Welcoming Buddha
from 
JoeUser Forums
JoeUser Forums
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
We returned from our mountain Refuge in time to hear that our new Buddha made the front page of the local newspaper here in town. The scheduled installation was at 4:00 PM. and we had quite a crowd attend. I offered incense to the new Buddha, washed his head with a pine bough, and recited a short gatha of atonement. Bowing, I rose and welcomed him to our garden.
Welcomes are wonder makers. When we approach a new person with a welcoming heart it opens communication in a way that reservation and suspicion closes. We must get past the thought that new is suspect, that different is threatening. This is the one area where religion can be dangerous to us as it seems to hang us up on tradition for the sake of itself. Tradition without meaning and sensitive reflection can be a tool for fear-based oppression and discrimination.
To welcome is to invite change. It opens us to receive, to plant new seeds, and to grow. As we welcome we cleanse ourselves of the mildew of living in a closed closet of thought.
So a wandering buddha, taken on a walk by someone, has provided us with an opportunity to greet an array of new friends, the artist Eric Brown, his lovely family; the reporter, Jason Gibbs, and his community of readers of the Las Cruces Sun-News; but most importantly, a new Buddha, more contemporary, more American, and a wonderfully welcome change to our garden.
Picture by Kajo:
http://img.photobuc ket.com/albums/ v190/z2firegodde ss/IMG_1903. jpg
Sun News story:
(http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_6475329?IADID=Search-www.lcsun-news.com-www.lcsun-news.com)
Be Well.
Good Morning Everyone,
We returned from our mountain Refuge in time to hear that our new Buddha made the front page of the local newspaper here in town. The scheduled installation was at 4:00 PM. and we had quite a crowd attend. I offered incense to the new Buddha, washed his head with a pine bough, and recited a short gatha of atonement. Bowing, I rose and welcomed him to our garden.
Welcomes are wonder makers. When we approach a new person with a welcoming heart it opens communication in a way that reservation and suspicion closes. We must get past the thought that new is suspect, that different is threatening. This is the one area where religion can be dangerous to us as it seems to hang us up on tradition for the sake of itself. Tradition without meaning and sensitive reflection can be a tool for fear-based oppression and discrimination.
To welcome is to invite change. It opens us to receive, to plant new seeds, and to grow. As we welcome we cleanse ourselves of the mildew of living in a closed closet of thought.
So a wandering buddha, taken on a walk by someone, has provided us with an opportunity to greet an array of new friends, the artist Eric Brown, his lovely family; the reporter, Jason Gibbs, and his community of readers of the Las Cruces Sun-News; but most importantly, a new Buddha, more contemporary, more American, and a wonderfully welcome change to our garden.
Picture by Kajo:
http://img.photobuc ket.com/albums/ v190/z2firegodde ss/IMG_1903. jpg
Sun News story:
(http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_6475329?IADID=Search-www.lcsun-news.com-www.lcsun-news.com)
Be Well.