 When Lao people go about our daily lives, we are always reminded of Buddha; for people in Laos he represents everything that is good about humanity. The teachings of Buddha have been around for over 2,500 years, influencing people's minds and reminding them not to do bad things, inspiring people to create statues, paintings and sculptures in his honour, at temples throughout all Buddhist-practicing nations. The Lord Buddha was the most intelligent man on earth; he hated all systems of social discrimination, whether rich people looking down upon the poor or a poor girl with no opportunity to marry above herself. He despised anything that implied an imbalance in society. His teachings have been absorbed in the minds of all Buddhist people such as not to discriminate and kill other people, but to appreciate and promote good things in life and keep your minds at ease. People have never stopped following his principles and teachings. Statues and pictures express the dedication of his followers and chart his movements in every period. The name of Buddha was Sithatha. He was born on Friday on the 15th day of sixth month of the Lao lunar calendar in the year of dog. Sihatha was the son of a Queen in Thahanakhone kingdom, but he was born in a forest. Sithatha did not like the governance system of the Hindu religion that allowed discrimination of social classes, particularly that a person born into a Hindu family could not get married to a King. When Sihartha was first born, he walked seven steps and confidently said that he would become the most special person in the world and would eliminate all discrimination in society having meditated for ten lives to insure he could achieve this. When he was six years old, he went with his father to the forest. He sat under a tree to meditate. The shade of a tree, naturally, would change with the movement of the sun, but the shade on his tree stayed in the same position despite the sun's movements. When his father saw him under the tree with the shade of the tree unmoved, he kneeled down to show respect to his son. When he was 16 years old, he married the daughter of a King in Thavathaha kingdom and they had a child together. While living in the kingdom, he saw a lot of people discriminated against. Many of them fought each other to get power. He did not like the situation and he thought of ways to deal with the problem. At 29 years old, he left his wife and was ordained near the river and meditated under the Pho tree. Pho means stable, excellence and power. The tree was also quiet and windy, perfect conditions for meditation. One day, a girl, who always came to worship by the tree, saw him and she instantly believed that he was a god. Another day, she went to the tree again to make offerings to him. He was visited by five senior monks who came to predict his future. One monk said he would become the most powerful person in the world while another monk said he would become Buddha. Next, he stopped eating food and only meditated in the hope of becoming Buddha. He had not eaten for many months and Pha In, another god in the heaven saw him and advised him not to do this. He began to eat again. When the five monks saw him eating, they lost respect for him and escaped to live in the forest. After the five monks left him, he stood under the Pho tree for 49 days. He could see everything going on around him while he was meditating, and could see the five monks in the forest. He went to meet the five monks and at first, they would not meet him. With his powers of meditation Buddha managed to control their minds and they finally agreed to meet him. However, the monks felt sorry for leaving him and moving into the forest. They all agreed that at the time of meeting Buddha, he was the most unique person on earth. The five monks then turned to a life of meditation, like Buddha. Months later, he became Buddha (Tud Sa lou) and meditated under the Pho tree. "At the time that he would become Buddha many girls showed off their bodies in an effort to break his heart or stop him from being the Buddha, but he never ceased to go towards his destiny," said Pha Khammoun, a monk at Phirvat temple. The five monks were his representatives to expand the Buddhist religion and his teachings to the people of the world. Buddha died the same day he was born - Friday, the 15th day of sixth month of the Lao lunar calendar in the year of dog - aged 80. Before he died, he saw the five monks crying and told them to stop crying. He asked them to continue expanding his principles and teachings to people on earth. Even though he died, his name exists in the hearts of all Buddhist people. |
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