Animals guarding the temples

Statues in Wat Pha Singh, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Mainly, I have seen 2 animals guarding the temples:

• Nagas look like giant cobras and they are heavily decorated. Naga has a large symbology but mainly was the serpent who did protect Buddha when he was meditating
• Lions representing strength and the power of the mind. They usually have their mouth half open because they are roaring, this call awakens all sentient beings to the power of the Dharma. 

Elephant guarding the temple in Elephant Temple

Human guardian :-)

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On how buddhism humilliates women

Today I have felt really hurt twice in a place that had never hurt before:

• I went to visit some of the buddhist Temples in Chiang Mai, Thailand and in one of them I was denied access because I am a woman. A nice big sticker decorated the stairs “Women are not allowed”
• In the afternoon we went to what they call “Monk chat”, a talk with the monks about buddhism and culture. When we were leaving, we were saying goodbye to one of the monks and he gave Robert a handshake, when I offered my hand, we rapidly moved his hand to his back.  

Photo by Garycycles

Of course, it is my fault for now remembering that I am not supposed to touch a monk. Of course it is my fault for being a tempting and dirty woman, so nasty that I cannot enter their temples or touch them.

During the chat, I asked the monks if it was common not to let women enter their temples, the reply was clear “I have never been in that particular temple”. A british girl asked if in the eyes of Buddhism, man and women are equal, the reply was “Yes, because both of us can reach enlightment”. Hypocrisy, wanting to like, disrespect… this religion are really backwards!

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El budismo humilla a la mujer

Hoy me he sentido profundamente herida en dos ocasiones. Aquí van:

• He estado visitando templos en la ciudad de Chiang Mai, he ido a uno en el que nohe podido entrar por ser mujer, un gran cartel “Prohibida la entrada a mujeres”decoraba las escaleras.
• Heido a una comunidad budista a una charla que semalmente algunos monjes hacencon los turistas, al terminar, hemos ido a saludar a uno de los monjes. Él leha dado la mano a Robert y por supuesto yo también le he puesto la mano, alinstante él ha retirado la suya y se la ha puesto detrás de la espalda.

Foto de Garycycles

Claro, es culpamía por no recordar que los monjes no me pueden tocar. Claro, es culpa mía porser mujer, tentadora y sucia, por esto no puedo entrar en sus templos.

Les he preguntadoa los monjes si era normal no dejar entrar a las mujeres en algunos templos yla respuesta ha sido “Yo nunca he estado en ese templo”. Durante la charla, una chica ha preguntado sia ojos del budismo, mujeres y hombres son iguales, la respuesta ha sido “Síporqué todos pueden conseguir la iluminación”. Cuanta hipocresía! Cuantas ganas de gustar! Quésociedad tan retrasada!

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