So today was a sweet (and rare) holiday for me. I decided to pay homage to Buddha on his birthday. Not for any personal religious convictions, but more out of a sense of curiosity for a religion that oozes peace from all pores.
So we went to Taejosan to see what festivities were taking place there.
Luckily, my fellow travelers were not discouraged by the downpour that coincided with our visit. (Koreans melt in the rain, but foreigners don't.)
We made lotus flower lanterns and listened to the hypnotic temple music. A simple, unhurried worship was taking place beneath our flashing cameras. So, what Buddhist ever started a war? Come to think of it, what Buddhist even annoyingly pushed a pamphlet into your hand? What Buddhist tried to convert you with a maniacal look on his face?
Much of the action was taking place around three big golden statues in one of the temples. Now, I know Exodus well enough to realise that golden statues = idol worship. The rich decor and intricate details fascinated me, but at a guarded distance.
I love the beauty of the statues, but I don't like the idea of worshipping them. Because people inevitably make God into the image of themselves. And we have little imagination when it comes to the sublime.
So the Buddhist dress their deity in shining gold and adorn him with a face of peace and wisdom. For us, (Western) (Christians),we dress God up through the way we pretend Him to be 1) easy to understand 2) easy to follow and how we present ourselves to be 3) in sublime control 4) all-knowing and 5) superficially happy.
It makes our "product" - our God, look good - right? So we play this game of pretence, wear the gear, speak the lingo and do the moves that gets us a spiritual stamp of approval.
And that's how we dress up God: shiny as an Easter Egg, and disappointingly hollow.
Why do we do this to something that can be as mystical as silence, and a joyful as a mountain drenched in rain..?
So we went to Taejosan to see what festivities were taking place there.
Luckily, my fellow travelers were not discouraged by the downpour that coincided with our visit. (Koreans melt in the rain, but foreigners don't.)
We made lotus flower lanterns and listened to the hypnotic temple music. A simple, unhurried worship was taking place beneath our flashing cameras. So, what Buddhist ever started a war? Come to think of it, what Buddhist even annoyingly pushed a pamphlet into your hand? What Buddhist tried to convert you with a maniacal look on his face?
Much of the action was taking place around three big golden statues in one of the temples. Now, I know Exodus well enough to realise that golden statues = idol worship. The rich decor and intricate details fascinated me, but at a guarded distance.
I love the beauty of the statues, but I don't like the idea of worshipping them. Because people inevitably make God into the image of themselves. And we have little imagination when it comes to the sublime.
So the Buddhist dress their deity in shining gold and adorn him with a face of peace and wisdom. For us, (Western) (Christians),we dress God up through the way we pretend Him to be 1) easy to understand 2) easy to follow and how we present ourselves to be 3) in sublime control 4) all-knowing and 5) superficially happy.
It makes our "product" - our God, look good - right? So we play this game of pretence, wear the gear, speak the lingo and do the moves that gets us a spiritual stamp of approval.
And that's how we dress up God: shiny as an Easter Egg, and disappointingly hollow.
Why do we do this to something that can be as mystical as silence, and a joyful as a mountain drenched in rain..?
1 comment:
beautifully put.
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