The
Sanctuary of Truth is a gigantic wooden construction
which covers the area of more than two rais. The top point of the
building is about 105 meters high. It was constructed to withstand the
wind and sunshine on the seashore at Rachvate Cape, Tumbon Naklea,
Amphur Banglamung, Chon Buri Province.
The building was
constructed according to ancient Thai ingenuity and every square inch of
the building is covered with wooden carve sculpture. The purposes of
decoration with wooden carve sculptures are to use art and culture as
the reflection of Ancient Vision of Earth, Ancient Knowledge, and
Eastern Philosophy. With in this complex, visitors will understand
Ancient Life, Human Responsibility, Basic Thought, Cycle of living, Life
Relationship with Universe and Common Goal of Life toward Utopia.
From the Cold War era until
today, the world has been under the influence of western
civilization , accentuated by materialism and devotion to advanced
technology. Many natural areas have been degraded , and men have
drifted away from their old values in such a way that morality and
spiritual contentment have become irrelevant to many people. Their
attempts to control nature have transformed many people into
egotistical individuals who are out to destroy one another through
incessant wars and economic plundering. Most are after only
happiness in this life, and believing that there is no life after
this.
This sanctuary of truth was
conceived out of the vision that human civilization has been
achieved and nurtured by religious and philosophical has been
achieved and nurtured by religious and philosophical truth. This
sanctuary was created not from hubris but from goodness drawn from
religion , philosophy and art.
Man cannot be born and exist without seven creators. The Sanctuary
of Truth presents seven creators through carved wood sculptures
which adorn its interior. They are: Heaven , Earth , Father ,
Mother , Moon , Sun and Stars.
On top of the four spires of the sanctuary, the four elements that
will lead to the ideal world according to eastern philosophy are
presented
A wood sculpture of a
celestial body (Deva) holding a lotus flower , representing the
establishment of religion , the pillar of the world
Board 1
: This is a sanctuary where people can gather to recognize the
seven creators and the Four elements that will lead to the ideal
world whether for each individually or for the whole world.
The steps that humanity must go through to erach such an ideal
world include the war between the good and the evil, spiritually
and in battlefields. The creator of the art work presented here
portrays this through woodcarvings depicting the stories from two
greal epics, Mahabharta and Ramayana. These stories are meant to
help fight against personnel desires and lust and to extinguish
them.
Board 2
: Wood sculptures on the pediment depict Mahisha Sura Mardini, an
episode of Turaga Defeating Mahingsa the ogre, symbolizing
iqnorance conquered by wisdom.
Wood sculptures in the front gable depict parents, as the creators
who give life to their offspring. Parental love is clean and pure.
It id giving without taking, just like water in a clear stream
that refreshes the heart and soul.
The kindness of a father and a mother id greater than the sky and
the ocean.
Board 3
: Carvings depict episodes from the Krishnavatar, the 8th
reincarnation of Vishnu. They iclude Krishna on his cow Vardhana,
Krishna standing on the head of Naga, Krishna and the cowherds,
and Krishna on a swing with Radha.
In the epic Mahabharta, which is about the war between Good and
evil on the Kurukasetra plain, Krishna drove The chariot of a
Pandave king, the representative of Good who was waging war
against the Evil, a Kaurava King. Before entering the battlefield,
Krishna enlightened The Pandava king do that he would understand
and could
Perceive the cycle of birth and death. This became the teaching
sermon of Vishnu, known as the Bhagavatgita, on of the most famous
texts of Hinduism.
Board 4:
Wood sculptures representing the gods of the planet. These
plandets move around along their orbits in the sky. They influence
all human and the course of life The Deities who control these
movements are the gods of the Nine planets. According to an old
belief: The sun represents honor and social status.
The moon represents honor and social atatus.
Mars represents courage and industry.
Mercury represents gentleness.
Jupiter represents wisdom.
Venus represents wealth.
Saturn represents unhappiness and suffering.
Board 5
: Wood sculptures of Chinese supernatural beings, Including the
Bodhisatava, as viewed by Mahayan Buddhism is one of the two or
branches of Buddhism.
It is sometimes called the large vehicle that will carry people
across the cycle of birth and death.
Bodhisatava id the one who will become enlightened and be Buddha,
But declines to reach nirvana, wanting to save men from suffering
first.
There are countless Bodhisatavas in Mahayana Buddhism, such as
Bodhisatvalikotesavara (Kuan Yin), Bodhisatva Manyachusri, etc.
Although born under different circumstances, if they Conduct good
deeds and live good lives, men can be Released from the cycle of
karma.
Board 6 :
Carved work showing that the world is composed of Mahabhutas or
the great four elements; earth, water, wind and fire.
The gods these four elements are Brahma, Shiva andVishnu.
Shiva, god of Earht, who stays on top of the Krailas mountain has
a third eye in his forehead. When he opens his third eye, whatever
he looks at will burn. So he controls Fire.
Vishnu sleeps atop Ananta Nagaraj in the middle of a sea of milk.
He is the God of water.
Brahma who rides a swan is the god of the sky and the Wind.
Board 7
: This work indicates that humans art only dust in and will
ultimately become one with the universe.
Physical beings deteriorate, ravaged by the time, but truth and
goodness are immortal.
Materialistic pleasure is a superficial physical and external joy.
True happiness found in intrinsic spiritual pleasure.
Ideals make human life more meaningful.
Determination to go to the ideal world is something desired by all
men.
Every belief, every religion and every philosophy leads there by
different paths.
Four faced Brahman
surmounts the transept of the front pavilion. Brahma is one of the
three major Gods of the Hindu world. Called the Trimuarati, they
are brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. Brahma is self-conceived, and he is
believed to be the creator of the world and all beings. In
Buddhism, the four kharmas of a Brahman include kindliness,
benignity, rejoicing in others good fortune and equanimity.
To ponder the great
questions of heaven and earth and yet live for humanity, to study
and teach the sublime knowledge of scholars of the past, and to
create eternal Peace for all mankind. This id the true goal and
the knowledge great men strive to achieve.
