Seriously? Buddhas in your fish-tank?

[logansrogue]

I was at the pet store and they were selling these little Buddha statues for your fish tank, with chintzy 'Asian' writing on the packaging and everything. There was a young lady working there, I think she was Thai, I couldn't be sure. But I said to Helen, "I don't know how I'd feel about drowning Buddha in my fishtank." And she seemed very relieved to hear me say that. "That's right, I'm Buddhist, I don't think I like these, they're disrespectful." She wondered how I knew it was offensive and I explained that I hung around with a lot of people from all around the place when I was at school growing up. Plus it's basic decency - you don't use a culture's spiritual figure for your fish tank decoration, ya know?

Ended up having a great old chat with that girl, she was absolutely lovely. I nice point in my day, to meet someone new and have a nice chat like that.

Comments

[zzzzsleep.livejournal.com]

Now I have visions of jesus on the crucifix, with colourful fishies swimming past...

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

... That I would actually buy!

[melalucci.livejournal.com]

Why Jesus and not Buddha?

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be appropriating someone's holy personage for idle decoration. I'd be making fun of my own.

Plus I sincerely doubt I would ever actually put Jesus in a tank. It was just a way of being funny, that's all.

[melalucci.livejournal.com]

Ah...I understand what you're saying. :)

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Phew! *hugs* I wouldn't seriously disrespect Jesus. I was born and raised on good ol' Catholic guilt!

[leviathan0999.livejournal.com]

Wait, isn't one of the Tenets of Buddhism "If you meet the Buddha in the road, drown him in a fish tank"? I'm sure I've heard something like that from my Buddhist friends.

[http://users.livejournal.com/lothar_/]

I remember overhearing a conversation between a couple of people and a Buddhist monk. They brought up the "If you meet the Buddha in the road, kill him" koan and asked why, if Buddhism is a religion of nonviolence, it would have a saying like that. Without an eyeroll or missing a beat, he cautioned that it was a figure of speech and a way to clear one's mind.

Can't say I blame them. It's second nature as Americans to be literal-minded and spot contradictions when it comes to "foreign" belief systems.

[hotclaws.livejournal.com]

But,I think the Flying Spaghetti monster wouled quite enjoy it,may you be touched by his noodley tentacles!

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but He was born in bubbling water. It's appropriate.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

I have a fishtank. I want a crucifix in it and see my Mum's very shocked Catholic reaction when she gets home! LOL!

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

With little goggles and nails in his hands!!

[greteldragon.livejournal.com]

I love the idea of an entire collection of religious figures. And something that would piss atheists off (so I don't know a richard dawkings figure?) all sitting around a table at the bottom of the tank getting pooped on by fishies.

hm. I kinda want a fish tank. There would totally be enough room for one if we had the money (and had a stable enough lid that Diesel couldn't upset).

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Cats love sleeping on fishtanks! It's funny to watch 'em!

[greteldragon.livejournal.com]

I can imagine. I can also imagine Diesel getting completely confused and falling in. She's a bit of a dope.

[flyingreptile.livejournal.com]

Maybe drown all the religious figures. Then drown the "Chainsaw of Natural Selection" as well?

[flyingreptile.livejournal.com]

You put Cthulu at the bottom of a fish tank. Thats OK. I have faith that when the stars are right Cthulu will rise from the depths of the ocean and take its rightful place as ruler of the Earth.

[logansrogue.livejournal.com]

Praise be Cephalopod.

Shh!

[flyingreptile.livejournal.com]

Shh! They might hear you!

For doth it not say "We don't pray to them so much as pray they don't wake up" in chapter 271 of the Holy ToMU?