Old Bagan Style
Sculpted Black Lacquerware
Buddhist Monk Alms Rice Box
Elephant Design
100% HANDMADE
THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING OLD BAGAN STYLE SCLUPTED BLACK LACQUER WARE BUDDHIST MONK ALMS BOX. IT IS IN MAGNIFICENT CONDITION FOR IT'S AGE AND IS DECORATED WITH A EXQUISITE ELEPHANT DESIGN. IN BUDDHIST BELIEF, THE ELEPHANT IS MOST REVERED AMONG CREATURES AND ITS LIKENESS IS OFTEN SEEN AT THE ENTRANCE OF BUDDHISTS TEMPLES GUARDING AGAINST EVIL. DECORATIVE LACQUER WARE BOXES LIKE THIS WERE (AND STILL ARE) USED TO STORE RICE (USUALLY STICKY RICE THAT HAS BEEN PUT INTO PACKETS USUALLY MADE OF BANANA LEAVES.) THAT IS DISTRIBUTED TO MONKS. THIS MAY TAKE PLACE IN THE TEMPLE OR WORSHIPERS MAY DISTRIBUTE RICE TO MONKS IN THE STREET WHEN THEY COLLECT THEIR DAILY ALMS IN THE EARLY MORNING. THIS IS STILL DONE TODAY AND IS A BEAUTIFUL SITE. I OFTEN GO OUT IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS JUST TO SEE THIS AMAZING RITUAL. THIS IS A MUST HAVE FOR ANY COLLECTOR NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF ITS SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE BUT ALSO IT AESTHETIC BEAUTY AND BALANCE. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO COME ACROSS AND ACQUIRE THIS PIECE ON ONE OF MY ANTIQUE ADVENTURES IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE REGION. MAGNIFICENT OLD LACQUER WARE PIECES LIKE THIS ARE INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO FIND AND PROCURE THESE DAYS.NOW IT CAN BE YOURS... DON'T LET THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY PASS YOU BY... BUY IT NOW!
Dimensions: Approx 14 inches X 9 inches (can be seen in photos above)
MATERIALS: BAMBOO LACQUER WARE
Age: 19TH CENTURY
DON'T LET THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY SLIP AWAY... BUY IT NOW!
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.... DOBUYDON.
SHIPPING (PLEASE READ
I will ship your item via International
Registered Air Mail as soon as payment is received. Registered Mail is the most
reliable and secure method of shipping and guarantees that your item will
arrive. I have never lost any registered mail shipments. Normal shipping time
to most locations is 10-14 business days. Sometimes it can take longer… please
be patient. Once
your shipment arrives, a signature
will be required. If no one is available to sign for the shipment the post
office should leave a notice and you may have to go pick up your item.
Expedited shipping via International Express Mail Service (EMS) is available for an extra charge. Normal shipping time to most locations via EMS is 5 working days. Please email me for a price quote if you desire express shipping.
Please remember to check customs
regulations before importing items that may be restricted in your country.
PROBLEMS – If you have
any problems I ask that you please email me so that we can resolve any issues
between ourselves.
ONCE YOU RECEIVE YOUR
SHIPMENT - I
ask that you please email and let me know that you have received the shipment
as soon as possible. If you are happy with the item and with the service that I
have provided, I ask that you please leave POSITIVE FEEDBACK. I strive to
provide 5 STAR products and services... Thanks again for your support….
Dobuydon.
In Buddhism, alms or almsgiving is the respect given by a lay Buddhist to a Buddhist monk, nun, spiritually-developed person or other sentient being. It is not charity as presumed by Western interpreters. It is closer to a symbolic connection to the spiritual realm and to show humbleness and respect in the presence of the secular society.[note 1] The act of alms giving assists in connecting the human to the monk or nun and what he/she represents. As the Buddha has stated:
Householders & the homeless or charity [monastics]
in mutual dependence
both reach the true Dhamma....
In Theravada Buddhism, monks (Pāli: bhikkhus) and nuns go on a daily almsround (or pindacara) to collect food. This is often perceived as giving the laypeople the opportunity to make merit (Pāli: puñña). Money should not be accepted by a Buddhist monk or nun in lieu of or in addition to food, although nowadays not many monks and nuns keep to this rule (the exception being the monks and nuns of the Thai Forest Tradition and other Theravada traditions which focus onvinaya and meditation practice). In countries that follow Mahayana Buddhism, it has been impractical for monks to go on a daily almsround. In China, Korea and Japan, monasteries were situated in remote mountain areas in which the distance between the monastery and the nearest towns would make a daily almsround impossible. In Japan, the practice of a weekly or monthly takuhatsu replaced the daily round. In the Himalayan countries, the large number of bikshus would have made an almsround a heavy burden on families. Competition with other religions for support also made daily almsrounds difficult and even dangerous; the first Buddhist monks in the Shilla dynasty of Korea were said to be beaten due to their minority at the time.
In Buddhism, both "almsgiving" and, more generally, "giving" are called "dāna" (Pāli).[2] Such giving is one of the three elements of the path of practice as formulated by the Buddha for laypeople. This path of practice for laypeople is: dāna, sīla, bhāvanā.[3]
The exquisite paradox in Buddhism is that the more we give – and the more we give without seeking something in return – the wealthier (in the broadest sense of the word) we will become. By giving we destroy those acquisitive impulses that ultimately lead to further suffering. Generosity is also expressed towards other sentient beings as both a cause for merit and to aid the receiver of the gift. In Mahayana Tradition it is accepted that although the three jewels of refuge are the basis of the greatest merit, by seeing other sentient beings as having Buddhanature and making offerings towards the aspirational Buddha to be within them is of equal benefit. Generosity towards other sentient beings is greatly emphasised in Mahayana as one of the perfections (paramita) as shown in Lama Tsong Khapa's'The Abbreviated Points of the Graded Path' (Tibetan: lam-rim bsdus-don):
Total willingness to give is the wish-granting gem for fulfilling the hopes of wandering beings.
It is the sharpest weapon to sever the knot of stinginess.
It leads to bodhisattva conduct that enhances self-confidence and courage,
And is the basis for universal proclamation of your fame and repute.
Realizing this, the wise rely, in a healthy manner, on the outstanding path
Of (being ever-willing) to offer completely their bodies, possessions, and positive potentials.
The ever-vigilant lama has practiced like that.
If you too would seek liberation,
Please cultivate yourself in the same way.[4]
In Buddhism, giving of alms is the beginning of one's journey to Nirvana (Pali: nibbana). In practice, one can give anything with or without thought for Nibbana. This would lead to faith (Pali: saddha), one key power (Pali: bala) that one should generate within oneself for the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.
The motives behind giving play an important role in developing spiritual qualities. The suttas record various motives for exercising generosity. For example, the Anguttara Nikaya (A.iv,236) enumerates the following eight motives:[5]
According to the Pali canon:
Of all gifts [alms], the gift of Dhamma is the highest.