PatriarchMourning

29 DECEMBER 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: People pray for the Patriarch at Wat Bowon Niwet in Bangkok. Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, who headed Thailand’s order of Buddhist monks for more than two decades and was known as the Supreme Patriarch, died Oct. 24 at a hospital in Bangkok. He was 100. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1933 and rose through the monastic ranks to become the Supreme Patriarch in 1989. He was the spiritual advisor to Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand when the King served as monk in 1956. There is a 100 day mourning period for the Patriarch. Although the Patriarch was a Theravada Buddhist, he was the Supreme Patriarch of all Buddhists in Thailand, including the Mahayana sect, which is based on Chinese Buddhism. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ

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Filename: PatriarchMourning1229002.jpg
Copyright: © Jack Kurtz
Image Size: 4037x3028 / 10.0MB; 122913 Bangkok Buddhism Culture Death Funeral Grief IW Image Works Mourning Religion Supreme Patriarch Thailand Tradition Wat Bavorn Niwet Wat Bowon Niwet
Contained in galleries: Thailand (All)

29 DECEMBER 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: People pray for the Patriarch at Wat Bowon Niwet in Bangkok. Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, who headed Thailand’s order of Buddhist monks for more than two decades and was known as the Supreme Patriarch, died Oct. 24 at a hospital in Bangkok. He was 100. He was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1933 and rose through the monastic ranks to become the Supreme Patriarch in 1989. He was the spiritual advisor to Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand when the King served as monk in 1956. There is a 100 day mourning period for the Patriarch. Although the Patriarch was a Theravada Buddhist, he was the Supreme Patriarch of all Buddhists in Thailand, including the Mahayana sect, which is based on Chinese Buddhism. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