Taliban And Buddha

[maeldun]

When the Taliban in Afghanistan destroyed the ancient statues of Buddha I was sad and angry even. Now I think about impermanency and how everything is transient and it rather seems like a big joke.
Maybe they shouldn't have put them up in the first place?
I wouldn't take a crutch away from a lame man, but shouldn't we call it what it is?

[Said1]

What is it? :lol:


On the other hand, isn't it interesting to view ancient artifacts? They provide some insight into ancient culture, which we may not otherwise have.

[maeldun]

an image of buddha is like a postcard from coney island.

[scameter]

To a buddhist with no attachment, the statue could be erected, but they should not be attached to it in any way.

[namtso]

To a buddhist with no attachment, the statue could be erected, but they should not be attached to it in any way.
I agree


The Mandala Construction Process - http://www.mysticalartsoftibet.org/Man-Proc.htm
"5) During the closing ceremony, the monks dismantle the mandala, sweeping up the colored sands to symbolize the impermanence of all that exists. When requested, half of the sand is distributed to the audience as blessings for personal health and healing."

The Kalachakra Mandala - http://www.tibet.com/Buddhism/kala1.html
As the mandala is made in the spirit of impermanence and non-attachement, it will eventually be ritualistically dismantled and the blessed sand carried to the river, where it will be offered for the benefit of the marine life and the environment..

[______]

...the Taliban in Afghanistan destroyed the ancient statues of Buddha...
This was a wonderous occurance! :D

[namtso]

This was a wonderous occurance!
Stark reminder of impermanence, wasn't it.

[______]

:D

[namtso]

It's funny about attachment. Keeping in mind that it is better to get rid of the emotions and reactions that are deemed to be negative seems obvious. Anger, jealousy, resentment, addiction, but when faced with losing something you care about, that's maybe harder, yes? I know that I felt a sense of loss when the Buddha wall carving in Afghanistan was destroyed and I've never been anywhere near the Middle East. And it wasn't so much outrage at what was clearly an act motivated by religion (religious intolerance?), for me it really was a sense of historic loss of a Buddhist artifact. And to me, it wasn't even that good looking, kind of crude really. Part of the value or novelty of the carving was just the sheer size of the thing. But like you indicated, that's a perfect example of one of the main lessons of Buddhism. Get rid of such strong attachment to things, events, even people. Tricky road really. For me I think the real trick of it is to reduce, reduce, reduce strong attachment while simultaneously increasing compassion for all and a wise, balanced, clear view of reality. Extremely difficult that last part. So many filters of culture, upbringing, media, advertising and even just plain jumping to wrong conclusions. I'm highly skilled at that last one for adding to my incorrect view. I'm sure that concept (transmutation?) is right in there in the Buddhist texts, an actual simultaneous transformation or a change in focus on what's important. I just need to stick my nose into a book more often obviously.


On second thought, letting go of anger is difficult for me too. Lessening attachment to all emotions is hard I guess.

[______]

...letting go of anger is difficult for me too.
Letting go is difficult altogether.
Lessening attachment to all emotions is hard I guess.
All emotions? Is not happiness an emotion?

[namtso]

All emotions? Is not happiness an emotion?

You got me on that one. But I think it's one of those mobius strip koan kind of things. Like you have to let go of your attachment to the desire for happiness in order to attain happiness, yes?

[______]

Indeed. :D

[a little lamb]

They just did it because they didn't consider anything.

[namtso]

They just did it because they didn't consider anything.
I think the Islamic faith teaches that no one should create or worship images of idols. I'm pretty sure that was the reason they gave for destroying the Buddha carving. Of course they didn't consider the concerns or wishes of anyone except for the leaders of their own group.

[______]

I think the Islamic faith teaches that no one should create or worship images of idols. I'm pretty sure that was the reason they gave for destroying the Buddha carving.
<_< But not even most Buddhists worship the Buddha let alone a statue of him. <_<

[Jampa]

But not even most Buddhists worship the Buddha let alone a statue of him

This is strange for me... Can you elaborate?

[______]

From what I understand of the Hebrew religions condemning the worship of idols, "idols" refers to statues or pictures as though they are they "god(s)" that one worships. Also, from what I understand of Buddhism as a whole, only a few of the sects acctually consider the Buddha in a "godly" manner.

[namtso]

Also, from what I understand of Buddhism as a whole, only a few of the sects acctually consider the Buddha in a "godly" manner.

The only thing I know of that comes close is the recitation "I take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha" but that's not really the same. There's also the Jewel Tree of Tibet (http://store.soundstrue.com/ap00138.html) Meditation but that seems more like a meditation to invoke the wisdom of all Buddhist teachers.

[______]

Even gods in Buddhism are more for meditation aids (if you will) than worship. At least this is my understanding. And as we all know, one's understanding is only one understanding.

[WanderingTaoist]

Even gods in Buddhism are more for meditation aids (if you will) than worship.

Hardly a distinction a bunch of Taliban are about to make, however. <_< Which is unfortunate. For them, since they might be able to actually learn something if it were otherwise.

All emotions? Is not happiness an emotion?

Hmmm.....is it? :think:

I'd argue that any human action taken is done for the sake of the happiness. We might differ in what we consider happiness to be, but ultimately I think everything is reducible to happiness. We might make many different choices in order to be happy, but I don't think we would choose happiness for anything other than its own sake. Of course, that doesn't rule out happiness as a feeling. Some definitions of happiness might regard it as a feeling; others, might not.

People talk of "feeling happy" and also of "being happy." Are they the same?

For me there is definitely a distinction between "happiness" as a feeling and happiness as an active condition.

[scameter]

Is not happiness an emotion?

Happiness is an emotional state, in which one feels content and pleased. This can be temporary, in the form of pleasure; or total, in the form of bliss.

[WanderingTaoist]

Happiness is an emotional state, in which one feels content and pleased. This can be temporary, in the form of pleasure; or total, in the form of bliss.

I think the temporary, fleeting experience of pleasure is different from bliss, which is a more permanent condition and may have nothing to do with an emotion at all. Chuang Tzu wrote "Perfect joy is to be without joy".

[scameter]

That was my point. And because most modern people are so materialistic and capitalist, they find bliss very difficult to attain, and thus become pleasure addicts.

[Trevor]

Do the Taliban have mosques? I don't think that anyone would like one of their mosques bulldozed.