NEWS Update
Knowing Buddha Organization
(Since April 17th, 2012)
We would like to invite you to help us stop all disrespectful acts towards Buddha images.
Please help us stop those who treat Buddha's image badly,
share your idea and support us at FB: Do and Don't on Buddha
Japanese Cartoonist negligently wrote a caricature of Buddha and Jesus cartoon!!!
Published: 22 Apr 2013
Japanese Cartoonist negligently wrote a caricature of Buddha and Jesus cartoon!!!
A manga (Japanesse comics) titled "Saint Young Men" By Nakamura Hikaru is a story about the daily life of Lord Buddha and Jesus imagined by Japanese Cartoonist. The imagination contravenes an issue when the lords of two religions decide to stay on earth and live in a small apartment in Tokyo, Japan.
This disrespectful case represents the lack of deliberation of this particular cartoonist and supporters in which can bring up a disaster consequence.
Only reading the cartoon summary causes sorrow; and so worried about the result of this bad karma. Expecting to have more readers, especially the new x-generation teens, they praise this cartoon. Thai translator also admires the cartoon and the bad part is this translator also uses Pali language in the translation and use the word "Buddha" in an extremely wrong way and there were an utterly misused of the word that the Buddha used to call himself.
The comics have been published in a monthly manga magazine since 2007. Sadly the comics has gained a lot of popularity. In 2009 it has won the annual award and become very famous.
It's also ranked as one of the top bestsellers in Japan. At the moment, this manga has become an animated movie.
The comics fanclubs,Thai kids, teenagers even middle-age adults love the cartoon. There are a lot of followers so they set up a fanpage "Saint Onii-san Thailandfanpage"
https://www.facebook.com/SaintOniisanclub
Has the budhist-consciousness been lost?
Where is the respect and gradtitude?
Why people simply forget to respect Lord Buddha who was of great importance to this world?
Please help bring the awareness of gratitude to Lord Buddha and his noble teaching back to us, followers of his lead.
Please light up the way for those who lost in this darkness. We will bring back their awareness and we will tell the cartoonist and the translator that this comics makes people lack of awareness. It cultivate what is wrong and is extremely inappropriate.
Another page of this comics
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.351286528315714.1073741825.110402669070769&type=1
-Knowing Buddha Organization "To Guard Against any Threat and Blasphemy to Buddhism"
Protection of Lord Buddha
Published: 17 Apr 2013
Protection of Lord Buddha
In the past Lord Buddha was protected by angel Naga.
This era WE will protect him with our body, heart and soul.
One year after founding Knowing Buddha Organization, 10 months from Dharma Gratitude March, it appears more than 7000 Likes in Knowing Buddha facebook, 3 billboards on the side of express way and 2 LED boards in downtown area…all of this come from the gratitude for Lord Buddha, our father..
For one year of our dedication, there are more 100 cases of disrespect, more 15 organizations in Thailand and foreign countries, more than 10 large companies we have requested for funding support. More than 10 government agencies and Buddhist organizations we have approached and submitted letters asking for cooperation. Some replied, some helped, some said that they could not help since it might provoke international conflicts. Most were silent, seeing no value of our work and protection of Lord Buddha. Almost all of the fight against disrespects had to be done alone.
It’s has been a year of hard work, we have to struggle through antagonism, disagreement and different opinions. Some are polite, others are so rude. Some use facebook to mock us. Since the beginning our supporters had to patiently explain our ground. However, they had no longer been tolerant to an extreme pressure. Only the disciples of Master Acharavadee Wongsagon, the founder of Knowing Buddha Organization has been on guard and stand firmly in faith, with other followers who recognize their real duties and is unble to stand seeing the images and reminders of Lord Buddha, the ultimate prophet who led us the way out of misery, being disrespected. Being grateful for his teaching, they could not just neglect and simply walk away.
The combat against turbulence, rudeness, resistance, incooperation and negligence from outside was not as hard as the fight inside their own mind to keep their confidence, their faith and keep their mind clam when replied to comments from those who have different but wrong views. Besides they had to contain their anger and be cautious with every word they use, mindful with their own ego so as to answer and inform the protestants with politeness like a factual.
To walk the way the Master has taught and led us, the followers have to have a strong faith and constantly practice meditation. Many times supporters can only reply just once or twice to the hostile comments from protestants. They could not any longer to stand such a great resistant and just left. Some could not hold the faith. Some saw it as a waste of time since it could not change a thing. And others were just tired of the conflicts.
