Xieng Khuan Buddha Park

Umbrella for sun or rain, originally uploaded by B℮n.

Photo: Buddhist monks passing the enormous reclining Buddha; the Buddha's final state of enlightenment: their lifestyle is shaped so as to support their spiritual practice, to live a simple and meditative life.

Xieng Khuan is a Buddha park located 25 km southeast from Vientiane, Laos, in a meadow by the Mekong River. It may be referred to as Wat Xieng Khuan. The name Xieng Khuan means Spirit City. The park was built by Luang Pu (Venerable Grandfather) Bunleua Sulilat. Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat was a priest-shaman who integrated Hinduism and Buddhism. At the top, there is a vantage point where the entire park is visible. An enormous 40 m high reclining Buddha, is also a park attraction. The reclining posture may represent the Buddha resting or sleeping, but more usually represents the mahāparinabbāna: the Buddha's final state of enlightenment before his death.

Uploaded on 14 Nov 08, 8.44AM PDT, text and photo by Ben.