Buddha rays' spark statue-gazing*

 From correspondents in Colombo

August 03, 2006 04:36am
Article from: Agence France-Presse

THOUSANDS of Superstitious Sri Lankans gathered at temples today after
media reports that coloured images of the Buddha had begun emitting
miraculous rays.

Large crowds gathered at temples and in front of statues along main
roads in the majority Buddhist country to try to see the phenomenon, but
experts said it was only an optical illusion.

"I saw the 'rays' and knew it was because of an optical illusion," said
electronics engineer R Weerasekara.

"But I didn't want to say it in front of so many believers and
disappoint them."

Top Buddhist monk Pitiduwe Siridamma debunked the miracle rays theory
floated in media reports and said the religion did not encourage such
misconceptions.

"If you really want to see Buddha rays, learn the Dhamma (the teachings
of the Buddha) and attain enlightenment," the monk said.

"That is the only way. Now they are only causing traffic jams."