No matter what people say. No matter that we do or do not have supports. Even though the paths are paved with thorns. Although it’s a task of nobody who dares to fight for and we have to walk alone, WE, the disciples of our Master, the disciples of Lord Buddha, will not have a wrong detachment and neglect the disrespects toward the Buddha Images, names and other symbol s of Buddhism without any words or actions to stop.
The first year of the protection of Lord Buddha, the first year of extreme tasks that no one dares to fight for, Knowing Buddha Organization will proceed with full thrust with faith and loyalty to Lord Buddha. We will keep the faith strong and guard Lord Buddha till our last breath and there will be the next and the following years. "We will never stop."
-Knowing Buddha Organization "To Guard Against any Threat and Blasphemy to Buddhism"
The Path: 17 April,
First Step Introduction of Knowing Buddha Organization
Published: 17 Apr 2013
The Path: 17 April,
First Step Introduction of Knowing Buddha Organization
17 April 2012 was the establishment day of Knowing Buddha Organization (17 April was the birthday of King Taksin Maharaja).
From that day until now, there have continuously been so many activities and campaigns for correct understanding of attitude toward the Lord Buddha.The strong intention and gratitude conveyed by Master Acharawadee Wongsakol, Vipassana teacher of Decho Vipassana Organization and founder of Knowing Buddha Organization, to arouse consciousness of all disciples to standup together and protect our Lord Buddha and Buddhism which was the first time in the world and history of Buddhist.
There were only 70 supporters at the beginning all of which were Vipassana disciples whose faiths were very solidly strong. Later on 7 teamwork units were organized and FB: Do and Don’t on Buddha was also opened as the center for campaign to stop the insult of Buddha focusing providing knowledge, protecting and stopping the trampling on Buddhism based upon kindness to each other in order to establish consciousness to Buddhist in our nation to concern and protect our Buddha who has been trampled by the unknowledgeable (foolish) people using every channel of communication, especially broadcasting through website KnowingBuddha and Facebook.
Our volunteer Knowing Buddha team and volunteers from Facebook collaboratively handed out books entitled "Sacred Power of Buddha Image" and brochures on Dharma Practice at Jatujak Market and Khawsan Road. The distribution of brochures made the total number of web visitor to rapidly increase more than 300% of which were the visits from I.P. abroad. This indicated that we are on the right track on both giving of knowledge and stopping the wrong doing.
-Knowing Buddha Organization
Stop production of Buddha chair and removal from website
Published: 09 Apr 2013
Stop production of Buddha chair and removal from website
Knowing Buddha Organization wrote a letter to inquire and clarify again to 21st Living Art Company.
Referring to the letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand notifying your apology about the Buddha chair that you would soon stop the production line since August 2012.
We regret deeply that you have failed to deliver your promise to the ministry and billion of Buddhists as we have seen this product series still on display on your website. We thought that you would have enough integrity as it is simply an etiquette for a company to be professional and trustworthy. Your product design ideas might have been acceptable if it is nothing related to a religious issue. Maybe if you consider the consequences of this significant matter through a more relatable point of view, you might get the picture a little better.
You are saying that the design intent of this product series is done out of respect and that the concept is to use an iconic figure from the past, to be reinterpreted in a modern way, to give a sense of peace, security and protection. But obviously your design research is incorrect and very superficial. As the majority of the world, feels the complete opposite, they’d feel heartbroken and extremely upset, if one sees a Buddha statue being sat on like there is absolutely no value given to the figure, while they see a Buddha statue placed up high peacefully inside a temple, where everyone bows and prays with great respect to.
What good use does it give, if certain things are done by stepping on the hearts of others.Millions, billions of others.
What is the difference between Jesus Christ and Buddha, any Jesus symbol being the representative of christianity, well-known to the fact that these symbols must be treated with very high regards and respect otherwise one may end up in court or prison, in the vatican.
Besides this religious point of view, it will be a clear fact that your product will hardly find a place in the Asian market, where the possibility of the majority of your market can be. You have already risked this product to hurt your reputation in the long run, and have already lost reliability. It could be extremely hard to gain back trust and even find a stand in the asian furniture market again in the future.
