This proposed construction of the largest Maitreya Statue in the world at Kushinagara in Uttar Pradesh Province in India is a disgraceful waste of money. This holy place, where the Buddha passed away, is one of the poorest areas of India. When I visited this wonderful site, I found children so poor that they will never see the inside of a hospital or school. The money being wasted on this project could go a long way to relieving their poverty and isn’t the relief of suffering and compassion basic to the Buddha’s teaching? Many poor farmers are being displaced to make way for this useless project. They are being given little compensation and are being moved from their traditional land. The State Government is approving this project as it sees it as a revenue raiser by attracting tourists. The wealth provided by tourists will largely go to wealthy hotel owners and very little to benefit the local inhabitants. The Maitreya Project organisers, the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, is a wealthy Tibetan group catering for well healed western followers. Their mantram seems to be “Oh money, pay me hum” rather than “Om Mani Padme Hum”. They claim that part of the project will incorporate a hospital and school but this is merely a bandaid to salve their conscience in wasting so much money. They claim that the Dalai Lama has approved it so they feel that they can go ahead and cause suffering to the displaced farmers with a clear conscience. The Dalai Lama is not a god and is subject to error like the rest of us. The FPMT are suffering from the ‘mine is bigger than yours’ syndrome. Let us follow the Buddha’s teachings rather than pandering to our egos.
Maitreya Project – a Disgrace For the Buddhist Community
4 June, 2008 at 10:55 am (Buddhism, Politics, Religion)
Tags: Buddha, Dalai Lama, FPMT, Kushinagara, Mahayana, Maitreya Project, poverty, Tibet
sdfsdf said,
25 June, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Dont buddha said not to seat on high seats ? -matreiya project
ananda76 said,
25 June, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Dear sfdsfd,
The traditional statue of Maitreya is always seated with one foot on the ground and the other on his lap. The rule of not using high or luxurious beds applies to monks and nuns. It is not about seats but beds. Maitreya was always depicted in this fashion until the fourteenth century when, in the Chinese tradition, he was depicted as an obese monk sitting crosslegged. This figure is known in Chinese as Mi Lo Fwo.
Be happy,
Ananda76
James Sibal said,
22 July, 2008 at 7:53 am
I’ve just read the press on the Maitreya Project and I, too, have many questions. The first, as an ancient art historian, I wonder why Buddhists seem to be the only ones building colossal statues these days. Any ideas? Secondly, is it a healthy or foolish process? What are the economic impacts? Historically, we know that the Vatican was very aware that St. Peter’s would generate cash, and acted accordingly. Even was more ambitious with Bernini that we see today. And the Saudi house has spent billions on Mecca. And have a cash cow.
The press on the project cites the sustainable job creation. If we imagin a single 500 bed hotel run by Oberoi, are they going to ship in Philippinos or are local people going to be gardeners, porters, maids, waiters, do the massive laundry piles, etc. Where do the flowers and veggies to feed the tourist come from? China or Chile off season?
And then with training, are locals going be the various chefs, managers? What is the break down? How many jobs per hotel? How many hotels? What about services not associated with lodging? Internet cafes, bookstores, religious goodies, national restaurants (Mum’s Tea–that kind of thing.) All foreigners? Some foreigners? Just the top jobs? Are enough Indians trained for all of this by now? (Certain in computers and software programs they are among the best.)
The small army of maintenance for the shrine itself should be in the hundreds I would think. Are they going to imported, or locals? The cab drivers from the airport? Guides? Souvenir sellers?
Certainly the sheer audacity of building the biggest statue in the world will attract many non-Buddhist, of all classes and budgets. But yes, I want to know the status of the schools, hospitals and the like. Certainly, you can’t have a tourist destination for the wealthy without a good hospital these days. Where is the labor going to come from to keep the hospital running?
What are the alternatives? Build a hospital then train the people in schools? But then where are the jobs? Calcutta? Dehli? Put in low tech, labor intensive factories? Textiles to compete with Bangladesh? Can they compete with China?
What are other economic options to jump start this terribly important site? Are their any? Mining? Industrial? Farming? What is the water situation? Soil? Why are the people poor? Is it cultural (lack of techology), environmental? Is the religious connection the best option for 3 sq meals a day? If so, would a simple rebuilding of the site with no, or a modest size cult image generate many tourist? How many tourist do the three other Buddhist sites get? How much money do they generate? Who gets the money? What is the percentage of locals at work? What is their health care? Who owns the hotels, etc. there? Are their any figures on any of these questions?
I realize that many of my questions might be rhetorical but I just don’t know. It seems to me that since the site–where I’ve yet to go–was in a squalid state, that something was needed to get it moving. I don’t know if the farmers bought out of the 750 acre site were fairly paid, but I rathe doubt they were using their land in an effective manner. I am impressed that solar and wind is to be used for this project for such modalities make it somewhat independent of some geoglobal stresses and certainly locals can master these technologies in a single generation if they haven’t already. There seem to have been much thought for many problems but it could, of course, just be propaganda. But do you see another option?
