VonNoble

I Googled deity ....it was indicated as being a component of being a deity.....which also lists equal opportunity by way of gender ( god or goddess) even though I have never been sure about god-God-hides actually needing a gender..? i guess that hinges on the power to create life without gender being an issue (or not) von

This is a point - deserving attention. If someone living across the street avidly believed in fengshui as a spiritual path it is likely unless I know them well - I would not know this. If I decide to paint my house in some non-harmonizing color to the scheme of life as they understand it to be - knocking their balance all to heck (however inadvertently)....when they come knocking at the door asking me to change the color....how does that play out? I was under no obligation to check with them. What i am doing is legal and also in code to the subdivision. They might be more than offended and annoyed - it might be psychologically harmful to them and causing them a great deal of stress. If I had the money - would repainting the house be the right thing to do? My path has no assigning of value to colors. Do I defer to them and oblige their beliefs? If they offered to pay half? If they offered to completely pay to have it redone as it is that offensive to them...do I let them pick a color that works for them? All interesting things upon which to ruminate. von

If there were to be a Mt. Olympus sort of place....and the Gods/Goddesses and all the supreme beings (that actually have a significant following on the planet earth)....this excludes celebrities, politicians, and any human types...... If they were to gather for a meal at the end of the year (or whatever deities do to socialize) .....what would the conversation look like (or who would be included in the gathering? Even though WE have limited knowledge - for example - would there only be one being there by known by many names...... ....would there be more than one If there was more than one - would they be surprised to find out there are others in existence? Would the entities gather moan about their fate? Complain about the unruly humans? What might happen? It assumed that being Supreme Beings they would not resort to name calling and arguments. von

Understood. I agree. thx von

Thanks for the chuckle yet again. I think releasing it - is a very sound idea. von

I agree. It is working for them. von

There is no way to accomplish much in life without running the risk of upsetting people. While I might well, like most people, try and minimize the stress caused to others - there are moments where people will get stressed in spite of reason or all measure to avoid it. You keep referring to this as "a joke" .....the humor is true enough - so it was humorous - but not with the intent of getting a laugh at someone's expense. It is a statue. Not a person. That statue would, presumably ONLY be offensive if 1) a person revered that particular image 2) that devotee took offense at a Santa hat. None of that is a given. It could also merely be the fact that I dared to display a Buddhist statue at all (which had heretofore been inside my home.) The "religious doctrine" portion was a reply to your assertion that I knowing would disrespect a holy icon of Buddhism. That is very subjective as with any other ritual in any other religion. Some Catholics find rosaries to be holy and some wear them as jewelry. Some people treat any Bible with deference and others less so. So when you asserted that I intentionally offended Buddhists - I was merely responding - even Buddhists would not agree on that point. If one witch came to my house and knocked on the door and told me I had an offensive yard decoration - I might remove it. (That did not happen in this case).... von

Actually I know one person had a reaction....an unspecified reaction. YOU ARE ASSUMING it was the hat. It could have merely been the fact I displayed a Buddhist statue. Many people are ignorant re: other religions and who in the world knows what she knows or doesn't know about it. To put all of this decision making on an unspecified offense (the statue - or the hat on the statue) - not resolved as yet that I can see. von

Even though I do not think these points relevant since they keep reoccurring. I DO NOT know this woman. As far as I know - she is not a direct neighbor of mine. She passed down my street and made her comment for whatever reason. I don't recognize her but I admit I am not the most observant. I do not know how to contact her unless I just see her by happenstance as I did this time. Maybe I can hang out by the garbage cans next pick up day and see if I am on her flight path. She is not an immediate neighbor I know within six houses across or aside of me. Not that knowing or or not knowing her is an issue other than future communications are dependent on me spotting her as I have zero idea her exact location. Obviously it is this area ...but maybe not on my specific street. I'll let you know if I have a chance to visit with her. von

One doesn't choose better physical balance. As I get older wobbling is a real problem. Pushing me over is not difficult and not relevant to an emotional response. There are parallels but this isn't one of them. von That is your opinion. Others think differently. That too is a matter of choice. First, you need not experience things first hand to muster compassion. The Buddha did experience suffering and he noted that NO PERSON alive goes without it. If we are going to use the Buddha as a reference point than, by his determination of the First Noble Truth - all humans suffer. Therefore - according to your above posting - all understand it to some degree. More to the point I think you are making - it is what we do after we realize suffering occurs that is the issue. von

I would think deliberately insulting someone you could anticipate they might get upset with you. Unintentionally giving offense is again - a very different matter. AGAIN....waving a Nazi flag intentionally is not at all in the ballpark of unintentionally giving offense. I do not see any of these examples as tied to the original. von

We have no responsibility to act (or not act) with likely reactions as the largest contributing factor. There are two distinct scenarios. One is we PLAN for the reaction. The other is we got a reaction we did not plan for....which - is not the same thing as the first scenario. You indicated that you accepted that the INTENT/plan did not include the reaction received. If you didn't anticipate that reaction ....it wasn't part of the planning - no matter how much forethought you exercise. So this - we apparently agree was not an issue in this scenario. von

I fidn’t Catch that auto-correct fixed my original boo boo by making an even less understandable one...my apologies....please change spicing to stoicism and the previous posting shound make more sense. von

...I had to go look up what spicing is all about. Which had me thinking I might want to take a philosophy class because I never have taken one. So I thank you for that nudge as well. Certainly the summary I read notes a close proximity of thought in this instance. von