This has severely gone too far, and we will make stronger moves, stronger campaigns, and make a significant impact. A toilet manufacturer company named ‘Olfa‘ in France, have already agreed to stop the production line of their Buddha toilet seat cover, very promptly, politely and very professionally. After a signed petition of almost 10,000 people in Thailand. But we are ready and prepared for the names of people all over Asia, all Buddhist communities and furniture society in Asia including the ADI Italia.
We do hope you respond to us soon, and reconsider this matter at a more serious level.
Best regards,
-Knowing Buddha Organization
Please help prevent the denigration to Lord Buddha
Published: 01 Apr 2013
Please help stop this..
The American guy opens his restaurant in Losangles, America which looks like Thai temple and is decorated with lots of Buddha statues inside and outside just in order to create the oriental atmosphere.
Please help prevent the denigration to Lord Buddha, the World’s great prophet. Our silence will cause another imitation of business.
You can e-mail to remove it from their place and explain how it is badly hurt Buddhist’ feeling. Different religious believers are well aware of Lord Buddha but they should have more sense of respect and prudence with things related to religious issue.
Please send e-mail to stop at
RockSugarGreetings@rocksugarpanasiankitchen.com
www.rocksugarpanasiankitchen.com
Address: WestFeild Cencury City 10250 Santa Monica Blvd. Losangeles, CA 90067
-Knowing Buddha Organization
21st Living Art Company in Venice, Italy broke their promise
Published: 25 Mar 2013
21st Living Art Company in Venice, Italy broke their promise
It's a sad story because the 21st Living Art Company in Venice, Italy broke their promise,
and they claimed that the Thai consulate in Venice mentioned that it is fine to produce this production line.
Our Knowing Buddha Team in Rome has recently talked to them. Thai Consulate in Rome cannot take any responsibility or actions and told us to talk to the embassy in Rome. It seems that there is no support or helping from them neither, from the latest phone conversation.
However, we will come back to this issue at a more serious level in a few weeks time. Prepare your wit and words, we'll have to fight this ignorant issue.
-Knowing Buddha Organization
Featured today in the Bangkok Post (Press)
Published: 24 Mar 2013
Featured today in the Bangkok Post (Press)
Sunday 24th, Mar 2013 - Page 4
Article by: Richard S. Ehrlich
A half-page interview with the Knowing Buddha President including a deeper story of recent progress and how the organization have been working.
Please read this article at: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/342085/false-idols-upset-crusading-buddhists
Knowing Buddha would like to sincerely thank you Bangkok Post and Mr.Richard S.Ehrlich.
Thaizeit, German press support
Published: 22 Mar 2013
Thaizeit, German press support
Knowing Buddha would like to thank Mr.Mark Sonntag, Managing Director of 'Thaizeit' magazine for past and present supports for our organization, with a 2 page interview with the Knowing Buddha President. A chance to spread wider the knowledge to the german community of how Buddha should be respected.
Please visite website www.thaizeit.de
-Knowing Buddha Organization
Quote from the Knowing Buddha Organization President
Published: 21 Mar 2013
Quote from the Knowing Buddha Organization President
"Some say Buddhism is a philosophy. Some say paying respect is a tradition.
But I say to give respect to any human being, who has the highest morality,
is beyond philosophy and tradition.
It is called Respect".
-Knowing Buddha
Buddha Tattoo, taken serious action
Published: 19 Mar 2013
Buddha Tattoo, taken serious action
Reported recently in news media worldwide. A british man with a Buddha tattoo on his arm arrived in Colombo,Sri Lanka had been sent back immediately to England for his tattoo displayed extreme disrespect to Buddha.
Utilizing an image of Buddha for anything but respect in a proper manner, has been too common in the world for anyone to strongly fight back for, for the sake of maintaining the great value of a Buddha image, with strong faith and firm respect to Buddha.
But Sri Lanka, a small country of only 20 million, has done it. With a firm point of view, stated and done like no other country ever had before, simply telling the world that Buddha 'must' be respected and 'must' be treated properly, that we will no longer tolerate the ignorance of the world.
And what about us?
Would we only learn to receive the dhamma, the guidance and teachings from Buddha, that has enlightened our souls, our minds, protected our lives from misery, without ever the thought of whom that showed the way?
If Buddha has protected our lives, we shall protect Buddha with our lives.Knowing Buddha pleas with our hearts and our lives to do so.
