An Art Video, Not for serious Buddhists

A visit to a Vietnamese Buddhist monastery, Tam Bao Son, located in Quebec, Canada, with amazing statues of all sorts. Our apologies to the monastery for letting the kids climb on the statues. It did not occur to us at the time that this might offend the religious sensibilities of some people. As rugged outdoor works of art, they were not in danger of being damaged by this playfulness. No disrespect to the Buddha was intended. Nonetheless I defend the video as an artistic creation that reflects well the events of the day, and provides a different perspective on Buddhist art works. I think it is also a positive thing that the innocence of the children in climbing on the statues for fun challenges the belief held by some adults, that playfulness is incompatible with reverence for the awakened one. Do not confuse playfulness with destructive acts like the Taliban blowing up buddhist relics in Afghandistan. (To visit the monestary: 690, Chemin de la Rouge
Canton d'Harrington, Québec
J8G 2S7
Tel: (819)687-2183 )

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• buddhism
• buddhist
• spiritual
• spirituality
• meditation
• quebec
• vietnam
• statues

[srajano]

Glad you got the joke! unlike some of the comments here...

[buddmar]

I am a Buddhist. Please be respectful! Such acts in Sri Lanka or Thailand would result in arrest. You cannot speak for the Buddha. Children could not climb around on statues in Churches or Synogogues. It is a matter of respect.

[srajano]

I have added an apology that you can read in full in the video description: "Our apologies to the monastery for letting the kids climb on the statues. As outdoor works of art, it did not occur to us at the time that we might damage them. .... I think it is also a positive thing that the innocence of the children in climbing on the statues for fun challenges the belief held by some adults, that playfulness is incompatible with reverence for the awakened one."

[srajano]

Wanting to be photographed with a statue is a sign of respect and attachment to the statue. I would save the police for people who want to deliberately cause damage to property, and this was obviously not the case. The children do not have your upbringing, and your way of venerating these symbols. Religion should not breed intolerance of other peoples' behaviour.

[buddmar]

If I was a Christian, I don't think I would be okay with children climbing on Christian idols. At the very least they are works of art and we do not touch art works in museums, or churches. It is inappropiate behaviour, unless this area was designated to be a playground.

[srajano]

These are not statues in an art gallery. They are outdoors in what resembles a park. I have had my picture taken with statues in a park before, and there was no question of respect or disrespect. In fact, why should a monastery not be a playground? The family that plays together, prays together...

[myASIMO]

I wished they could exercised little more common curtsy. They had no invitation..but just open a gate and enter? And what was the reason -song of 'Ave Maria' at the end of video? I just don't know what to say...

[kingrichard91]

when your kids were laying on the buddha like that think of the buddha as jesus if youre christian or what so ever would you be letting your kids do that if he was jesus?! or virgin mary?! or maybe your so called noble god?!

[danielthibault]

music a not apropriat

[djunified]

my cottage is just up the road from there

[asifsmartie]

brillant video

and im sure you posted it

as you had a great time there

and hopefully t at the same time

but cor blimey you got some nuters

to have a peek with their comments

[Shtavius]

Omg i'm buddhist and that don't offend me at all, being buddhist don't mean Being serious Kickcancer or any other one, who's gonna say something like that go study back

[kickcancer]

you people are so immature and disrespectful! Im not even buddhist and I am still greatly offended!

[tooreal2555]

lol i should add, "the fact that they BELIEVE I am going to hell" lol my bad, i deleted that part cuz of the character cap limit

[tooreal2555]

Christians don't realize that throwing around threats of hell pushes me and people like me further and further AWAY from Christianity, you will never win me over with your fear-mongering...and it always amazes me how the self-righteous people who do that are so smug and happy in the fact that i am going to hell. this is why I am a Buddhist and will remain a Buddhist. btw I agree with Zencat, I don't think Buddha would mind this video at all hehe kids will be kids and I'm sure he knows that

[handsome516]

Yeah!let fight and Muslim ll kill both of you.

[zencat]

Speaking as a "serious Buddhist", I highly doubt the Venerable One would have a problem with children being children, or even adults being playful around a bunch of statues! When I prostrate at a statue, it is not the statue that I prostrate to!