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General Buddhism => General Buddhism => Topic started by: icy on April 23, 2014, 12:11:42 AM
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Colombo: A 35-year-old British woman faces deportation for sporting a Buddha tattoo in Buddhist-majority Sri Lanka, where disrespect of the religion by foreigners is frowned upon.
The woman tourist, who has been detained, had arrived at the Colombo international airport from Mumbai yesterday morning.
"She was produced before the magistrate at Negombo who ordered her to be detained at the immigration detention centre before deportation," a police statement said.
The tourist had an image of the Buddha seated on a lotus flower tattooed on her right arm, it said.
It was not immediately clear where the woman, who was not identified, would be deported to.
Sri Lanka is a Buddhist-majority island and the authorities remain sensitive to any disrespect of the religion by foreigners.
Last year, another British tourist was deported for a similar incident.
In 2012, at least three French tourists were handed suspended jail sentences for "inappropriate" behaviour in front of a Buddha statue.British tourist to be deported over Buddha tattoo
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Buddhism has always been seen to be the most tolerant religion but i feel that this action over the British tourist's tattoo is over zealous and will make Buddhism become another fundamentalist religion, which it isn't. After all, since she tattooed it on her arm, it shows that she likes the image of the Buddha, which is the direct opposite of what the Sri Lankans imply.
When people become overly sensitive to perceived offences to their religion - regardless of what religion it is - a practice that is supposed to create peace and harmony destroys it instead. However, as we continue in this age of degeneration, certain Buddhists will create the forces for Buddhism to be destroyed from within, as predicted by the Buddha himself.
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Another case of idiocy by Sri Lanka. What are they trying to do? Be the Talibans of Buddhism?
What a pain in the a$$ to see some people closed minded. Buddhism was created to assimilate with different cultures... well Buddhism in the Western country is definitely different from Buddhism in Sri Lanka, can't they even understand that? On top of that, all they take is the surface value of the situation... whatever happened to motivation? If we follow the Buddhist ethics to the letter but do not have good motivation, it would not bring us far anyway.
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I agree with Diamond girl. The actions by Buddhists in so-called Buddhist countries like Sri Lanka does not reflect well on Buddhism. Can we please be more tolerant of different expressions of our religion. If we don't, where does it stop? In this case, i don't think the tourist was being disrespectful of the Buddha. It was an image tattooed on her arm, not on her butt or leg. And as Diamond girl says, the tourist would have tattooed an image of the Buddha because she likes it and not as a sign of disrespect.
The last thing Buddhists need is the impression that we are becoming militant and overly sensitive. This sounds more like fundamentalists of other abrahamic religions and if we are not careful, we will become labeled as such.
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This is very interesting. When governments (like the CTA) legislate laws concerning religion, this is what happens. Bummer!
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Sri Lanka underwent almost 500 years of Western brutal colonization, oppression, and suppression of its Buddhist culture, being humiliated and persecuted by Western predator bigots in their own land. It is just natural that Sri Lankans protect their most important asset, specially in relation to what they might perceive as Western abusers.
European countries brag about themselves as examples of freedom, but try to enter any one of them with a swastika tattoo. Or try as a foreigner to enter US or UK with a tattoo which might be interpreted as a symbol of Taliban or Islamic terrorism. Probably you will not be so nicely treated as the British tattooed woman, you will receive a Guantanamo-style terrorist treatment.
And why? Because they see such symbols as a threat to their culture, security, and sovereignty. In the same way the Sri Lankans. But Jewish-Christian Western imperialist brutality is in no way better than Nazism or Islamic terrorism.
Thoughtless Westerners, who can only think what Jewish-controlled press tells them to think, should give up their colonialist arrogance, which wants to set up rules to the rest of the world, specially their ex-colonies such as Myanmar, Sri Lanka, or China, look at the immeasurable damage they have caused to such countries, deeply apologize, and learn to shut up.
