When Chambers was living in South Korea, he traveled to the
Buddhist temples on numerous occasions, and became interested in Buddhist philosophy (quotes follow). He also noticed a unique practice of stacking stones
as a form of worship and asking for good fortune. He decided to document this behavior, and compare these stone formations as a study in technique, and to pay tribute to those Korean people involved with this form of
religion.
"All are incarnations of truth-Buddha, do each thing as an offering of worship to the Buddha."
"Practice meditation continually, practice meditation everywhere."
"Keep such oneness in motion and in quietness, maintain the full oneness of the spirit and the body."
"Buddhist truth is found in life, life is Buddhist truth itself."
(The Scripture of Won Buddhism, Pal Khn Chon, The Commemorating Commission for Sacred Achievements of the Great Master of Won Buddhism, Won Kwang Publishing Co., Iri, The Republic of Korea, 1988)
The above statements are the foundation for Buddhism, and multitudes of people flock to the temples in South Korea to worship and practice such; and some stack stones. This stacking of stones is a recent practice, and is probably due to monks stacking stones, as well, in the past. This practice is probably a form of worshipping, but it's mainly a gesture of asking or wishing for good fortune to be bestowed on the stacker and his/her family. Each stone within the stack represents a particular wish and possibly, family member.
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Go to the image table above and click for a stacking comparison. When the stacks are compared, it's interesting to note the similarities in configuration, size and number. They all conform to the geometrics of pagodas that were
constructed in the past, and move upwards and towards the ethereal Buddha.
"According to the development of scientific civilization, the human spirit, which should make use of material things, grows weaker, while material things, which should be used by human beings, increasingly flourish and assert their domination over the enfeebled human spirit. Thus, human beings find themselves chained to the servitude of materialism. How, then, can they expect a life free from suffering and trouble? Won Buddhism was therefore founded in order to lead all living creatures to the vast and boundless world of happiness, away from the tormenting seas of life, by means of strengthening the power of the spirit over the forces of material things through faith in a religion based on Truth, and through actual moral training."
(The Scripture of Won Buddhism, Pal Khn Chon, The Commemorating Commission for Sacred Achievements of the Great Master of Won Buddhism, Won Kwang Publishing Co., Iri, The Republic of Korea, 1988)
Even though stones are material things, they're different in nature and of nature. They have a connection to the natural world and the universe. The human spirit is indeed growing weaker, and the stacking of stones is another attempt to escape the domination, and find this connection.