Home > Voices > Buddhas and Bars

Buddhas and Bars

3 March 2008

The use of Buddhist icons in bars is becoming trendy. While the vogue is open to interpretations, the assay has deep arching upshots – some petite, some staid and many minting the consciousness.

The sudden increase in the use of Buddhist icons in bars and hotels is becoming a hot topic in Thimphu. Some consider it as artistic license, while others see it as desecration of sacred symbols and a lowering of Bhutanese values. Perhaps now is an appropriate time to explore the issue of sacred and its broader implications to society as a whole.
In a religious context, sacred is something that links the mundane with a higher consciousness, though of course connotations vary depending on the person.

Take, for example, the hypothetical ituation of a man who was born in a place with many monasteries such as Jakar. As a youth he may regularly have been exposed to the smoke of certain herbs being burnt as offerings, and as a result that fragrance is always associated with religious ceremonies nd higher ideals. Later, if this man moved to Thimphu, he might bring some of these herbs with him and burn them when undertaking religious practice or perhaps when just feeling lonely. Immediately, the aroma evokes the feelings of his youth and the religious sentiments of his community. For him, these herbs have a sacred value.

To a young guy in Thimphu, the music that he heard when he met his first girlfriend is sacred. He keeps a CD, and plays it when feeling down or under pressure. Instantly, he is reminded of his carefree days.

To continue the stories, imagine that a meat shop near the apartment of the guy from Jakar begins to burn the same “sacred” herbs to discourage flies. Also, the hotel where our young friend works starts to play the music that he loves through the toilet audio system. Slowly, the association these people had with the smell and sound are lost. They no longer evoke the same emotions. In short, they have lost their sacredness. In religion, this is called desecration.

Of course, it is unreasonable to expect society to adapt to individual ensitivities. In the context of our stories, for example, it would be inappropriate for the young guy to ask others not to play “his” music in toilets or for the guy from Jakar to request meat shops in Thimphu to stop burning specific herbs. However, it is certainly not unreasonable to expect others to preserve the sanctity of things that are respected and held as sacred by the community at large. For example, most people in Bhutan consider the symbols of Buddhism as worthy of deep respect, and therefore they are always placed in high and clean places. Such expressions of piety are the norm in Bhutan and are supported by society as a whole. However, if a few people begin to use Dharma symbols for commercial purposes or to depict them in disrespectful ways, the symbols are slowly deprived of their power to evoke a sense of reverence or the sacred. They are rendered ineffective, and as a result society looses something of great valuable.

Still, those with strong views about the subject should not lose the plot and become emotional. Instead it is better to investigate why symbols are sacred and consider the issue from all angles. We are not the Taleban, and it is not part of Buddhist culture to over-react to such matters. Yet, at the same time, those who use religious icons merely out of commercial or artistic interests should reflect on the disservice and harm they are doing to society, of which they are an integral part and will feel the repercussions when values depreciate.

In the past, such matters did not need to be discussed. People naturally respected teachers and religious symbols, but times are changing. Young people are exposed to greater outside influences, so maybe now is the time to investigate the situation. Buddhist icons and symbols have been used for centuries as a means to raise the view from the mundane to the sacred.

Therefore, they should not be disguarded lightly, but instead protected as a national treasure and the population
educated on their value. In this regard, I sincerely hope this humble contribution can initiate some deep refection by those who are using Buddhist icons in a way that does not accord with the reverence that they are afforded by the majority of Bhutanese people.

By Shenphen Zangpo

Ratings: 1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (33 votes | 4.82 out of 5)
Loading ... Loading ...
Email this page Email this page     Print this page Print this page    

Posted by Bhutan Observer · Filed Under Voices 

Comments

20 Responses to “Buddhas and Bars”

  1. legal bud on June 19th, 2008 2:33 pm

    You’ve intrigued me. A shop here in NYC sells their Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, so I’m going to check them out. How unusual!

  2. Dimitri on July 14th, 2008 1:12 am

    I am writing you from Milan, Italy. In Milan we have a Bar called Bhudda Bar, and there is also some type of eletronic music called Bhudda Bar. Of course I feel it’s a total missuse of the name, but most people in my country just love it, they feel it’s exotic, and they don’t think! So I don’t feel it’s an offence to Bhuddism but it’s an offence people do to them selves, prooving they don’t think. And when I walk in front of that Bar, I just like to pretend people call it in some different ways, since they don’t know what the word really means!

