Battle over Buddha tattoo

Curt Welling, modified 10 Years ago at 4/22/14 3:04 PM
Created 10 Years ago at 4/22/14 3:04 PM

Battle over Buddha tattoo

Posts: 22 Join Date: 1/2/13 Recent Posts
Went to post this in Humor but decided Dharma battleground was more appropriate.

This British tourist spent the night in jail and was kicked out of Sri Lanka for a large tattoo of our guy on her deltoid.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/04/22/305899590/tattoo-of-buddha-gets-british-tourist-thrown-out-of-sri-lanka

Curt Welling

Cultural taboos can be subtle. There was a fight at third base during a major league baseball game because the batter spent a hair too long admiring his long drive into the outfield.
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Eric M W, modified 10 Years ago at 4/22/14 7:30 PM
Created 10 Years ago at 4/22/14 7:30 PM

RE: Battle over Buddha tattoo

Posts: 288 Join Date: 3/19/14 Recent Posts
Weird, if I see anyone sporting a tattoo of a spiritual nature I think that it is a sign of respect for that spiritual system. Sri Lankans must think differently...?
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Sweet Nothing, modified 10 Years ago at 4/23/14 12:33 AM
Created 10 Years ago at 4/23/14 12:33 AM

RE: Battle over Buddha tattoo

Posts: 164 Join Date: 4/21/13 Recent Posts
Personally, I think the Buddha tattoo itself is not offensive but the two affectionate devas just below the Buddha may be offensive for some sensitive/orthodox folks.

It is also a misrepresentation of canonical Buddhism, because it shows the teacher of non attachment/clinging blessing an image that signifies attachment/delusion/sensual pleasure. In some places this may be seen merely as "love" but it may not be so in SL.

In any case, the woman should not have been jailed as intolerance is a form of aversion/hatred which is strongly discouraged in Buddhism. It would have been more reasonable to ask her to cover up or let her go to Maldives instead.

My 2 cents.
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Chris M, modified 10 Years ago at 4/23/14 2:58 AM
Created 10 Years ago at 4/23/14 2:58 AM

RE: Battle over Buddha tattoo

Posts: 33 Join Date: 1/8/13 Recent Posts
This is starting to look like Buddhist fundamentalism. Her treatment was quite appalling really, and completely misses the spirit of Dhamma. However, I am not surprised, given the genocide perpetrated on the minority Hindu Tamils by the Sri Lankan government, most recently and significantly in 2009. It's quite disturbing and concerning, the increasing intolerance of this supposedly Buddhist nation.
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This Good Self, modified 10 Years ago at 4/23/14 3:38 AM
Created 10 Years ago at 4/23/14 3:38 AM

RE: Battle over Buddha tattoo

Posts: 946 Join Date: 3/9/10 Recent Posts
Why did "Buddha!" never make it as a swear word? "Jesus!" seems to be quite widely used.

In Truth,

The 3 CCC's
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Tom Tom, modified 10 Years ago at 4/23/14 3:45 AM
Created 10 Years ago at 4/23/14 3:45 AM

RE: Battle over Buddha tattoo

Posts: 466 Join Date: 9/19/09 Recent Posts
This is no different than Islamic fundamentalists who severely punish those who draw their head figure. We should all protest by getting Buddha tattoos!
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Eric M W, modified 10 Years ago at 4/23/14 1:21 PM
Created 10 Years ago at 4/23/14 1:21 PM

RE: Battle over Buddha tattoo

Posts: 288 Join Date: 3/19/14 Recent Posts
Tom Tom:
This is no different than Islamic fundamentalists who severely punish those who draw their head figure. We should all protest by getting Buddha tattoos!

I've always wanted one, but I worry I will make the wrong choice and be stuck with it the rest of my life.
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