The Gold Buddhas

By Glenn Boda

Treasure! Imagine 4 tons of gold planted in Cambodia’s remote jungle by a Khmer king 800 years ago. It’s alluded to in an ancient bronze inscription found in the 1920’s by a French explorer, treasure hunter, and opportunist. Part of the inscription hidden by the ancient king is recently discovered in the form of an incomplete, torn carbon rubbing in a Phnom Penh book shop. How did it find its way there? It contains only hints of the secret, hidden gold Buddha, but enough for the treasure hunt to begin.
Two graduate students from Yale University, both doing graduate research in Cambodia, begin the search. But, they are not alone. The competition will not hesitate to kill or torture as our two treasure hunters quickly discover.
The novel is based on history which is factual. The story alternates between historical events relating to the gold Buddha treasure, then jumps back to the present treasure hunt. Unravel the Buddha’s secrets and join the trek into Cambodia’s dark jungles. But stay alert, remember there are land mines!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Glenn Boda
• Release date: Jul 7, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301823703

Glenn Boda

Glenn is a retired college teacher from Madison, Wisconsin. He met Sophat at a temple In Phnom Penh many years ago. After hearing Sophat's compelling story, a collaboration was founded which resulted in this story finally being told. Sophat lived this unbeleveable story of survivial. He lives in Phnom Penh and attends graduate school at the University of Cambodia. He also serves as executive director of an organizatoin called Men's Health Social Service.

Book preview

THE GOLD

BUDDHAS

∆

By

Glenn boda

Glenn Boda

Copyright 2013 by Glenn Boda

Smashwords Edition

Acknowledgments

I extend my thanks and gratitude to the many people who have graciously read The Gold Buddhas manuscript during the early stages of the writing. Collectively, they have made suggestions and corrections that have greatly improved the content of the novel. Some of those contributing to the text include: Jim Berger, Michael Kostrna, Harlene Ames, Jim Knutson, Marilyn Carien, Roger Parsons, Monsine Disalvo, and John Boda.

NOTES ON THE GOLD BUDDHAs

Of course, The Gold Buddhas is fiction; however, much of the story and history are true. King Jayavarman VII was in fact Cambodia’s greatest king and it is true that after his death the Khmer Empire collapsed. There are inscriptions that hint he was the great leper king referred to by prominent legend. The dates of his reign are accurate, as are his accomplishments both in war victories and in building roads, hospitals, barays and temples. He was Cambodia’s greatest builder. The Jayavarman inscription noting the king’s compassion for his people is real – it exists along with others suggesting he wanted to end all illness for his subjects. There are inscriptions that both of his queens had an active role in government, especially hospital construction. Evidence exists suggesting that he had more compassion for his people than any previous king. As in the book, he did change the kingdom from Hindu to Buddhist and he did build the temple noted for his master monk. He did live to 90 years, exceptional considering what must have been the life expectancy 800 years ago.

The gold Buddha in Wat Traimitwitthayaram (the name defined in the book is true) does exist and is in excess of five tons of gold. Its origin is a mystery. Monks found the painted, plaster-covered statue in Thailand’s old capital of Sukhothai after a likely move there from an unknown location. Plaster covered the statue for centuries and modern monks did not discover the gold until some plaster chipped off as described in the book. Nobody knows where the statue came from, or its history, except that gold artists created it at a time consistent with Jayavarman’s reign when Siam was a part of Cambodia.

The attempted theft of Wat Banteay Srey by André (not the real name) did in fact happen, as did the real Frenchmen’s expulsion from Cambodia. The dates of the theft are consistent with reality. Craftsmen did restore the temple with the recovered stone carvings and today it is one of Cambodia’s must see destinations. Like the story, the real character did have two short-lived marriages each followed by divorce, and there was a daughter by his first marriage. The second marriage resulted in twin sons rather than a single son as in the story. A car crash killed both of the teenage twins. The actual André character did become prominent in French government and became the Minister of Culture. The dates of his life are real.

The quarry used for Angkor Wat’s construction was in the mountain described in the manuscript. The village of Kulen does exist in the Kulen Mountains where the quarry is located next to a small river that served as transportation of stone to the temple site.

