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Sep 2006
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| Bamboo Thread Buddha Image |
(by NyuntTin, Emily)
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Myanmar and Thailand, there are more than 20 Bamboo Thread Buddha
Images nowadays. Most Images are higher than 18 feet. These
Images are built by Mr. Lone On Shai, who is now over 60 years
old together with 2 monks moving all over the country to build
Buddha Images with Bamboo.
Mr. Lone On Shai was a farmer who
stayed a normal life. He was born
in Tehchilaik, HwaiLinLan Village.
He has 3 siblings and he is the
eldest son. He has a family with
3 children. When he was 46 years
old, he saw a water snake which
has no poison. He played with snake’s
tail and suddenly the snake changed
to a cobra snake. All were so surprised
to see it. Starting that day, Mr.
Lone On Shai don’t kill any
animals, eat vegetables only till
today and deeply believe in Buddha.
After 7 years later, he dreamed
that he has to build Bamboo Thread
Images. At that time, he didn’t
even know how to build the Bamboo
Thread Images.
Then he started building Bamboo
Thread Images at Techilaik but
didn’t expect that he could
have done it by himself. After
118 days of hard work, people said
that the Buddha Image looks really
sublime.
His 10th Buddha Image is in Yangon, 9th Miles, at a Shan Monastery.
The Image is 18 feet high and width 12.75 feet. When he built
the Image, he gathered bamboo from KyaikHteeYoo which is in
Mon State. All helpers are virgin and male, female all together
35 people. They spent more than 100,000 bamboos. Within building
Image time, Mr. Lone On Shai keeps 9 precepts. Between the building
time, all helpers must eat vegetables only, don’t fight
each other, speak gentle and do not ask him when it would finish.
Now Mr. Lone On Shai is building Bamboo Thread Buddha Image
at Shwe Li, which is a border to China and it will take only
one month long. After this Image, we heard that he is going
to Mandalay for another Buddha Image.
Mostly Buddha Images are built with bronze, wood or cement,
but this Bamboo Thread Image is very rare and interesting. Also
Bamboo Thread Buddha Images are not likely to be found easily
in any part of the country. There are also only a very few technicians
who are building Buddha Images with Bamboo.
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Jan 2005
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| The story of a man called Zaw Min |
(by NyuntTin, Emily)
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This is the story of a man called Zaw Min. He is a Myanmar and
25 years of age. His way of life is very strange. He does not
take lunch or dinner daily, instead he eats razor blades, glasses
and snacks. He started eating razors blades since he was 8 years
old.
At present he had eaten razor blades, car keys, pencil sharpeners,
glasses, fluorescent tubes, bulbs and iron material from cellular
phones.
He cannot take rice and curry since childhood, but he cannot
stay without eating (razor blades or glasses). For his performance
of eating razor
blades and glasses his friends and onlookers used to give him
money and thus he earned his livelihood.
With the money he obtained for his performance he donated them
to old people (elders) & pagodas. He said that he can eat
200 razor blades or 3 fluorescent tubes or 3 glasses at a stretch.
He can also eat the body of a saloon car within 6 months time.
He cannot take clear water; instead he prefers tea, coffee,
plain-tea & cold drinks which have colors. Although he eats
razor blades and iron
materials, it does not affect his bowls or urination. He has
done his medical check-up & X-ray 4 times, and the doctors
remarked that his stomach has different characteristic features
compared to others.
He now lives in Yoe-lay ward, Hlaing Thar Yar Township which
is about one hour drive from downtown.
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