Shocked by Thai graffiti on Bagan reclining Buddha
I am currently travelling in Myanmar with my Thai girlfriend. Yesterday we started touring old Bagan and were amazed at the age, beauty and sheer number of temples and pagodas. But we were also very disappointed that some visitors had shown a lack of resp
Visiting the Shwesandaw Temple compound and its 18-metre-long reclining Buddha – the second biggest in Bagan and almost 1,000 years old – I was shocked to see a bright blue signature in Thai with “Thailand” written in English below. When my girlfriend translated the graffiti, I was even more shocked to learn that it was apparently the signature of monk. The local merchant who showed us the Buddha confirmed that she had seen the monk signing his name. She expressed shock at his absolute disregard for such a sacred statue.
Nothing can be done now to fix either the damage done to the statue or to the image of Thai monks here. I’m writing in the hope that this monk will be shamed and that no other Thai monk will think it’s okay to do the same.
Steve Larsen
