Respect is a Must, 30×40 cm /11.8×16 in.

Original acrylic on canvas, 2015.

30×40 cm / 11.80×16 in.

Respect for persons is one of the fundamental principles all over the world. In Asia, respect for monks and for elders is the number one principle shows to children. In Occident, before WW1 parents used to make sure their kids the very same, showing great respect to all religious representatives. Buddhist culture has a lasting and significant impact in mainland Southeast Asia. Men may often become monks to honor relatives who have passed away, with a belief that spirits can be given extra merit. In Cambodia where I live, most Buddhists practice Theravada Buddhism. They always show to monks great respect. To show respect to them, people place their hands together in a prayer-like gesture and give a slight bow when greeting a monk. To show more respect, they can hold your hands higher than usual, like near your forehead.

Most Buddhists do not believe in God. Although they respect and look up to the Buddha, they do not believe he was a God but they worship him as a form of respect. By doing this they show reverence and devotion to the Buddha and to the bodhisattvas.