Bhikkhu Pesala wrote:I think the pros outweigh the cons here.I am not so sure about the tee-shirts, or other items, but this will create happy associations in the minds of young Buddhists.
Later, they can understand better about reverence, and the profound wisdom of the Buddha.
And kill their plush buddhas ...
Aloka wrote:What bizarre idea next I wonder, perhaps a cuddly Jesus and a companion plump god with detachable cloud ?
A portable eternal hell. Maybe they could begin producing plush asuras too! That ought to be fun!
tiltbillings wrote:Of course the other option is jump up and down shouting "sacrilege!!!"
Well, this is along the lines of what I was thinking to do ...
But I've been deliberately training myself to be more appreciative of other people's interest in Buddhism, whatever it may be. I took some photos from fancy home-decor magazines - photos of people's living rooms, bathrooms (!), other spaces where they have statues and pictures of the Buddha in some very irreverent settings. And I try to see the good in that. Because previously, at some point, I just got tired of being upset over such things. Ah, I'm so nice.