Most of the hotels, guesthouses and restaurants in Phnom Penh and Siam Reap are real.

Yale University does have an extensive program in Asian history and culture, and the university does research that is consistent with the story.

THE GOLD

BUDDHAS

∆

By

Glenn boda

Chapter 1

July 9, 1215

Angkor Tom Palace

Jayavarman VII lay in agony. Fierce pain sliced through every fiber. The king had long believed that leprosy would take his life, now he knew different. Leprosy was painless, his new illness was excruciating. Still, the Buddhist king realized his good fortune; no other Khmer king had lived to ninety years old. During his 34 year reign, he achieved greatness unparalleled by any other Khmer God King.

As had happened every morning for more than 25 years, a soft knock echoed from his bedroom door. Arrigonen slowly opened the gilded, intricately carved teak door leading to Jayavarman’s bedchamber. He entered as always, wearing his saffron colored Buddhist monk robe.

My Lord, good morning, how do you feel today?

Arrigonen, the pain is nearly unbearable. I barely slept last night.

Why have you not smoked the medicine from the poppy given to you by the Chinese Emperor?

This morning I must know the plans for the enlightenment. We both know my days are short. Now even pure rice comes back up stained with blood. The Chinese medicine ends pain, but it also ends thinking. This morning I must be alert.

My father, what do you wish to know?

The three enlightenments, are they in place? Are my bronze inscriptions with them?

Arrigonen had answered these questions many times. In the last year, Jayavarman had grown forgetful and needed constant reminders. Patience was one of the many virtues of Arrigonen; he never tired of telling stories again and again. The king’s trusted mentor and dedicated monk possessed other virtues: unquestioned loyalty, wisdom, understanding, and gentleness. During their many years together, the young monk had gained power that was envied by everyone close to the ancient monarch.

Long ago, the king had split his power into thirds. There was no force that compelled him to do so. Power drove Jayavarman just as it had previous Khmer kings, but his purpose was profoundly different. Past kings seized power to satisfy their lust for greatness. Jayavarman knew his greatness; he had no reason to prove it. He did not hesitate sharing his power if it strengthened the kingdom and benefited his people. For this reason, Arrigonen became one leg of the triangle.

Jayavarman filled his life with symbols. They connected him to the Gods and guided his rule. The symbols were mystical and expressed the king’s philosophy. The triangle symbolized strength. The circle represented endlessness – infinity. The king’s royal symbol became a circle embedded in an equilateral triangle. It appeared at the beginning of all the king’s communiqués written upon thin strips of bamboo. The circle was at the core of Jayavarman’s Buddhist beliefs; it represented repeated reincarnations driven by merit. The sides of the triangle touched the circle giving it strength.

The king believed that his rule was the triangle, and that he was just one of the three legs. Arrigonen was the second. Indradevi, the king’s second queen, completed the triad. The king’s triangle ruled and gave strength to his reign.

Jayavarman turned the kingdom upside down when he transformed the country from Hinduism to Buddhism. Only one other king had been a Buddhist. It was Arrigonen who skillfully executed the change. Jayavarman’s triangle was able to subdue all-out war from Hindu monks by allowing statues of Hindu Gods to coexist with Buddha images. The transition was peaceful, but Jayavarman could not smash the Hindu monks’ anger in a single generation. Their fall from power caused enduring resentment against the Buddhist king.

Jayavarman met Arrigonen early in his reign, and was immediately impressed with the young monk’s intellect and insight. Time bonded the two together, and Arrigonen became the king’s master monk and completed the missing side of the triangle. They became as father and son. Late in life, when Jayavarman contracted leprosy, only Arrigonen remained unafraid to touch the king. The monk’s beliefs in karma were so secure that he never hesitated touch – he knew what would be would be.

Arrigonen sat next to the king and placed his hand on the king’s shoulder. The young monk’s thoughts meandered to memories of his childhood and early adulthood. The dedicated, young monk remembered meeting Jayavarman soon after the ruler was crowned king. Arrigonen’s parents had died of illness soon after his birth. Buddhist monks raised and educated the orphaned boy at a large temple. Arrigonen was an exceptionally gifted child, his teachers recognized that early on while at the temple. The teaching monks remembered his passion for knowledge and study. He learned much faster than the other children did and old monks at the temple recognized that even as a boy he possessed a sense of wisdom rarely seen even in adults.

