Buddha statues in lower Pak Ou Cave on the Mekong River north of Luang Prabang, Laos. Pak Ou is a series of limestone caves which contain hundreds of Buddha statues palced there over the centuries. It is a popular pilgrimage site for local people, especially during Lao New Year in April when the caves are crowded with devotees who gain merit by ceremonially washing the Buddha statues. The caves can be reached by boat from Luang Prabang in about 30-40 minutes.
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Buddha Retirement Home
The Pak Ou Caves, as I understand/misunderstand it, are where people discard their unwanted Buddha statues. I’ve never thought about it before, but I can see how disposing of The Enlightened One could pose a problem. You can’t just toss him into the trash with the coffee grounds. The caves, a sort of divine retirement home, offer a nice solution for discarding of a deity.
