The Clay Buddha
In a large temple of minor significance in northern Thailand, there once stood a 9-foot-tall statue of a clay buddha. The origin of the statue is unknown, but over the next few hundred years, the clay buddha endured numerous relocations, army assaults, government turnovers and violent storms.
In 1955, the clay buddha was once again lifted from the pedestal to be relocated to a new building in the temple when the ropes broke and the statue fell on the ground. The clay cracked, and the monks noticed the shiny gold surface underneath the plaster coating.
Soon after, the true nature of the buddha statue, casted in 5 tons of gold, was revealed. Now, the golden buddha is housed in the Wat Traimit temple, drawing pilgrims from all over the world.
Every weekday morning for two months now, I walk three blocks from my apartment to a zendo (meditation hall) in downtown Salt Lake City for the morning zazen (meditation) at 7:45am.
During the short walk, I pass the International Rescue Committee, St. Vincent de Paul Homeless Resource Center and a large homeless shelter. Next to the shelter are two portable toilets enclosed by fences with a giant metal lock. Dozens of men and women congregate here every morning.
The portable toilets have a guard who comes every morning to open the fences. When I first discovered the zendo and…
