Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

The Freethinker

Home
Nonreligious
A tranquil Trump? Don’t tell Buddhists, it’ll drive them insane.

A tranquil Trump? Don’t tell Buddhists, it’ll drive them insane.

Last updated on: March 15, 2021 at 2:26 am by Barry Duke

A tranquil Trump? Don’t tell Buddhists, it’ll drive them insane. 2021-03-15T02:26:31+02:00 Barry Duke

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

BUDDHISTS are very protective of their brand, and get pretty pissed off by the use of their imagery to promote a wide range products and even venues such as bars and eateries.

Image via Taobao

So when I spotted a report that someone in China has started flogging Trump Buddha figures, I thought ‘uh oh, here comes trouble.’

So far the story appears not have gained traction on Buddhist sites, but I’d be very surprised if outrage isn’t expressed pretty soon, as Trump’s character is SO out of step with the five basic tenets of Buddhism:

• Refrain from taking life. Not killing any living being (five people died in the insurrection he orchestrated and fuck knows how many more are dead through his criminal mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic.)

• Refrain from taking what is not given. Not stealing from anyone.

• Refrain from the misuse of the senses. Not having too much sensual pleasure.

• Refrain from wrong speech. Not lying or gossiping about other people.

• Refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind.

What I did find was a Buddhist’s take on Trump’s election in 2016. Craig Hase wrote:

Before my wife and I went to bed last Tuesday, Hillary Rodham Clinton was set to win an historic election by a landslide. The next morning, when we woke up, the United States had—against all rational expectation—elected a racist, nativist, fear-mongering, misogynistic real-estate-mogul-turned-reality-TV-star to what is still probably the most powerful political office on earth.

A man who doesn’t even have the discipline to read a teleprompter will now hold the codes to our nuclear arsenal.

Trump’s presidency marks a dramatic shift in American democracy. It is arguably the first time that our nation has elected a man who shows nothing but disdain for truth. His campaign has been a departure from every conceivable form of civility.

Back to Buddha Trump. The Global Times reports that the porcelain statue is labeled by the seller on a Chinese site called Taobao as:

Trump, who knows Buddhism better than anyone.

Budweiser would be far closer the mark.

Curiously when I typed “Trump Buddha” into the Taobao search engine the only result I got was a container of nuts.

Trump Buddha is priced ranging from 999 yuan ($153) to 3,999 yuan, depending on its size.

The seller said that the idea of the Trump Buddha statue reminded him of Trump’s slogan of “Make American Great Again” so he adapted the idea into something auspicious for Chinese companies: “make your company great again.”

“Most people just bought it for fun,” the seller told the Global Times, noting that they only made 100 of the statues and have already sold dozens.

A buyer in Shanghai, who wished not to be named, told the Global Times that he bought one of the statues to remind himself not to be “too Trump.”

Meanwhile The Independent reports that one buyer, Li Guoqiang, said he hopes the statue will bring good luck to his Beijing construction firm.

I thought it was a really comical thing to have in the office. I can’t say I’m a Trump fan, but he looks quite peaceful there, doesn’t he?

“There” is Li Guoqiang’s toilet.

The Buddhist Channel points out:

The image of the Buddha serves a symbol where practitioners can put aside negative thoughts and to be reminded of Buddha’s compassion and loving kindness, and helps practitioners evoke feelings of peace, tranquility and calmness.

When manufacturers and business owners casually use Buddhist iconography for the promotion of their business, many people overlook the sentiments of billions of Buddhists around the world, who often find that these images are not treated with respect.

As with any religion, religious iconographies should not be used lightly … so that they do not offend the religion itself, the culture it belongs to, and the society it portrays.

• Please report any typos/errors to [email protected]

If you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee – and boy, do I get through a LOT of coffee keeping this site active – please click the link below.

I’d love a cup of coffee

Previous Post

March 13, 2021

'Extremist' evangelist, once denied a Welsh civic reception, is dead

Next Post

March 14, 2021 Gay man gifts $15-m to ACLU to 'undermine Christian sexual morals'

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Archive My Atheism News Opinion Reviews Uncategorized

Select a Month December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 March 2007 April 2006 February 2006

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What Christian holiday celebrates Jesus' resurrection?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Easter Good Friday Christmas Pentecost

Books by This Author Books by The Freethinker

See All Titles »