His teachers also detected his seemingly single obsession beyond study. Only art excited Arrigonen and seemed to be his only passion, an infatuation that he retained for life. Often one of the monks would take the young boy to other temples to view splendid stone and bronze statues, brilliantly carved stone bas-reliefs, and huge temples bursting with magnificent architecture. Only on these journeys did the young orphan seem more pleased than during his constant studies. The gods imposed Arrigonen’s prophecy – he filled his boyhood with study and little else, but in manhood, this would be his great strength.

The orphan seemed more at ease with adults than with other children his own age. Perhaps that was because his intellect more closely matched adults than his peers. He could not remember his parents and accordingly he did not miss them. His acceptance by many monks more than made up for his parental loss. It was his quest for knowledge that shielded him from ever feeling lonely. Besides, now he had a father . . . the king.

Finally, Arrigonen emerged from his thoughts of the past, My father, let me review the enlightenment and the royal triangle.

The king listened intently while in pain. He had heard the story often, but had forgotten. For him, this was the first time. Jayavarman’s mind remained sharp – only his memory had faded. Arrigonen had become accustomed to telling stories over again many times.

Arrigonen again retold the progress, The three gold Buddha statues are cast. You have never seen them because you have grown too weak to travel. Can you remember seeing the wax statues used for the molds? They were sculpted by our best artist right here in the place.

The king thought and believed he remembered.

They were beautiful, he finally said.

Yes, even the wax sculptures that you saw were amazing, but the gold castings are stellar. I sat and stared at each one for several hours. All three bedazzled and mesmerized me with their glittering beauty. They are brilliant artistic masterpieces.

Jayavarman’s eyes surged with a mix of concentration and agony, Tell me about each.

Arrigonen had described each gold Buddha many times, but this was part of the story that he never tired of telling. The statues were so beautiful and spectacular he could describe them endlessly without tiring.

"My Lord, your leg of the triangle – your Buddha – is the most beautiful. The casting required ten ox-carts of gold each weighing as much as six men. The cast gold Buddha stands upon the coils of a seven headed Naga. Rubies, emeralds, and sapphires are set into every gold serpent scale. It is here where the genius of the artist explodes. The precious stones are not randomly scattered. The artist inserted the gems so that the serpent’s body changes color gradually. The scales on the seven heads are rubies whose color slowly changes from dazzling chrisom, to rose, to purple. Along the Naga’s body, bright blue sapphires gradually replace the rare purple rubies. Finally, toward the tail, sapphires give way to the rich greens of emeralds. Of course, the Buddha itself glistens of polished gold, as do the spaces between the gems of Naga’s scales.

"Only your Buddha is surrounded with magnificent art. Long ago, you have been to the great hidden hall and marveled at the carving then in progress. Our finest artists carved many of the statues here before moving them to their place in the secret chamber. The gold Buddha stands at the end of the promenade of the Khmer’s greatest art.

Seven pairs of Cambodian lions guard the secret entrance and form the beginning of the promenade leading to the gold Buddha. Artists carved each matched pair of lions from a different stone, so each pair glistens with a different color: white, black, gray, brown, red, yellow, and green. Many other stone and bronze statues complete the walk.

But Arrigonen, where is my bronze inscription? That is the most important of all. Only it gives us direction upon enlightenment – our rebirth after death.

"Your bronze inscription is mounted on the wall behind the Buddha. Of course, that and the three others will be the most important to our rebirth. Only the inscriptions will give us wisdom and direction during our future, reborn reign.

"Jayavarman, can you remember the best art we have ever seen? Brilliant artists carved the secret chamber’s stone walls with gods, kings, people, and scenes. After the lions, the hall begins with Hindu gods – then moves to statues of our great kings with their histories carved into the wall – then artists carved your life into the stone and there are several statues of you and your queens. Finally, there is the part you loved most – the common people at work and play. So walking the promenade is not just an excursion through art, it is also a trip through time and history.

I sat in this chamber, lit by a sea of burning torches, for many hours. I still tremble when I recall gazing upon the chamber’s masterpieces of art. The secret chamber is now sealed and the gold Buddha sleeps with the statues while standing in total darkness. The Great One awaits your return!