    I am trying to get anykind of job in Bhutan, I speak French, Italian, English, Japanese, I am a young writer who has been working in the field of communication. I would like to stay in your country for a while, in case you have any advice, I would mostly appreciate it, sorry if I am distubing. Kind regards, dimitri@dstories.com

  3. Nalenjan on August 24th, 2008 8:50 pm

    I am writing you from Sydney, Australia. Here, there are some chilips who claim to be Buddhists. Then when I visited some of their houses, I found a big statue of Lord Buddha kept just behind their main door.

    As a guest, I could neither object nor ask their reasons as to why they keep it in such a place most unsanctifying. I imagined a lot for their rational but still could not guess a right rationale.

    If I do not like Jesus Christ, I will loath a statue of Jesus Christ to be kept behind my door. Afterall, such a gesture would hurt myself rather than the visitors.

    I also think that it is not sacreligious on the part of these chilips because these statutes are without nangzung and no rabney is performed. So, it is not more than a clump of soil or metal they keep behind their doors.

  4. kexang on October 27th, 2008 4:52 am

    i m wirting u from toronto, canada. Well i happened to visit one of ma ferns palce…last week end. I was so embrasses wen i saw thangka hanged in their wash room…. i Guess this is not an rite thing to do and i think our govt shud do soemthing to make sure that, this kinda thigns shud not be happening here and then….. its rele rele an embraassing thing

  5. Hemraj Tamang on November 4th, 2008 12:56 pm

    Yes, your expressions and views are sensible and right from your point of view. Actually all our fingers are not same and so are the people from all walks of life. You cannot make people think in your way but you have to go the world goes on. I don’t mean that all the things people do is right but there are limits. Everything within the limit is tasty and useful.

  6. Savagela on November 19th, 2008 1:50 am

    I want to compliment you on this article. The argument is very well made and thoroughly convinced me.
    I came to this article with a belief that declaring anything too “Sacred” to display in public is censorship and religious tyranny. Your illustration about meaningful scents and sounds reached me, and I saw how it applies to images as well.

    The tone of your article was the most important element in convincing me. By saying that you aren’t the Taliban and don’t advocate violence or strict penalties for “desecration,” reassured me that you were a reasonable person and were thinking deeply about this issue, not reacting emotionally. There are other values at play in this situation besides holiness, and your respect for these other values, such as personal freedom, freedom of expression, and tolerance of other religious views, was very reassuring to me.

    You didn’t preach or offer too many solutions at the conclusion, and that inspired me to think of things I would do to change the situation. I felt motivated to help you achieve you aims.
    The English was very good as well and I compliment you on that.
    Overall a very good article and I’m glad I read it. Thank You

  7. kado on December 13th, 2008 2:57 pm

    so waht about the toilet i saw buddha pic and stchu in rich people toilet, and garden, west chelips dont care much abut buddha , for them it is just a icon, so now bhutan is getting infulalnce of west culture, wich is lots of ego , ignorance , lust,full people with no respact to other culture,, so for argument sake , what about who made this art and sell it for sake of money, if we are really good budhist, we need to look to cause, and its eaffect also, not only bar, many business are there whare precioues art, and whare we pray is deccive like a toy, if any one need photo of mock alter also, i can provide, in chelips world bird is keep in alter , and shit everry whare in books , stachu, the day i saw this made me cry, from my heart,

  8. kado on December 14th, 2008 10:18 am

    what about the immage of buddha in toilet show picses, what about the alter made as bird house, what about the people who sale it from home town of bhutan, it is no a blamming any one but time has show us to respact our own culture, one thing is handicarft made are sold in bhutan, as if they are art of bhutan, many people live by sales of this art so many dont use for retual, but for tourist sovinore, and this chelips are same to animals who dont know waht is what, but it hurt us all, as this is our religious,

  9. super jack on May 20th, 2009 7:47 pm

    dont think eveyone is same in this world…

  10. Lionel on June 6th, 2009 3:56 pm

    For popularity and profit, one should not hurt the feelings of any other person or community. Buddhist world over would definitely het hurt when they heard that the Buddha image is used for business especially in insulting manner. Conflict risen all over the world as people do not understand, or they do not want to do so the rights of their fellowmen. Respect the likes and dislikes of others, and those who use image of religious leaders or the religious material for petty purposes, they should do a self judgment, how he or she feels if their religion is insulted.

  11. Tshering Dendup on June 24th, 2009 1:04 pm

    It was believed that Bar is many of the one place where Buddha never visit. Buddha said,’ many evil deeds are rooted from the bar’ and consequencely all evil troubles caused there.

