Handsome Buddha

During my boat trip on the Mekong river, we stopped at a cave where Lao pilgrims had placed over 4,000 statues of the Buddha.

This particular Buddha has an interesting story:

He started out life as a young, handsome man. However -- apparently -- girls just would not leave him alone, even when he became a monk. (Rather than indulge himself, the young man wanted instead to gain wisdom and escape the samsaric cycle of birth and death.)

So, to escape those pesky women, he asked the Buddha for help. The Buddha placed one hand on the young man's head, and one on his stomach, and magically made him fat, short, and ugly. Then, the women left him alone, and the young man was happy to practice and meditate in peace.

(Ugh. This guy's priorities were clearly not in order.)

btj