images...

have a huge affect on us. depending on the image it is able to invoke happiness, joy, sadness, anger, etc...

dealing specifically with religious images. i would say these are the most powerful images. often spurned by the overwhelming feeling that the religion brings. being overwhelmed by the 'spirit'; as they say.

anger. the anger that is invoked by the religious symbol not being 'treated' as the religious would prefer.

the 'desecration' of mohammad, christ; often upset the religious person. the naming of a teddy bear mohammad. the countless artistic images of christ that the christians protest against. their claim of disrespect. it is funny to me. funny in the sense that they take their religious ideology so seriously, that they believe other to do the same. however; i have one question...

what about the buddha? there are far more images of the buddha in a not so acceptable/appropriate/proper light. images that are not favorable in the buddhist tradition.

the bar in cleveland (if it is still around); the funky buddha. the buddha did not look favorable upon such behavior; getting drunk, and 'whoring' around. there is a bar in vegas that has three images of the buddha, one covering his eyes, another covering his ears, and last covering his mouth. see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. what happens in vegas mentality. once again...this is in direct contradiction of the buddhist beliefs.

why don't buddhist get angry about such images? as a buddhist...why don't i get angry? maybe it is the tradition that i accept. the lessons taught. the ideology that i accept as truth. i just shake my head, and say to myself...it's not for them to get, and they maybe never will.

and people think that there is something wrong with buddhist. i don't remember hearing anything about the buddhist starting a war, forced conversion (which brings up the validity of the religions that were 'spread' that way...are they valid, or is it just something that you've grown up with...another post, for another day). what's wrong with us? there is no violence in the tradition. no hatred. is that what is wrong with us? is this the fact that other people can't relate to?

so please accept my apologies for not hating you; starting a war with you; getting mad at your non-understanding of the tradition; getting angry when you mis-represent an image of my religious beliefs.

so from the 'fat happy guy' and myself...

amitabha...