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I think this is ridiculous. Imagine if Christian countries start to deport people with tattoos of Jesus or the cross. An object is only sacred to the eyes of the beholder. We cannot enforce it on people. I thought Buddhists believe that the image of Buddha brings blessings to the kind stream of those who gaze upon the image. In this case, the British woman tourist by here tattoo is "accidentally" a vessel for spreading the blessing of Buddha image.
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Is there any legal law in Sri Lanka that was written that prohibits any tatoo of any Buddhist image on a human body?
I know for sure that if you visit any Buddha images in Sri Lanka, we aren't allowed to take pictures with our backs facing the Buddha image. We would be told by the keepers to turn our body side ways so our backs does not face the Buddha image directly to take pictures of ourselves.
Sri Lanka revers the Buddhist religion of their country and even Hindus there respect Buddhism. In my opinion, Sri Lanka should make an official announcement to prohibit anyone with such tatoo to cover it up before entering their country in an act to respect to the Buddhist religion.
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I think this is ridiculous. Imagine if Christian countries start to deport people with tattoos of Jesus or the cross.
Why should Sri Lankans comply with current Western standards on what might or not sound as a good reason for deportation?
Just in case you are not updated, since 1948 Sri Lanka is not anymore a Western colony, as it had been for almost 500 years. But looks like you still think with the mind of the disgruntled colonizers, nostalgic of the times they could control and sack the country for their own profit.
Sri Lankans have their own multimillenary Buddhist tradition and culture, and they know best how to protect it together with their country, specially better than arrogant barbaric Jewish-Christian Westerners who have brutalized their country and culture for half a millenium.
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I think that it's a bit too much to deport someone because of Buddha's tattoo on the body. Mind you, people tattoo something that they like on their body and not the opposite. So I can am sure the lady respect and love Buddha so much so that she decided to tattoo it permanently on her body. I think those that show disrespect in front of Buddha images should be punished instead and not because of tattoos. :-\
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Buddha image in this day and age has becoming one of the most famous imagery in the world. Some one might not be a Buddhists themselves could very well have a tattoo of the Buddha because it is just an art piece to them. Perhaps the Sri Lankan government should have an official announcement for the world to know about their country's protocol. Well, every country have their do's and don't and some times we have to respect that when we are paying a visit to their homeland.
Personally, i think it is not appropriate to have a Buddha tattoo out of respect.
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whether or not to have tattoo of Buddha image has always been a subject of debate, and I think it will still be a subject of debate for years to come. People who agree about it has their points, and so do people who oppose it.
but my point is, each country has their own custom, culture and rules. If Sri Langka has evaluated the pros and cons then decided to implement this rule, then the visitors need to be sensitive to this.
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It is not the first time foreign tourists were deported from Sri Lanka for their inappropriate behaviours or for having their bodies tattooed with the Buddha image. These actions are disrespectful and offensive to the Sri Lankan Buddhists. Hence, visitors are advised to be mindful and aware of the local laws, culture, customs and religious practices before entering the country. Otherwise be prepared to face the consequences of being deported, jailed or punished by the law. Sri Lanka just like any other countries has every right to enforce its own laws and rules as it deems fit. To the Sri Lankans, Buddha images are very sacred and holy. Even when you visit someone's home for instance you would act or dress appropriately so as not to offend the hosts. This is basic manners or courtesies one would follow. If we respect others, others will reciprocate.
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I agree with Dondrup. Each country is entitled to their rules and regulations on their religion, culture and other aspects. But people also have freedom to have their bodies tatooed with spiritual images if they are done respectfully. Hence, no one is really wrong here. Just a difference in opinion. As the girl was not "mistreated" but probably just uninformed or misinformed, hence the unfortunate drama of her being deported took place. Everyone of us when visiting other countries must maintain full respect for the people and government of that country. Find out all the information before making a visit to any country.
