'Buddha' Did NOT Ask To Be Idolized. He Advocated Moderation ... In Everything. [Redux from Substack]
This, to I, is SAD & rank idiocy. Buddhism is a LIFESTYLE, nothing to do with statues & offerings.
OK. I have NO skin in the game & some would say ‘no right’ to comment. Well, I disagree on the latter. This is just my opinion — as an EX-Buddhist, a good one at that.
The first 14 years of my (eventful) life was SATURATED with Buddhism. My ADOPTIVE father was a fanatic — & yes, a very prominent, active, & POWERFUL figure/voice in worldwide Buddhism. I was exposed to Buddhism & Buddhist priests each & every day. I can honestly say that there was NEVER a day that I did not have an interaction with a Buddhist priest in those 14 years. I LOVED IT. I revered priests. I prostrated myself worshipping them. As for temples, I would say that I went to one at least 3 times a week! Plus, we had a smaller version of ‘above’ in ‘our’ fairly large SHRINE ROOM.
But, at 14 I was still a tad too young to ‘understand’.
Two years later I was asking questions that my adoptive father & his learned kin could NOT answer! My favorite: In Buddhism does reincarnation start at CONCEPTION or birth? They, the supposed scholars, did not have an answer for that.
At 18, I gave up on Buddhism & ALL RELIGIONS. I realized that there was NO WAY, whatsoever, that I can believe in life after death.
So, I have no skin in the game. I am NO LONGER a Buddhist.
But I was a GOOD Buddhist for long enough to KNOW that you don’t need to WORSHIP bloody statues to be an exemplary Buddhist.
Buddhism is in your ‘heart’ & action.
Moderation in everything.
These golden statues are stupid. Just my opinion & I have earned my right for that. Cheers. Pax.
P.S., I am also not in favor of Christian Idolatry. But I was never a Christian. So I refrain from taking as much umbrage.
OK. I have NO skin in the game & some would say ‘no right’ to comment. Well, I disagree on the latter. This is just my opinion — as an EX-Buddhist, a good one at that.
The first 14 years of my (eventful) life was SATURATED with Buddhism. My ADOPTIVE father was a fanatic — & yes, a very prominent, active, & POWERFUL figure/voice in worldwide Buddhism. I was exposed to Buddhism & Buddhist priests each & every day. I can honestly say that there was NEVER a day that I did not have an interaction with a Buddhist priest in those 14 years. I LOVED IT. I revered priests. I prostrated myself worshipping them. As for temples, I would say that I went to one at least 3 times a week! Plus, we had a smaller version of ‘above’ in ‘our’ fairly large SHRINE ROOM.
But, at 14 I was still a tad too young to ‘understand’.
Two years later I was asking questions that my adoptive father & his learned kin could NOT answer! My favorite: In Buddhism does reincarnation start at CONCEPTION or birth? They, the supposed scholars, did not have an answer for that.
At 18, I gave up on Buddhism & ALL RELIGIONS. I realized that there was NO WAY, whatsoever, that I can believe in life after death.
So, I have no skin in the game. I am NO LONGER a Buddhist.
But I was a GOOD Buddhist for long enough to KNOW that you don’t need to WORSHIP bloody statues to be an exemplary Buddhist.
Buddhism is in your ‘heart’ & action.
Moderation in everything.
These golden statues are stupid. Just my opinion & I have earned my right for that. Cheers. Pax.
P.S., I am also not in favor of Christian Idolatry. But I was never a Christian. So I refrain from taking as much umbrage.
😇
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