Budda Bar, Jesus Bar, or , what do you prefer ?
Ok, I was just wondering, going through some sites, and getting mails about people saying to boycott Budda Bar and about them making products with the Buddha’s image on it. Well I was wondering what if we changed the image of that religious icon ?
Was just checking some of those sites, for those locations and similar ones …
http://www.buddha-bar.com/ … now when you get into this site, you see the shape of the Buddha in the back ground and in front women dancing around. What the hell. Over here, some of my friends parents won’t let their daughters go to temple in jeans or skirts as it’s not respectful and only allow to go in a long dress. Well of course we do have the modern fools who go in jeans but forget that. Now let’s say I replaced the Buddha with a Christian, Hindu or Muslim icon ? What would be the reaction ? The place will probably be burnt down and a lot of people will have a lot to say. Yes ???
Take a look at this site http://www.gobuddha.net/index.php?load=drinks … ok fine, the Buddha image with booze. Fine supports of this would probably say, at least the image is not on the bottles or the glasses they drink from.
Now .. this .. http://www.gobuddha.net/photoindex.php … ok let’s replace the Buddha in this place with Jesus. Now would you like this ? How would you feel ? All these slutty women walking around, making out in front, behind and under the statues, drinking, throwing up, it’s just a bunch of bad thoughts and happening. Now would you like that ? If I walked into a place like this with Buddha statues or Christ Statues, I would feel embarrassed and quite awkward. Why, as I would be insulting someone else’s faith or belief. Wouldn’t you agree ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha_Bar
Well I comment much as I haven’t been to one of these places, but I would assume the name would be an insult. Now in Paris they have a few, even the UAE. Would anyone dare to open up a place with a name like this in one of those countries with their popular faiths ? Don’t think so.
http://tricycleblog.blogspot.com/2004/08/buddha-bar-offensive-or-innocuous.html
Anyways this issue has been there for some time and it’s old news but I just wanted to voice my thoughts. Someone opening or trying to open a bar with some other popular religion icon will for sure ban things of this nature in most countries. How about opening one in Sri Lanka, who is the icon we are going to use ? Will we survive to lay the first brick ? I think not !!!!
I apologize if I misused the names of other faiths, but this was to show how you would feel if your icon was used in similar instances. Didn’t feel too good did it ?
Rohitha
The statements, opinions, stories and views expressed in this Web site are those of the authors, users and mailers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of LankaBuzz or any of its sponsors or affiliates.
Actually only the islamists would take offence if there was a watering hole say named Bar Mohammed or Islambar. Christians in the west are relatively tolerant. I have seen in Holland people walking abot with images of jesus Christ on T shirts. Bikinis with Mary on the crotch and never have i hear massive outrage about it. I am not saying that Buddah bar is correct, just pointing out that Islam is the least tolerant of all religions. We have to allow them to have mosques all over the place but they in Saudi do not allow people to gather to worship christ. just my opinion… and not saying these to fan the flames of religious war!
Comment by Jack Daniels — August 3, 2006 @ 11:35 am
ya i think it’s a bit sad too.. Buddha Bar, Funky Buddha etc as names for bars/clubs whatever.. but the europeans seem to think it’s really cool !!
Comment by savi3 — August 3, 2006 @ 11:56 am
there is a bar called Tiger Tiger in London,, how I wish Prabhakaran would take umbrage to that too!
Comment by Jack Daniels — August 3, 2006 @ 3:00 pm
Faith is within you - not in the outer mnanifestations of your faith & this is especially true if you’re a buddhist: many true buddhists are not temple-going zealots - they are people who follow the middle path and try their best, to be good humans. It is the zealots in every faith that create a hue and cry every time they feel the objects of their faith have been maligned. I think it’s a testament to the character of Buddhists that Buddha Bar has survived with very little protest from zealots. And you must admit, Buddha Bars are fantastic! (They’ve just opened one at Grosvenor Hotel in Dubai - check it out if you go that way - fabulous music and ambience. There is however, a huge statue of a Buddha at the entrance
I’ve been to a super one in Paris too).
Comment by Priyanka — August 4, 2006 @ 2:25 am
I share Pryantha’s views somewhat…I just personally couldn’t give a shit about Buddha Bar. Westerners always take bits of ‘exotic’ cultures and integrate them as trends without really understanding or trying to understand the cultures they borrow from. I’m a buddhist in me and as long as they are taking a crap on a statue I’m cool with its use.
