Leaving India on a late night flight gave me an added bonus of seeing the sunrise over the Bangkok airstrip as I landed and took off again for Northern Thailand. Checking off another thing I have wanted to do, took me to Chiang Rai to see its top tourist attraction, Wat Rong Khun.
Arriving at Wat Rong Khun, after a delicious lunch beside the river, left me awe struck just to stand and behold its sheer magnificence glistening brilliant white against the cobalt sky. Chalermchai Kositpipat is the world renowned Thai artist who has spent his own money to build the exquisite and spectacular white temple.
He designed and built the Wat to make merits and present contemporary Buddhist art with a unique style all his own. Chalermchai has used the white color of the ornate architecture to represent the Buddha’s purity, the glittering mirrors to symbolize the Buddha’s dharma that teaches man to observe his own mind and reflect loving kindness toward humankind.
After twelve years the complex is still not finished as the artist continues to add to it and paint interior murals. There is even a “golden toilet” building. .
Chalermchai has said, “Money and possessions are insignificant. They are not mine but only make-beliefs. Merits belong to me; there fore, money is of no value to me. Money is valuable only as a way to make merit for further journey of the soul.”
To visit Wat Rong Khun is free and has already been experienced by over five million people. Chalermchai Kositpipat believes work will continue on after his life and someday the “white temple” will become a national art treasure. I think it already is!
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