Monday, March 8, 2010

Monk On Skateboard

This photo was taken by a visitor to the Emei Mountain Temple, in Sichuan province, and posted on the internet.

The monastery stands near the top of Mount Emei - the highest of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China and the site of the country's first ever Buddhist temple.

Internet users were taken aback by the photographs and posted comments criticising the monk for adopting a "modern fad".

"Monks should seek quietness and riding a skateboard is such a contradictory thing to Buddhist life," said one.

However, a spokesman for the temple said that the outside world did not understand the life of a contemporary monk.

"People get their impressions from TV or movies, where monks are praying all day long, without any motivation or desire," he said.

"But these days monks also enjoy sports like badminton, table tennis and skateboarding in the spare time, as well as praying.

"They even use the internet and mobile phones to promote Buddhism. This is not contradictory to Buddhism but actually is part of the Buddhist spirit."














This photo is not related to the above photo. This one depicts a young Tibetan monk on skateboard in a temple in Arou, Qilin, China.























Personally i have no problem with monks in skateboards but i do feel offended by these. What are these ? Well these are real skateboards with Buddhist motives on sale online. To me this is a form of desecration of Buddhism. What was on the mind of the people behind this ? How could they allow skateboarders to step on picture of a real Buddhist monk ? They should have been more sensitive and show more respect to other religion, the same goes to the buyers of these skateboards.

6 comments:

Rob Thomson said...

Hi there,

Thanks for using my photo in your blog post (the one at the bottom of the monk on the skateboard).

You're most welcome to continue using the photo in the post, but please make sure to attribute it to me, the author (Rob Thomson, with the link to the original photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14degrees/2714040538/in/photostream/)

Many thanks,
Rob Thomson

Anonymous said...

In this world YIP KUM FOOK is very lucky because he is a lawyer do not have to study law, also do not have to go to law school, other lawyers have to study law for up to six years to become a full lawyer

YIP KUM FOOK is a good friend of mine and he is a businessman as furniture items in Taman Daya, close to Taman Desa Jaya, Kepong and also he is like playing politics, in 1990 something he became MCA chairman in Taman Daya, Kepong…

Later, he became the president of SAMNAK SAMBODHI BUDDHIST TEMPLE, Taman Desa Jaya, Kepong in 1994 something and he rejected the old president (Shia Kok Sun), then he took the presidency at that time, that everyone knows about it, in what happened at SAMNAK SAMBODHI

He wants to be a lawyer because he wants to play politics, many politicians have some degree or gradually in education, and he also follows people in what they have, he does not see himself from what he came, now many know the origin of YIP KUM FOOK as well…..

Ah Chin, Taman Desa Jaya, Kepong

Anonymous said...

VEN. PIYADHAMMO originally from Penang came to Samnak Sambodhi, Taman Desa Jaya, Kepong, to visit and practice the Dhamma but he was unlucky to meet President SAMNAK SAMBODHI as YIP KUM FOOK, this president is very cruel, narrow –minded and action(proud), he is more jealous of who is better than him

YIP KUM FOOK this does not know about the teachings of Buddhism and Kamma in Buddhism because what is meant by Buddhist monks, also he does not know what Sanghas in Buddhism, he does not know Buddhists, here are monks, monks are the disciple of Buddha

Every Bhikkhu, they have their master to advise and take care of, if they go make trouble somewhere, someone has to report to their master, not you (YIP KUM FOOK) to remove the Bhikkhu from the Temple

From that time till now, SAMNAK SAMBODHI BUDDHIST TEMPLE is not peaceful because of you (YIP KUM FOOK), your mind is very dirty, add you with your friend also you cheat on them, this is your friends who said, about you, next you will live alone…..

Shared by Lawrence Kong, Taman Ehsan

Anonymous said...

we went to mention VENERABLE PIYA DHAMMO (Penang) about YIP KUM FOOK (lawyer) president of SAMNAK SAMBODHI BUDDHIST TEMPLE, Taman Desa Jaya, Kepong ... this YIP KUM FOOK always called the police to come to the temple to harass and arrest Buddhist monks

He is very stupid and bad in the world because Buddhist monks visit and come to any temple for they to practice Dhamma and come to learn Dhamma for get more experience in their way of life but this YIP KUM FOOK still thinks negatively to benefit himself

YIP KUM FOOK knows how to use police and thugs to harass only but Dhamma or Buddhist teachings he doesn't know, maybe pay money to police and thugs to do this project

VENERABLE PIYA DHAMMO(Penang) is not live alone, we will help and find out about YIP KUM FOOK make problem in Buddhist, now is times technology is very easy to research about YIP KUM FOOK information detail, in future he will need to answer in what he does mistake with monk’s world groups

Chaiya Mangalaram Thai Buddhist Temple, Penang


Anonymous said...

The last time YIP KUM FOOK set fire to a Hindu temple in Taman Daya, Hindus kept quiet after he and his group and two policemen came to harass a Buddhist monk at the SAMNAK SAMBODHI BUDDHIST TEMPLE in Taman Desa Jaya, Kepong, now the news is getting slower people are listening, and many people are not satisfied with what he did before

In Buddhist rule, anyone who disturbs and makes sangha broken, that people will fall into hell when they alive as like Devadatta, who tried to kill Buddha but was unsuccessful, YIP KUM FOOK this should care, now karma will be active anytime.

Everyone has to be careful and live from him because YIP KUM FOOK is a very dirty mind and he is a lawyer but doesn't know whether he is or not, he is a lawyer because he is in the furniture business, so(how) he can study law, the laws have to study for 6 years.

Sharing by :
Wat Thai Mon - Kulim Cai Bo Hin Kulim Temple

abdullah said...

Dakine Bags are synonymous with innovative design and durability. Built from high-quality materials, these bags are crafted to withstand the Dakine Bags rigors of rugged outdoor adventures while maintaining their functionality and style.