-Knowing Buddha
Toilet cover with Buddha’s image
Published: 04 Feb 2013
Toilet cover with Buddha’s image
Please Help Stop This!
The foreigners disrespect the Lord Buddha seriously, once a hotel in France with a “Little Buddha” room that includes a toilet cover with Buddha’s image.
Buddhists had contacted both the hotel and the manufacturer before asking for the help of Thai diplomats, but had received no response.We’ll try to stop this and educate people well on how to treat the Buddha properly.
-Knowing Buddha
Public toilets in the Netherlands
Published: 22 Jan 2013
Public toilets in the Netherlands
We are running a campaign on the portable public toilets in the Netherlands which has the Buddha image painted on the outside of those toilet booths.
"The Buddha image in the toilet is a hard blow to Buddhists."
-Knowing Buddha
Knowing Buddha VDO Campaign
Published: 22 Sep 2012
Dharma Gratitude March
Published: 01 Jul 2012
Dharma Gratitude March
A large group of Buddhists marched in Bangkok on 30 June, to raise awareness about the many disrespectful acts toward Buddha. Many tourists were eager to learn more on the busy Khao San Road.
The Knowing Buddha organization marched to tell the world to ‘Stop disrespecting Buddha’ at Chatuchak weekend market and at Khao San Road.
A large group of Buddhists from Bangkok and upcountry, readily walked holding signs to raise awareness to Buddhists and foreigners of the proper treatment to Buddha, and not to let the world forget that Buddha is a prophet of the world.
Chatuchak weekend market (also called JJ market), which is renowned for the market of Buddha’s images, sculptures and symbols used as paintings and furniture, was the main destination that the organization asked for cooperation in helping raise awareness of this issue.
The organization received much interest from merchants and foreigners in the market. Some merchants that had their shops close to those selling Buddha images and statues as furniture, were delighted to help - giving out brochures and praising the campaign.
Some Thai's unaware of the event content continued shopping, and were seemingly afraid that if they took brochures, they would have to donate money.
There was much more openness to the march and success for the cause, in the tourist hot-bed of Khao San Road.
Many tourists gave their attention and interest in the march, taking pictures and videos as well as joining the parade and attentively reading the brochures.
After sending some people from the organization to ask the tourists’ point of view - undercover and anonymously - - 95% of the feedback was good. Most agreed with the campaign that Buddha should not be used as furniture, T-shirts, or any decorative items, or tattoos. Even street vendors and merchants were supportive throughout the whole walk until the end of the street, turning down their music volume for the campaign’s speech to be heard.
A Chinese man, held the brochure and walked along the parade with his hands up - as if praying - making a ‘wai’ all throughout the parade.
The issues of the disrespecting of Buddha images and symbols were hotly debated on Khao San, by both locals and tourists. One tourist said “their signs seem so unhappy but the people look so peaceful. In fact, I have never seen so peaceful a march for anything, ever." One French couple agreed with the mystery shopper, that The Buddha Bar in Paris is disrespectful, and they said they could not imagine such a bar with another prophet being allowed.
They said the French would never allow that. A tailor said that he agreed with the sentiment of the march, that people should not wear T-Shirts with Buddha image or have jeans with his image on them. One American agreed that the Buddha image is too often used as furniture, who said, "I know people who have Buddha sculptures throughout their house, on the floor, with many of them, as just portions of the Buddha head."
Both tourists and news reporters said that the campaign’s march was impressive and never before have they seen such clarity.
This news has been widely spread out to international media such as Reuters AP, CNN-go, Wall Street Journal, which have all mentioned that this issue has never been raised before amongst Buddhists. A CNN reporter asked the president of the organization "Why don't people treat other father religions as so many do to Buddha?" Acharavadee Wongsakon replied, "because if someone does, they would not have a place to stand in the world; people with other religions have a very strong conscience and speak out strongly."
Knowing Buddha organization, have had their first successful step to raising conscience and awareness for tourists in the proper way to treat Buddha’s images and symbols. But sadly, most of the people who paid attention and gave interest were foreigners, while many Buddhists gave little attention, seeming to ignore the issue. “If Buddhists continue to ignore this issue, the solution to solving the problem of disrespecting the Buddha image, would be very hard to achieve” said the president of Knowing Buddha.
We would like to express our sincerest thanks to those who have participated and supported our march, especially those who have devoted their time to help us speak out and show gratitude to Buddha to the world.
We wish you peace and harmony.