Details often overtook the king; he asked, How was the Buddha carried into the chamber?

My father, all three were cast in place upon their stone pedestals. The Buddha castings have never moved because they were too heavy. The other stone and bronze statues in the secret chamber were light enough to move so they were made here.

Tell me of Indradevi’s Buddha.

"Indradevi’s is a reclining Buddha. Artists used as much gold for it as was used for your Buddha. As you know, Indradevi and her sister, Jayarajadevi, loved jade jewelry even more than gold. The reclining Buddha rests upon a jade rug, filled with intricate patterns of multicolored jade, which floats upon one of the seas surrounding Mount Meru. The sea of milk is rough. Artists carved and polished each wave of the sea from large pieces of jade. Most are green, but colors extend to whites skillfully embedded to show foam.

Looking upon the Buddha bedazzles even one without any interest in art. The workers fell to their knees upon seeing the Buddha that emerged when they removed the cast.

Jayavarman smiled. Arrigonen saw tears forming in the old king’s eyes. The ruler’s first queen was Jayarajadevi. She was queen before Arrigonen became the king’s devoted master monk. The young Buddhist leader had never met Jayarajadevi, but the king constantly talked about her – often with teary eyes.

Unlike previous kings, Jayavarman broke with tradition. He remained faithful. The king’s harem never entered his bedchamber and remained unused except for a great variety of unauthorized male visitors. After his queen died, the king quickly announced that Jayarajadevi’s sister would become the next queen. He quickly transferred his affections to Indradevi, and when he talked about her to Arrigonen, tears also appeared. Indradevi had died a few days after the king’s eighty-fifth birthday. The king had never been the same. Her death broke one side of the triangle.

The king always insisted that the queen’s side of the triangle consist of both Jayarajadevi and Indradevi. The king even ordered the same single funeral urn for both queens – the ashes of the sisters were intermingled.

Jayavarman regained focus. His affectionate smile and teary eyes gave way to serious business.

And what of your Buddha?

Mine my Lord is very plain, but beautiful. It has neither gems nor jade. Its simplicity makes it stunning. Artists cast it in the open before secretly enclosing it with stone. Before the closure, the great Buddha sitting in full sunlight exploded with a million rays of golden light. Now it sleeps in total darkness awaiting our enlightenment.

The king’s face revealed great concern and worry. His questions continued without pause, Arrigonen, how do we know that the secret is secure?

"My Lord, all is secure. The stone carvers worked and lived only inside of this palace or in the secret hall. We forbid them to leave either and they had no idea of where they were working. I alone took the craftsmen and artists to each site in an enclosed, locked wagon without windows. I choose the oldest and best artists in the kingdom. Everyone was more than sixty years of age. They all swore a pledge to you and to secrecy under punishment of death. Soon they will die off of natural causes. Time will hide our secret forever – until you return for the enlightenment – until our rebirths.

"In several trips I secretly delivered the gold to each Buddha site. It was covered and nobody suspected the true content. We Buddhists should not lie – this was the exception. I told anyone who asked that I carried simple supplies. I think Buddha will understand. Besides, it is more of a sin to believe a lie than to tell one. It is at each clandestine Buddha site that goldsmiths cast the three gold statues. Yes father, our secret is secure!

Further, I have protected each Buddha with a trap that will destroy any invader. Anyone unaware of our secret shall find death an instant after seeing a gold Buddha.

Brighter morning light now streamed through open bedchamber windows. Arrigonen looked upon the old, worn body of the king. Leprosy had eaten away at Jayavarman’s nose and fingers. He usually wore a gold mask when dealing with strangers, but no mask ever separated these two men. Nothing stood between the keen love and honor that bonded them. Arrigonen did not see the ugliness. He saw past atrophied limbs, wrinkled skin, and deformities. He saw only a beautiful person who had given him everything. He saw the strong warrior wielding a mighty sword while riding atop a giant elephant leading his army to victory after victory. He saw a younger, stronger king helping his people, a king who brought prosperity, security, and wellbeing to his subjects. He felt the honor and privilege of having been the right arm of such a man.