...Thank you very much.... I understand now. I would wonder the same as you on that point. Too I find I do not often “get” the point of many rituals... thx again ... von

Thx for your response. I’ mot sure I quite follow the white man Druids reference tho? von

Thanks to all for the input. After connecting with a monk in Houston.... the conversation ended with an observation. People choose their reactions. They can choose happy. They can choose not happy. All people have a choice. So I am going to think on that for awhile. von

I think your conclusions on this topic are invalid....at least at this moment. There are some jumps in the conclusions not the least of which that there was ANY decision to pick the statue because it was religious. It merely was the one that fit the little hat. It is that simple. It was cheery. That is a far cry from deliberately poking fun. Things can be funny simply because they are unexpected. I appreciate being sensitive. I also appreciate some are overly and unreasonably sensitive. That is not a reason to ignore them. Nor it is a justification to change the world to revolve around each person's opinion. I also find it interesting that you do not seem to have any issue with the hat on the other statue. If the writings of Buddhists are authentic - Buddha did NOT WANT images of him - it would appear he did not think such images were a good idea to begin with ...and certainly he did not want to be made into object of worship or even reverence - he stated many times he was just a man. That's all. If he didn't want special titles or special treatment when alive I have no reason to think that he (or millions of his followers) would be concerned in the slightest. That is a leap of judgment...wherein either point of view (or several dozen more between them) would be equally valid. ONLY SOME Buddhist find statues to be reverent. Many do not see any difference between the two statues in my yard. I think giving it more thought before reacting is the wiser approach. i will carefully consider your position. I have always respected your counsel. This is no exception. I thought contacting the most trusted expert I know to weigh in on this was responsible... to validate (or negate) my own opinion of it. It is not so much permission but raising my own awareness if I am wrong. I am never opposed to learning. I think it prudent to ask, reflect - then do - when I have an option. Ready, aim, fire is likely more effective than ready, fire, aim. von

Thanks for that...it is helpful and a nice quick overview. i went online as well and saw a story about “ Laughing Buddha”....not too far off the mark of the statue in our yard -so i am thinking the mere addition of a Santa hat is not much of a change from the folklore of course if any Buddhist would note it as a problem I would apologize and remove it... however if a non-Buddhist who just wants to make an “upset” for the delight of making trouble .... then I think Buddha likes being included.... Happy Buddha is really in the Spirit of the holiday (although I admit that was dumb luck that it coincides) Just to double check- I have a call into a level headed Buddhist monk in Houston. She always tells the truth... if it flags for her at all - I will remove it. thx von

thanks mark 45 .... the fact Buddha is not a god... does lend itself to not being sacraligious ...at least in my mind Wonder if there are any Greek in the neighborhood about to protest out putting a Santa hat on that statue..... Again thx for the reassurance! I am feeling a wee bit less criminal now von

That seems reasonable and logical. what are we overlooking in coming to that conclusion? thx von

I agree. But at times I feel I am just out of sync these days. thx for at least reasoning to the same conclusion I was leaning into. von

....true enough....sometimes I am obtuse.....so exactly when does something cross the line? What is the yardstick ? Surely one person taking offense is not a suitable yardstick. Since I have seen photos of the Dali Lama smiling and laughing wearing anything from cowboy hats to oddball visors...the Buddhist's are not likely offended.... How do we gauge when our sense of humor is out of step (since it is painless to take it down) (then again - maybe it is her sense of propriety that is askew) - how does one determines it? There are days I just remain befuddled at the world as it is today. Old people are particularly sensitive to not keeping up with the times.....it is not intentional....sometimes we just are unaware of the standards shifting. von

Now that I have returned to the Western part of the USA.....I am more frequently able to interact with Native Americans. It came to my attention earlier today that during the recent eclipse many citizens raced to see the "once in a lifetime" event. However cultural norms, of course differ. The Native Americans of the area did just the opposite. It is considered a sacred moment...if I understood it correctly - it is a four -hour event of the sun and moon in communications like no other time. The tribal members not only avoided seeing the eclipse they remained inside and sat quietly for the entire four hours (no eating or drinking, using electronics, or other busy work) - it was strictly quiet, meditative, prayerful time for the entire family. Tribal schools were closed. Those attending university that could not get home - did not go to class but rather sat quietly in their dorm room. I was not aware of this practice but it struck me as very much in keeping with a way to honor and pay respect to the natural order. Your thoughts? von

We do very little by way of holiday decorating in our senior citizen years. When there were kids around we did plenty. But there is no sense to being on ladders and such now. So we hauled a few totes to the thrift store and put up exactly four decorations. Two sockings on the front courtyard wall. A Santa hat on the Greek statue next to the driveway. And we hauled a Buddha staute from the house outside and put it on the wall by the stockings. The statue I’d maybe a foot tall. We happened to find a small child size Santa hat in our collection of odds and ends...and that fit the Buddha statue. We thought it was funny.... so we put it out by the decorative stockings. We were amused and assumed others would be too. Eh.... not so much. As I was retrieving the trash can ysterday a woman stopped me. She was passing by and told me putting out a Buddha like that was offensive.... especially at Christmas time. i am assuming she thought it offensive to Christians. Perhaps she thought it offensive to Buddhists? I didn't Have an immediate thought about it.... so I just said....well “Merry Christmas! “ Smiled and waited. She walked away. That was the end of it. Now I am wondering if we have a warped sense if whimsey? Does anyone else see a Buddha wearing a Santa hat as an offensive item? von