A Stepping Stone to Heaven

THE FLYING PALACES OF ANGKOR by Shaun MacLoughlin

A Stepping Stone to Heaven

Continued from Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan and the Decline of Angkor

Kambu and Mera enter.

Music 15.  Soft and Magical music that slowly builds from here to the grand finale.

MAHA EYSEI:

MERA:

KAMBU:

MAHA EYSEI:

Bodhisattva Maitreya
8th century

And so Angkor Wat disappeared into the jungle, until, Westerners like to think, it was "re-discovered' by Henri Mahout, the French explorer in 1860. In fact from its fading glory until its present resurrection, it has remained a practicing Buddhist temple.

In the forests are the ruins of our cities. In the valleys of the rivers and in the great dry plains are the bones of our people. Our Kingdom is dust and ashes and desolation.

But our glory will return. Some day there will come from across the sea a man of a new race to take up the thread of our story, to restore our cities and to make Angkor once more the marvel of the world.

Perhaps he will be the friendly Buddha of the future who will come to purify the world and to teach the Dhamma when the Buddha's teachings have fallen into disuse.

(See picture of Maitreya recognized by the stupa in his headdress.)

EPILOGUE: A STEPPING STONE TO HEAVEN

Here to be discussed and planned with the Choreographer will be the Grand Finale Dance, a brief summation of many of the elements from before - and on the back projection screen the temples will return to heavens, from where they appeared at the beginning.

MAHA EYSEI:

And once more Angkor will be a wonder of this world and a stepping stone to heaven.

THE END

If you are interested in this project, please contact Shaun MacLoughlin 
at shaunmacl@yahoo.com

Introduction to The Flying Palaces of Angkor

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we recommend the following books which helped with our rersearch: