Excursion to Dhammakaya UFO, Phuttha Monthon

[jpatokal]

So it looks like I'll be in Bangers with some time to spare this weekend, and I was thinking of finally making the trek over to see the Dhammakaya UFO (http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=674&page=2&highlight=thammakai) and/or Phuttha Monthon (http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=938). Anybody else interested in tagging along? Saturday and Sunday are both OK.

On the previous episode of "visit the weird cult":
http://jpatokal.iki.fi/photo/travel/Korea/Guinsa/ (Wikitravel (http://wikitravel.org/en/Guinsa))

[jpatokal]

I'm a little surprised no 2bkkers were interested in tagging along? But I and my trusty Jpatokal Weird Cult Investigation sidekick went to check it out last Sat. It's humongo-bongo-licously gigantic and they're busily building yet another stupendously huge concrete viewing platform thingy around the main stupa now. Will post up some pictures later this week...

[jpatokal]

Gallery from Wat Dhammakaya:

http://jpatokal.iki.fi/photo/travel/Thailand/WatDhammakaya/

The weather wasn't cooperating too well, and I would've needed a tripod and telephoto lens to get any closeups of the 300,000 Buddhas, but hopefully you can still get some sense of the size of the place. In eg. this pic (http://jpatokal.iki.fi/photo/travel/Thailand/WatDhammakaya/MeditationHall_Logo.JPG), note the flyspeck in the lower righthand corner -- it's a human riding a bike.

[GWR]

My impressions from these pictures are the same as from flying over it. It's a souless concrete monstrosity with not a tree in sight. I would rather see the scrubland and paddy that it was before they bulldozed it to create this alien mess. Definitely a fascist sect for alienated townies! I can't think of a single good reason why I would wish to invest my spiritual life in a sect that has such an obvious distain for anything natural.

But thanks for taking the time out to go there and send us these pictures.

I have very similar feelings about Phuttha Monthon. Carefully clipped hedges and geometric driveways obviously don't suit my rustic sensibilities.

[Wisarut]

Well, It has been well known fact that those Thugs in Saapphron Cloths from Dammakaya Sect / and thier alliance within Mahathera Samakhom are now runnning Day to Day Business in Phutthamonthon ....

They even kick out those who run Bhumibalo Bhikkhu foundation of Buddhist Learning out of both Wat Saket and Phutthamonthon despiute of the fact that this foundation belongs to His Majesty :eek:

[jpatokal]

My impressions from these pictures are the same as from flying over it. It's a souless concrete monstrosity with not a tree in sight.
Actually, it's not quite as bad as you'd think from the pictures, there is a fair bit of parkland and a lake or two especially at the approach. But the amount of concrete they use is indeed incredible and the "Meditation Amphitheatre" thing under construction around the Cetiya is 100% concrete, without a hint of shade. It was pretty darn hot and tedious to walk around there even on a comparatively cloudy and cool day in the rainy season (most local staff and construction workers were wisely using bicycles), it must be a nightmare in April :eek: