While most people have a theory on the meaning of life, few have quite such a fantastic outlook as the late Lek Viriyapant, an honorable Thai entrepreneur responsible for initiating several of the country's most spectacular man-made attractions, including the Erawan Museum and Muang Boran ('Ancient Siam') in Bangkok, and the Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya.

Larger than life
Located on the shore of Laem Rachvate ('Cape Rachvate'), the Sanctuary of Truth is a huge wooden construction that has continued to expand since work began on it in 1981. The construction work continues, and it's still not entirely clear when it will finally be completed.

With numerous intricate carvings featuring contemporary religious art, the choice of wood as the basis for the construction is said to mirror the founder's beliefs, complying with the Buddhist philosophy that nothing is permanent.

Every nook and cranny seems to feature a carving relating to the Buddhist philosophy on life and its followers' deeds and principles. Wood was selected as the main material due to its impermanent physical nature (eventually it will rot). In contrast, the woodcarvings relate to spiritual and religious philosophy, stressing the eternal.

The 105-meter-high sanctuary itself, which has a portico ('porch') on each of its four sides, is also built from (uncut) hardwood, including golden teak, ironwood, and rosewood. Traditional woodworking joints have been used and examples of dovetail, mortise and tenon joints can be found throughout the building. Some of the joints used are secured with wooden pins.


Attention to detail
All four sides of the gable roofs are decorated with carved sculptures of devas (a Sanskrit word for a 'god', or 'deity'). The eastern side features a deva holding a scripture, symbolizing the idea that humanity ought to have a religious philosophy as a form of self-contained guide to life.

The northern side features a deva with a lotus flower, symbolizing the idea that the world should embrace Buddhism for the sake of mankind, while on the western side a deva holding the ear of a rice plant and a pigeon is said to symbolize protection of the earth's resources for the benefit of humanity. On the southern side, a deva leads a child and an elderly person by the hand, symbolizing the importance of prolonging the human race.

At the center, above all four gables, is a deva on horseback, signifying that the symbolism of all four devas can be comparable with a hero, leading humanity to world peace.

On the uppermost roof of a smaller pavilion, which faces the sea, is a carving of the four-faced Phra Phrom, a Thai representation of the Hindu 'god of creation' Brahma. The carving is said to serve as a reminder of the Brahma Vihara, or 'Four Perfect Virtues', which are also sometimes referred to as the 'Four Immeasurable States of Dwelling' or the 'Four Divine States of Dwelling'.

The four states are considered the most moral principles for Buddhists to follow, including: metta ('lovng kindness'); karuna ('compassion'); mudita ('genuine joy at the success and good fortune of others'); and; upekkha ('equanimity').