They appear in various and sometimes surprising ways and places. I am talking about termite colonies and where you might discover their nests. Termite nest can be found inside wooden furniture, inside walls, high above the ground on the outside of trees, beneath trees, inside of trees, in wooden structures, below ground, above ground, and even in the middle of occupied space.

A lot of press coverage lately has been given to one such surprising location of a termite nest. This nest is right in the middle of an occupied space.

A news reporter has verified accounts of the appearance of five nests, each one in the shape of a sitting Buddha and each of which rises 19 inches from the floor. Kuong Keo Ry, a 56 year-old resident of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, came home one day to find the nests in the middle of her cement floor. She said she tried on several occasions to sweep them away but each morning she discovered they had been rebuilt during the night — and always to the same height and in the same uniform shape and size.

One television show host has said that the mounds were like a miracle to him. It is such publicity which has spread the word about the unusual nests and caused many people to visit the mounds each day and now some 50 to 60 people, mostly Buddhists, visit Ry’s home daily. People who visit the site say that they see various messages and signs of wonder in the shape and size of the nests which is why they continue to come and offer prayers. One regular visitor stated that he believes the termites are trying to convey a message from God.

Whether or not the enterprising pests have caused any damage to Ry’s home has not been reported nor has anything been said about any attempt to relocate the creatures or otherwise get rid of them. All forms of life are sacred in Buddhism, including it appears, the life of termites, especially those who are creative enough to make their nests in the form of a sitting Buddha. Thus, for the moment, getting rid of the pests seem quite out of the question.