  12. Tshering Yeshi on September 23rd, 2009 4:29 pm

    I think beforr talking about the misuse of the Bhudda statue or name whatever it is, firstly we should know what is going here within the country. being a buddhist country are we doing a great job, can we set an example outside the worl? i am sure …its “NO” Thoes people are doing because they dont know what is bhuddhist and many of its reasons and value.
    Now lets talk about our own country………………………..the zangdopelri here in phuentsholing has become a dating place for thr indian and some of our youth. late night you wil see a group of youth with beer in theis hand and smoke just infront of the lhakhang gate. we are happy that our country is constructing one of the biggest buddha statue in thimphu, but do we think that is a whore house? lots of condom are being used and thrown nearby, young couple they gor fo sex at night usually after party/disco. and we can see lots of tourist visiting that place, just forget about the plastic bottt;e and paper being thrown there but the……………wow sex and the sacred places, its amazing my dear people who did that.

  13. Drukpa on October 12th, 2009 1:01 pm

    wow..this is really bad!
    I wonder the final cry is at our door. If these things keep happening then the natural disasters which is unpredictable and unimaginable is not a problem….
    so we bhutanese should really understand and its individuals responsibility to solve the problem and make others understand…. no buddhas thangka or statue in the toilet or behind the door… we buddhist even feel bad to see Jesus’s photos in the toilet… we respect such people for they are path shower to the ultimate happiness…..Chillips should really care about it and should respect or they should never have bought the thangka….
    its waste and disrespective in both the cases……
    sex near the zangdopelri is even disgusting thing,,, please avoid such things…. it will only bring bad things in your life and will curse you in one way or the other….

    think b4 you act!!!

  14. Karma on October 30th, 2009 4:54 pm

    It is a state of mind that makes lots of difference. Some bhudhist chilip say while shiting in the toilet is the most convenient way to concentrate their mind to Lord Budha so they hang in the toilet. Others hang in the altar but without much respect. Lord Budha was a normal human being initially. He also must have excretions. So respect his presence anywhere. It is all one’s perception. No hard feelings to anyone. For your kind information i too am hard budhist.

  15. Karma on October 30th, 2009 4:56 pm

    It is a state of mind that makes lots of difference. Some bhudhist chilip say while shiting in the toilet can really concentrate their mind to Lord Budha so they hang in the toilet. Others hang in the altar but without much respect. Lord Budha was normal human being while he was born. He also must have excretions like any other beings. So respect his presence anywhere. It is all one’s perception. No hard feelings to anyone. For your kind information i too am hard budhist.

  16. dhondup on March 2nd, 2010 8:35 pm

    i cant find any bhutanese language news paper online , and if any one has any site on bhutanese language, let me know or write to me on
    yutatsu2001@yahoo.com
    Here i am a Tibetan, and in exile tibetan community, i used to read plenty of tibetan language online news, blogs etc yet sometimes i would like to read bhutanese language online news, but so far i didnt find any sites except english ones.

  17. zangmo on June 17th, 2010 11:20 pm

    yab,its true all our holy places like kuenselphodrang and sangaygang r becoming sex spot for bhutanese so do something

  18. bryansus on July 16th, 2010 1:14 pm

    absoutely very true, a holy places should strictly prohibited from all those wrong doings la……….

  19. Odzer Chenma on July 29th, 2010 4:12 am

    Hi,

    I’m in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. There is literally a Buddha statute in every single garden here. In Boulder, Colorado I actually saw a Buddha holding bath soaps in the window of a store. The Buddha appears to be decor for many people worldwide which is most unfortunate.

    Tashi Delek,
    Odzer Chenma

  20. Oldman on August 12th, 2010 3:43 pm

    Buddha didn’t say whatever He said is right. He said Annalise and realize oneself as He didn’t have his teacher but Himself. So friends know your source of Mind and its directions. If you take care of your own Mind, thoughts and actions, you can change yourself. But before you could not change oneself, please let us not try to change the world.

    Change oneself,
    Change your bad habits to good ones,
    Change your bad thoughts to good thoughts,
    Change your bad actions to good ones,
    Help all as per as possible and do not harm others.
    This is the real and truth dharma taught by Lord Buddha.
    He didn’t say this and that as narrated in the above article.
    It is you people and your minds that you see which is wrong if I say.

Leave your comment





Note: Comments are moderated by Bhutan Observer, and may not appear until they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

Bhutan Observer is Digg proof thanks to caching by WP Super Cache