Although these days the scenery around our lovely little monastery usually looks quite tranquil and serene, just 40 years ago the area was quite literally a war zone! Like much of Southeast Asia at that time, communist and government forces were engaging in bitter and deadly conflicts. Khaokho district, the area where the monastery is situated, was an area where communist forces fled and hunkered down. The extremely hilly terrain and thick jungle made it easy to go undetected here. There was more than a decade of guerrilla style battles in this area, and many simple villagers died in the crossfire as well as thousands of soldiers on both sides.
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The Chedi design is based upon a fusion of three traditional Chedis from three different countries. It will stand 18 metres tall upon completion. The central spire of the Maha Bodhi Chedi in Bodhgaya has been blended with the central spire of the Ananda Chedi in Pagan, Myanmar. (Which has ascending niches in the wall for enshrining Buddha images) The indented corners that will give the spire a slightly more rounded appearance, are a feature of traditional Chedis from the Sukhothai era, a nod to local traditions of yore. The dome that will sit on top of the Chedi, like a smaller Chedi on top, will be a replica of the one on top of the Maha Bodhi Chedi in Bodhgaya, and will be carved out of a very large solid piece of green marble from India.
Originally I had intended to use terracotta bricks all throughout the Chedi, but after considering that the stone carvings that we will incorporate may well last many centuries, it seemed wise to try and find a more durable material. Eventually we decided upon granite as the most durable material and have ordered granite to be cut into a conventional brick size. The granite is a lovely pale orange colour when cut smooth but not polished – so we decided to order it unpolished. These granite bricks will form the outermost layer of the Chedi and will rise from the base to the very top.
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