At the
millennial cusp, the
Taliban is blowing up images of the
Buddha that have endured for
centuries.
At first this looks like a tragedy. A loss to art, to culture, to Buddhism. But, in truth, it is to be welcomed.
Buddhism is all about letting go, releasing the things that attach your ego to yourself and your soul to this world. Let go, breathe in, breathe out, and remember that the Buddha said "If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him."
If you see the Buddha carved on the side of the mountain, blow him up with dynamite.
Breathe, smile.
See that although they can destroy the images,
they cannot destroy the meaning.
originally titled Blowing Up The Buddhas
Addendum: 9-14-2001 -- Would that they had stopped with the Buhddas...
Addendum: 9-22-2003 -- Does it make any substantive difference if they were blown up by religious fanatics, or if they were destroyed by "friendly fire"?