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It is not the first time foreign tourists were deported from Sri Lanka for their inappropriate behaviours or for having their bodies tattooed with the Buddha image. These actions are disrespectful and offensive to the Sri Lankan Buddhists. Hence, visitors are advised to be mindful and aware of the local laws, culture, customs and religious practices before entering the country. Otherwise be prepared to face the consequences of being deported, jailed or punished by the law. Sri Lanka just like any other countries has every right to enforce its own laws and rules as it deems fit. To the Sri Lankans, Buddha images are very sacred and holy. Even when you visit someone's home for instance you would act or dress appropriately so as not to offend the hosts. This is basic manners or courtesies one would follow. If we respect others, others will reciprocate.
I understand where you're coming from. Is this highlighted to tourists before they enter Sri Lanka? Otherwise, it's really harsh to deport someone because of their tattoo. Buddhism is about acceptance and tolerance. It's about mind transformation resulting from one's practice of Buddha's teachings. By behaving in a non tolerant manner, it doesn't reflect well on Buddhists in general. It shows our attachment to outer trappings.
The best way to inspire others of our practice is by our actions and not our words.
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Is this highlighted to tourists before they enter Sri Lanka?
It is the task of tourists to inform themselves about the country they want to visit. Try to enter Germany with a swastika tattoo, and complain about ”highlights” while enjoying your 5 years in prison.
Otherwise, it's really harsh to deport someone because of their tattoo.
Try to enter US with your Taliban tattoo, and complain about ”harshness” while undergoing officially sanctioned torture in Guantanamo.
Buddhism is about acceptance and tolerance.
If so, why don't you accept and tolerate the laws and traditions of Sri Lankans? Why do you want to impose on them Western rules, instead of respecting their rules and traditions? This is because you are not yet a Buddhist; rather, you are still possessed by the Jewish obsession with setting rules for other peoples.
It's about mind transformation resulting from one's practice of Buddha's teachings.
If so, why don't you transform your own mind, and refrain from the Jewish sociopathic and intolerant attitude of telling other peoples how they are allowed or not to behave?
By behaving in a non tolerant manner, it doesn't reflect well on Buddhists in general.
Which is a god reason for you to transform your own Jewish-conditioned sociopathic behavior.
It shows our attachment to outer trappings.
And inner trappings as well, as the Jewish sociopathic mania of telling other peoples how they should behave is internal.
The best way to inspire others of our practice is by our actions and not our words.
Which practice do you want to inspire others of? Your practice of intolerance against Sri Lankan Buddhist traditions?
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This is something ridiculous. Buddhism is supposed to be compassionate and there is no sign of compassion for the British women.
In another point of view it could be a blessing is disguise as this news help to spread Buddhism too.
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is this something like a suppressing religious freedom again?
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This is something ridiculous. Buddhism is supposed to be compassionate and there is no sign of compassion for the British women.
You confound compassion with debauchery. Sri Lanka authorities, as opposed to brutal, murderous British law enforcement authorities, were kind and compassionate, and in no way mistreated the British woman.
Still, they did not allow for acts of debauchery against the Three Jewels, which is another act of compassion.
Now, wanting to force your own cultural preconceptions on other peoples, thus showing disrespect for their traditions, religion, and customs, as you do, is a gross act of violence and lack of compassion.
Therefore, while bragging about ”compassion” you are the first one showing your anti-Buddhist penchant for violence.
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is this something like a suppressing religious freedom again?
Rather the opposite. The repression of anti-Budddhist acts of debauchery by foreigners ensures the religious freedom of Sri Lankans, thus putting an end to 500 years of Western violation of Sri Lankan human rights, including religious freedom.
Actually all such anti-Buddhist propaganda by Western Jewish-controlled press is intended at covering the brutal religious persecution taking place in Palestine, where millions of Muslims and Christians are kept by Jews in open air extermination camps such as Gaza and West Bank.
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There are many aspects to this, in my opinion. The first being that yes, a country has it's own belief systems, culture and laws, which should be respected when traveling there. I have come across many examples of how what would be considered normal in western countries are entirely frowned upon or illegal in other countries, such as restrictions of clothing in some parts of the world.
