Resin Statues :: Naga Buddha

All things have a story...

Most Westerners and practitioners of other religions are not aware of the many sects in Buddhism. As is true for almost every religion, the pure and original teachings are often splintered into different philosophies. In Southeast Asia, many of the people believe in a form of Buddhism called “Theravada” or “The Way of the Elders”. This sect of Buddhism as a decidedly conservative bent and strongly focuses on keeping the original teachings of the Buddha intact.

The Buddhist resin statue above was cast in Thailand, where Theravada Buddhism is a very important part of Thai culture. They believe that if one follows the Noble Eightfold Path diligently and without fail, he or she will become an “arhat” or worthy one. Such a person will achieve liberation of the cycle of birth and death. This is the supreme goal of Buddhism, to lose the individual ego or identity and become one with everything. Gautama Buddha was the first “arhat” and everyone else who came after him are simply his followers, according to the Theravada sect. This sect also believes the easiest and best path to reaching enlightenment is to lead the life of a monk. In fact, every young Thai male, at one point in their adolescence, has to leave his family and become a monk, if even for a month. This is perceived to be an important lesson for the young man and a blessing for the family.