Comment by childof25 — August 4, 2006 @ 5:16 am
An example of Olcott’s Protestant Buddhism, the predominant religion of Sri Lanka.
I understand buddhism to be about deciding for oneself what is right and choosing to follow one’s own path.
Compulsion, such as banning of symbols, liquor, meat etc are all aspects of the Christian faith that Olcott blended witrh buddhism to create a the new buddhism practised here. His biggest influnce was on the structure and and symbolism of the religion, but in changing this, he also changed the thinking of the people. SOmethings were absolutely right. Others were absolutely wrong. No more nonsense about following ones own path, you will be told which path to get on.
The biddhist flag, the wedding ceremony, the daham pasal, the bakthi gee are amongst the many things that Olcott created as part of his revival aspects that were drawn from the only faith that he was familair with - the protestant christain one.
Politician’s ever ready to anything to grab votes, rode the bandwagon, changed the calendar and cemented the link between church (buddhist) and state - something that Olcott would have been proud to see.
The irony is that many people now seem to believe that Olcott’s creole is the purest form of theravada buddhism. Olcott claimed he was purifying the religion and told his people that the final creation was the most pristine form of buddhism. They did not realise how much his ‘purification’ and ‘improvement’ owed to protestant christianity.
Take statements made by the neo-cons in America and the JHU and more radical monks, putthem side by side and people will realise the similarity.
Comment by Jack Point — August 4, 2006 @ 9:16 am
One more point - the morality and the values, taht are said to be “traditionally” sri lankan, on what consitutes proper form of dress, attitudes to sex, marriage, are all of victorian England.
The missionaries brought these values with them and they educated the people. These eventually filtered through and over time came to be accepted as tradition.
For further reading on the subject try:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0691019010/102-9945869-5340923?v=glance&n=283155
http://www.globalbuddhism.org/2/kempe011.html
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0710304447/sr=8-1/qid=1154683980/ref=sr_1_1/102-9945869-5340923?ie=UTF8
Comment by Jack Point — August 4, 2006 @ 9:34 am
What is the Buddhism and jeans have to do?
Does cloth represents intellectual level? Did Buddha ever mention about dress code?
Buddists can were any cloth they want (Refer to Buddhist teaching.)
Word ‘Buddha’ is just 6 letters. I’m not willing to get offended because of just 6 letters. I don’t get offended just because Buddha said not to get offended. Everything about Buddhism is learning not to make conflict with the world. (Refer to Buddhist teaching.)
When Bahamian Buddhist statues destroyed by Muslims, Buddhists didn’t got offended. They didn’t start war. They didn’t lose the harmony. They just forgive (Refer to Buddhist teaching why.). It is beautiful. It is inspiring.
Once a person gets offended – then that person get unhappy – that person get angry – that person want to take revenge – that person want to fight – that person want war – that person lose the harmony. That person turn in to every thing else except a Buddhist. (Refer to Buddhist teaching.)
Buddhists have been got insulted – name called – murdered – destroyed - just like every one else follow any other religion have been experienced too. It is the way of the world, you can’t change. (Refer to Buddhist teaching.)
But Buddhists never start a war like other realigns did. It is beautiful. It is inspiring. Buddhists know how not to be control freaks. That is why I’m so inspired about Buddhism.
I have simple question for everyone who bitch about ‘Buddha Bar’ and all other ‘Buddha’ stuff.
Do you willing to sacrifice Buddhist teaching – and get offended - conflict with the world - for protect the Buddhist icon?
All I have to tell anyone who have ‘Buddhist Hat’ and still get offended by the world – please try to understand the meaning of Buddhism – if you can’t, then try to follow any other simple religion. It is alright. Buddha said it is alright to follow other religions. (Refer to Buddhist teaching.)
About Buddha bar – I would love to visit that place and enjoy the food – I hope their food as much as good as their music. (Buddha Bar Music collection is the best international music collection ever – recommended for any international music lovers)
Comment by Sam — August 5, 2006 @ 1:47 am
I like both.
Comment by buddha statue — June 12, 2009 @ 7:32 am