Each country or peoples have their own rights to protect their culture, heritage and way of life, but i see no reason why the woman would have to be deported. She could simply be told to make sure that the tattoo was covered up while in the country and given a warning that if she did not, then she would face deportation. This is the way I would have handled the situation, however this is only my personal opinion. I'm sure the woman did not come into the country specifically with the intent of offending anyone, but she should have checked, the customs and laws of the country before travelling, especially whe traveling to a country so different in culture and law that the one she came from.
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hmmm...thought Buddhism is all about tolerance and letting go. Why do we build Buddha images, print Buddha prints, wear Buddha pendant, wear holy mantras? If we can wear Buddha pendants and other amulets around our neck, why not the arm? Maybe they arrested her for other images tattooed elsewhere on her body that cannot be shown due to it's inappropriate location!
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I believe every individual will have they ways on how they show their respect towards their own believes and eventually it comes down to intent. Some people would have tattoo on their body to show their love and as one with the object of the tattoo. Of course I’m not referring to those tattoo place at the disrespect area/part of the body but for such a religious country, it’s their perception on how one should regards their believes in a respectful manner.
In this case I would not say I agree nor disagree as I can tell the intent of that lady with the Buddha tattoo but what I would emphasize here is that each area, places or country will have their own perception on how they respect their believes and we should respect and not to offend them. If we respect other people believe and cultures people will do the same and is better we always check the sensitivity of the place towards their culture and believe so we can be aware not to offend anyone.
This is one of the Buddhist practice which bring harmony no matter what skin color your are, what culture you are or what religious you are, it will just bring harmony.
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The Sri Lankan immigration were being over sensitive for the action they have taken on the British tourist. I do not see the harm she is causing by having a Buddha image tattooed on her right arm. In fact, the image would plant a Buddha seed in the minds of everyone who lay a gaze upon it.
Being deported from a country with strong Buddhist beliefs for having a Buddha tattoo on one's arm seems illogical.
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I read this post with great interest, I remember once I was at a local Tibetan temple during a holy ceremony. Devotees lining up to greet the visiting Sangha and a young four years old reincarnate Tulku. Albeit the constant announcement to advice devotees to refrain from touching the young Tulku head many still do so as it is ours norm to shows affections by touching head’s of cute toddle.
The temple committee has no choice but to put up a human barricade to stop all who attending the ceremony form getting near to the young Tulku. This resulted many in the crowd remark the action take as sign of arrogant and why a Sangha should behave like holier than thou. It shows that most of us simply could not follow simple rules!
If we check within ourselves how many do remember their refuge vows and 12 commitments by heart and put it into practice daily, we will see that that majority of us could not even be considered a Buddhist.
Why there’re rules such as the refuge vows and commitments was there if all of us could practice tolerance and loving kindness?
The Sri Lankan’s government should have ample of reasons and right to protect their culture and religion from outside inferences. When we practice tolerance and understanding their need to do so there would be not be an issue of deporting the mentioned tourist.
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The Sri Lankan immigration were being over sensitive for the action they have taken on the British tourist.
Rather, Westerners have been over-abusive in their continued arrogant, colonial, attitude against Sri Lankans, who are therefore fully entitled to protect their culture the way they find best.
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The image of Buddha to remind us of the quality of Buddha that we need to cultivate and achieve in order to be enlightened. Anyone that see an image Buddha will get the blessing.
Tattoo is an art on the body. Buddha image is an art piece too. I think this is also a creative way to promote the Buddhism thru tattoo. People will only tattoo things they like and things that they like to share with others. People also will tattoo something they want to remember, like someone they love, a special date & etc. If one love the tattoo, definitely it didn't mean to hurt other religious feeling. There is really no need for the for the deportation.
When one is too attached to something, they will do things to protect it and in the end, they are doing something that is not right without they themselves realising it.
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When one is too attached to something, they will do things to protect it and in the end, they are doing something that is not right without they themselves realising it.
So true. Disgruntled ex-colonizers (any anyone introjecting their views) are too attached to the habit of insolently setting rules to Buddhist cultures, they will do things to protect their vicious habit, and in the end they will keep blabbering about what Buddhist cultures and countries should do and be without they themselves even realizing how ridiculously arrogant they are.