Comments on: Maitreya Project – a Disgrace For the Buddhist Community http://ananda76.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/maitreya-project-a-disgrace-for-the-buddhist-community/ Mainly Buddhism but also comments on philosophy, religion and politics Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:03:56 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: sarah http://ananda76.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/maitreya-project-a-disgrace-for-the-buddhist-community/#comment-48 sarah Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:21:01 +0000 http://ananda76.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-48 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.. 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..

]]> By: Zack http://ananda76.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/maitreya-project-a-disgrace-for-the-buddhist-community/#comment-45 Zack Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:51:07 +0000 http://ananda76.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-45 Aha, well said, t3rry! Aha, well said, t3rry!

]]> By: Hung Ky Nguyen http://ananda76.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/maitreya-project-a-disgrace-for-the-buddhist-community/#comment-44 Hung Ky Nguyen Sat, 07 Mar 2009 07:32:51 +0000 http://ananda76.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-44 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 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

]]> By: t3rry http://ananda76.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/maitreya-project-a-disgrace-for-the-buddhist-community/#comment-43 t3rry Fri, 06 Mar 2009 10:31:50 +0000 http://ananda76.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-43 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 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

]]> By: Zack http://ananda76.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/maitreya-project-a-disgrace-for-the-buddhist-community/#comment-42 Zack Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:49:31 +0000 http://ananda76.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-42 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. 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.

]]> By: ananda76 http://ananda76.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/maitreya-project-a-disgrace-for-the-buddhist-community/#comment-41 ananda76 Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:29:56 +0000 http://ananda76.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-41 If 'everyone is on the platform of equality', how can anyone be superior? - especially me. If ‘everyone is on the platform of equality’, how can anyone be superior? – especially me.

]]> By: t3rry http://ananda76.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/maitreya-project-a-disgrace-for-the-buddhist-community/#comment-40 t3rry Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:47:07 +0000 http://ananda76.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-40 NB: If my own attitude appears to be contrary to the quote please understand that ALL beings are my superiors, you especially :^) t3rry NB: If my own attitude appears to be contrary to the quote please understand that ALL beings are my superiors, you especially :^)

t3rry

]]> By: t3rry http://ananda76.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/maitreya-project-a-disgrace-for-the-buddhist-community/#comment-39 t3rry Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:44:03 +0000 http://ananda76.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-39 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 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

]]> By: Zack http://ananda76.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/maitreya-project-a-disgrace-for-the-buddhist-community/#comment-36 Zack Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:25:33 +0000 http://ananda76.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-36 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. 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.

]]> By: Peter http://ananda76.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/maitreya-project-a-disgrace-for-the-buddhist-community/#comment-28 Peter Thu, 09 Oct 2008 03:25:30 +0000 http://ananda76.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-28 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. 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.

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