Sincerely, JHS
miss jennifer said,
29 August, 2008 at 11:49 pm
it is not about money-it isabout vision-far reaching omniscient vision-for all sentient beings in all lifetimes….isn’t it?
miss jennifer said,
29 August, 2008 at 11:56 pm
why do you not communicate/debate with the director of the maitreya project? his name is Peter Kedge and he is a true dharma practitioner with guru devotion and is in no way grasping or self cherishing for the fpmt. we must all open our minds to the hideous concept/ignorant interpretation of ozymandis king of kings and question our judgements and non-wisdom based prejudices
miss jennifer said,
30 August, 2008 at 12:04 am
Such denigration and judgement is unbecoming for a buddhist gentleman-please greet you quandary with compassionate wisdom, get all the details from your accused wrongdoers(fpmt?) and put your mind at loving rest-and Mr. Lyall-we must catch up with coffee sometime before we shuffle off to the next rebirth…
Peter said,
9 October, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Seems more of a nice mental formation than anything. Having toured the project at it’s original site a dozen years ago, there has been very little significant development on the project since then. Seems more of another mental formation to note, and then to move on.
Zack said,
12 February, 2009 at 11:25 am
Honestly, I must agree that the FPMT is falling prey to capitalist ideals, and I question what is the value of preserving the Mahayana tradition when it is not all that historically accurate, nor does the idea of ‘bodhisattva’ really make that much sense (though it is honourable), but we can’t forget that the FPMT is largely run and supported by the ideas of lay people, and is thus subject to the same faults as embodied by lay people. I think that it is best to just worry about your own practice. If you feel like supporting the Maitreya Project, then so be it. If not, then don’t. Either way it seems to be happening. Is it skillful? Well, that is up to each and every individual. Is it wrong? I don’t think questions of right and wrong are useful in this debate. The idea behind the Maitreya statue is very beautiful, and hopefully any suffering incurred will be made up for with the services it will provide to others. But, on that note, these services should not be offered for a price. Not anything Dhamma-related, anyway. It is wrong to charge people for those things. And to offer free education, free medical care, etc., would be a great opportunity for people to practice loving-kindness. I think generosity and free services should be the foundation of this project. The people who work there should work there for the love of the Dhamma, and I’m sure there are thousands who would line up to volunteer there for a time. This is not to say hotels can’t make their money, or gift-shops and bookstores can’t flourish. Nor is it to say that restaurants and grocery stores can’t make a profit, either. I think there is great economic potential there as well, but also great potential for the practicing of dana as well.
t3rry said,
2 March, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Graeme my friend …
I mean you no disrespect when I say this as you have always been my venerable superior, please accept or reject my direction according to your own intelligence.
Quote
When one sees everyone on the platform of equality, then one comes to the position of worshiping the Lord perfectly.
Unquote
Spoken by Prahlada Maharaja in Srimad Bhagavatan Canto 7, chapter 8, verse 9.
Worth thinking about.
Joy to all beings
t3rry
t3rry said,
2 March, 2009 at 5:47 pm
NB: If my own attitude appears to be contrary to the quote please understand that ALL beings are my superiors, you especially :^)
t3rry
ananda76 said,
2 March, 2009 at 10:29 pm
If ‘everyone is on the platform of equality’, how can anyone be superior? – especially me.
Zack said,
3 March, 2009 at 4:49 am
lol. Neither is really true. And yet both views appear to be true. It’s a matter of paradigm shift. But I’m sure it was meant (or at least intended to be meant) with the utmost humility.
I don’t think words should be taken so… seriously. No words can express truth; they only sort of… hint at it.
t3rry said,
6 March, 2009 at 8:31 pm
How come I knew you’d say that Graeme? Ananda! You haven’t lost your touch.
You taught me a lot about spirituality. Therefore you are one of my masters, perhaps the first.
Actually, everyone is the same, BUT, elevated consciousness is the only nobility. The more we move away from ignoring reality the more we can be considered venerable although essentially the same as all other beings.
But you knew that anyway.
This world is full of anomalies, stupidity, etc. Nevertheless, by pain and suffering it teaches us to reach for perfection by our own choice. This whole stupid world is perfect.
cha
t3rry
Hung Ky Nguyen said,
7 March, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Dear friends,
I found the Ananda 76’s point of view very narrow-minded and bias. Of course the benefit that Maitreya Project can bring to the world and local people is enormous. Without talking about the inspiration and spirituality, the project will surely give local people employment and business. I have visited Sensoji Temple in Tokyo, Japan and found that the temple attracted so many people everyday and thus, prospering the economy of the whole region.
HKN
Zack said,
8 March, 2009 at 2:51 am
Aha, well said, t3rry!
sarah said,
4 July, 2009 at 5:21 pm
You maybe correct in what you feel. However, there are those of us who are undertaking fundraising under the umbrella to raise money for the children, schools, and the welfare of the people. So please, do not condem or judge others. I am certain that they are building this Buddha out of love of him and what he stood for.Is it not befitting that this statue be built where he died? If it was as bad as you claim, I would like to think that his H.H Dalia Lama would have had some kind of input to say if it is of good or bad. Personally, I came across the site re the statue, when I was looking at the charity for the children. Their needs and schooling. So my opinion of this persons comment about the whole situation, is that they may need to look at both micro and macro when analizing this. Peace to all..