New Zealand man Philip Blackwood 'had no intention of insulting religion' in Myanmar Buddha bar case

[trotsky]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-26/nz-man-had-no-intention-of-insulting-religion-in-myanmar/5989322

A bar manager from New Zealand has told a Myanmar court he had "no intention" of insulting religion when he used a mocked-up image of the Buddha wearing headphones to promote a cheap drinks night.

Philip Blackwood, a general manager of the VGastro bar, posted the offending photo on the bar's Facebook page on December 10, triggering widespread anger in the predominately Buddhist country, which is witnessing a surge in Buddhist nationalist sentiment.

The 32-year-old was arrested alongside two Myanmar nationals - Tun Thurein, 40, who is the bar's owner, and its manager Htut Ko Ko Lwin, 26.

The trio face possible jail terms if found guilty of breaching the country's religion act with the contentious poster, which was quickly withdrawn from the bar's Facebook page as the furore erupted.

[edhopper]

1. This law

sounds terribly un-Buddhist.

Ironically.

[Fred Sanders]

3. If you were to show earphones on the head of the King of Thailand it would be the death penalty....

some nations will have to be dragged screaming into the 21st century and away from their sincerely held fantasies.

[Hoppy]

4. I was in a Thai restaurant in Portland, Me. about 20 years ago.

I ordered stuff (it was good) and when I went to pay, I was told there was no bill because it was the King of Thailand's birthday.

I think he is one hell of a guy.

[Fred Sanders]

6. So, 20 years of free dinners...great!

[Hoppy]

9. No. Only one free meal.

I guess the king was a cheap bastid after all. Thanks for pointing that out.

[edhopper]

5. That isn't true

But you would get jail-time. The divinity of Kings is an idea whose time has long since past.

[Jackpine Radical]

11. That was my thought too.

At least with respect to the Buddhist traditions I might pretend to know anything about.

Consider the old koan attributed to Zen Master Linji, (the founder of the Rinzai sect). It’s a simple one:

“If you meet the Buddha, kill him.”– Linji

I’m sure you already realize that it’s not being literal. The road, the killing, and even the Buddha are symbolic.

The road is generally taken to mean the path to Enlightenment; that might be through meditation, study, prayer, or just some aspect of your way of life. Your life is your road. That’s fairly straightforward as far as metaphors go.

But how do you meet the Buddha on this “road?” Imagine meeting some symbolic Buddha. Would he be a great teacher that you might actually meet and follow in the real world? Could that Buddha be you yourself, having reached Enlightenment? Or maybe you have some idealized image of perfection that equates to your concept of the Buddha or Enlightenment.

Whatever your conception is of the Buddha, it’s WRONG! Now kill that image and keep practicing. This all has to do with the idea that reality is an impermanent illusion. If you believe that you have a correct image of what it means to be Enlightened, then you need to throw out (kill) that image and keep meditating.

Most people have heard the first chapter of the Tao, “The Tao that can be named is not the eternal Tao.” (So if you think you see the real Tao, kill it and move on).

http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/670

[Fred Sanders]

2. No harm, no foul....... isn't that Buddhist? Just some politician wannabe looking to gain a name.......

[Warren Stupidity]

7. "No harm, no foul....... isn't that Buddhist?" - no I don't believe it is Buddhist

but feel free to refer to the "no harm no foul" Buddhist teaching.

This is yet another country with blasphemy laws - religion is the driving force for these laws and even Buddhism is not immune.

[trotsky]

8. Yes, precisely this:

This is yet another country with blasphemy laws - religion is the driving force for these laws and even Buddhism is not immune.

Go to the front of the class, Warren!

[rug]

10. If "religion is the driving force for these laws" a lot more countries would have them.

Since those that do are usually more authoritarian it looks like the government is driving these laws. Religion is as good an ideology as any to maintain control.

Go back there and sit next to trotsky.

[msongs]

12. religion is a "thing". it cannot be insulted. creating an insult is likely a violation of

buddhist teachings inthe first place