the wonderful vibes and healing power.
Sadly, most Buddhists tended to be materialistic and go for quick fix and speedy gratifications; it’s the bad habit we got from Western fast food culture. So, instead of studying the Buddha’s teaching and practicing the five precepts; people would use money in exchange for superstitious and spiritual gratifications. They would perform elaborate and expensive ceremonies to persuade the high level spirits and guardians for blessings and good fortune.
These kinds of ‘impure’ vibes have spoiled the atmosphere around the holy place sometimes. They were not capable of getting in touch with the subtle vibes as their mind are full of worries and problems which needed divine intervention urgently. So, they took the short cut and ‘buy’ solutions to their spiritual and emotional problems. A friendly monk told me that these people would have some positive results to their good karma but not as much as in the case of practicing the Buddha’s teaching diligently.
Buddhism is declining and will disappeared in less than 2435 years. This was written in the old scripture which recorded the Buddha’ conversation with his disciples. He did give a warning about future world and the coming apocalypse which would destroy much of the earth and people. I could still recall stories which my mother told us that people in previous time were as big as giants; they were wiped out as that epoch was ended. After the disappearance of Buddhism from earth and the catastrophe, the next kind of people would be very short, as short as three feet!
The amazing thing about the next epoch is that all humans would look the same! They would all look very beautifully crafted with exquisite intelligence. They would have a perfect lifestyle of bliss. They would never be hungry as they could go to a ‘wishing tree’; they just think about the food they want. The ‘wishing tree’ will produce all the food they want. This reminded me of Startrek where the crew just talked to a terminal, then coffee or snack would just come out of the dispenser. All people looking perfect and the same like being cloned from cultured genome!
Perhaps the apocalyptic nuclear war and mRna bioweapons would manage to destroyed all human DNAs and left nothing viable for propagation of the human race. Perhaps some sympathetic alien race would come to the ruinous earth to salvage what they could to save human kind. But the best they could do would be to engineer human beings from gathered DNAs and clone a new type of humans. I had no idea what led me to this juncture of fantasy.
There are so many conflicting ideas floating around my head. Though we couldn’t find scientific evidence of the existence of Nagas along the river. The famous shaman had told his followers that these Nagas would be helping humans during the coming apocalypse; he did tell his students to prepare for cataclysmic event of destruction in the future. I did have some experiences and dream about Naga’s caves and different dimension of reality.
That day the sunshine was very strong and hot though the atmosphere was calm and peaceful. But I couldn’t feel the presence of any guardians around the temple. Perhaps they were still in their dimension, hiding away from crude and unrefined human beings. These invisible beings are supposed to be very sensitive to bad vibes and they could smell human beings from far away. Being vegetarians, these beings couldn’t stand the pungent smells from human beings. When people perform ceremonies and making food offerings; only fruits and sweets would be allowed in the ceremonies.
On special full moon nights, monks would mediate near pagodas which were known to have Buddha relics inside. There were reports of people seeing bright crystal balls flying around the pagoda; my friend actually saw several light balls shooting in various directions during the meditation retreat session in the countryside. I haven’t seen any energy balls shooting about but I could feel the flows of energy from high above in the sky.
The future is so uncertain but strange turns of events had led me to this small town full of mysterious stories and lots of hidden holy places with portals of energy. Those five Arahats might have planted something special to help and save mankind in times of catastrophe. Arahats could travel through time and space with their mind! They knew something about the future of mankind and probably hoped to help saving some deserving spirits. So, I have to be steadfast in my studying of Buddhist teaching and practicing mindfulness more consistently.
Wishing you peace, good health and prosperity.
Stay strong and cheerful.