Window light flickered across the face of the monk. Arrigonen looked even younger when contrasted with the ancient king. In age, he could pass for the youngest son of the king. He devoted his life to Buddha and to Jayavarman. Unlike most of the other monks at the royal temple, he remained faithful – he never spent an evening with a palace girl. His handsome looks and muscular build would surely have made such evenings easy.

Pain shown on the king’s face, but he remained alert. His voice was still deep and commanding at age ninety. He asked the biggest of his questions.

Arrigonen, how can we be sure of the enlightenment and reincarnation? Of our rebirth?

"My father, we know reincarnation will present a new life to all of us. Buddha’s enlightenment cast him into Nirvana forever. Only He has reached total enlightenment. Even the greatest of kings shall not find such enlightenment. For us, enlightenment shall be reincarnation to a great status. Until rebirth, our souls pass through the shadows. Our spirits must patiently wait in darkness for our enlightenment, which shall be our illumination and rebirth.

We know present status drives future status – only merit can affect change. No man in the kingdom could possibly have acquired your merit. You converted the entire nation to Buddhism! You have never lost in battle and have conquered Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Burma, and even a part of Malaysia. Still, your victories were always kind. You treated captured slaves well and provided them with a path out of slavery into citizenship of the kingdom. No other king has done this.

Jayavarman looked pleased. Even a smile appeared.

Arrigonen continued, "You built more temples than any other king. To show honor to Suryavaman II, you purposely restrained building any of your temples as large as Angkor Wat. You, Jayarajadevi, and Indradevi built more than one-hundred hospitals for your subjects. You built stone roadways stretching across our kingdom. You constructed large barays connected with endless canals that irrigated great rice paddies. They always provided our people a surplus of food.

Further, you built Banteay Kdei, the Citadel of the Cells, which was devoted to me. Never has a loyal, modest monk been honored with a temple from his king. Now the cells are occupied by monks from my order. The great honor is more to Buddha than to me.

The king remembered the vast construction frenzy. He believed it was his finest hour – even greater than his military victories.

"Your greatest merit comes from the respect you give to the people. Unlike other kings, you always give your subjects justice, honor, and dignity. Even the faces you ordered carved into the towers at the Bayon express compassion and altruism – they are your face.

My Lord, there is no doubt that you will return as an even greater Khmer King. It is to your reborn self that the three gold Buddha statues shall one-day return. Your future reincarnation shall – with our help – find the statues and your wise inscriptions. The triangle surrounding the circle will return to rule. The symbol shows your endless return and the great strength and power you will possess in your future lives as king.

Excitement stirred in the ancient king. His eyes became almost as bright as when he led armies to victory. Jayavarman’s ancient, thin, discolored lips moved with conviction.

But I will not be the only one to return. You, Jayarajadevi, and Indradevi will also return. We shall again complete the triangle. This time we will finish all that remains unfinished, and we shall also finish all that we never had time to begin. We will fulfill the four inscriptions. The king’s eyes darted back and forth. Arrigonen knew that the old king’s mind had aimlessly wandered to other thoughts.

"Arrigonen, why have the Gods played with us so? I do not understand. Why have none of my sons learned to understand power? Why are my sons weak and dull? Even I have not been able to teach them. I have studied all the usurpers and they too are likewise ignorant. None understand where power originates – once obtained, they do not know how to use it.

"My sons will not listen when I tell them power flows up from the people: from farmers, masons, carpenters, bakers, and artists. They believe power flows only from armies. All of them crave power only for themselves. They will not understand that power must flow back to its origin – back to the people, just as rain comes from the sea and returns to the sea in great rivers. Why will they not understand?

Power is the secret of our gold Buddha statues. Gold is power, but not when hoarded in a royal bank. When we return, the gold statues will be public. Our Khmer subjects will see them . . . admire them . . . revere them. They will be the peoples’ prize. They will be the very essence of Khmer pride. Power from the people will flow back to the circle of infinity embedded in the triangle of strength. Back to us!

Arrigonen always had answers. He too understood power.

Jayavarman, you have learned long ago how empty power is; the heirs to the throne believe power will fill them with glory.

"Yes, you are right Arrigonen. It is that lust that will destroy Cambodia. I know they will bring chaos to our land worse than when the sea of milk was churned by the gods. And