Has anyone been following the Buddha Walk of Peace?

[Anonymous]

They walked through our area and I saw that local businesses were advertising their business with photos of the monks at their businesses. It seemed odd. I saw several photos on facebook and other social media with the monks standing around their businesses looking straight into the camera. They are definitely using it as an advertisement. They were not casual photos or candid photos.

[Anonymous]

Even monks need money and PR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even monks need money and PR.

It was really jarring to see the monk standing in the doorway of a shed staring directly at the camera and the business owner advertising his monk approved sheds.

[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even monks need money and PR.

It was really jarring to see the monk standing in the doorway of a shed staring directly at the camera and the business owner advertising his monk approved sheds.

It's possible the business owner is a Buddhist who belongs to a local temple and it matters personally to him to have his business blessed by a monk.

I somehow doubt that this endorsement will be a big money maker in [checking notes] South Carolina, and actually would be surprised if the monk received any money for this. More likely the business donated to the Walk via the local temple.

I get the Facebook post feels jarring but I doubt it's a true commercial endorsement. Also many nks on often sell goods to help support their temples, and there's nothing about Buddhism that says you can't own a business -- you are just expected to interrogate your own attachment to material goods and seek to relinquish unhealthy attachments. But Buddhists are people who live in the world. They aren't expected to starve or be homeless. Most Buddhists aren't monks, just people leading normal lives but who meditate, study Buddhists texts, and may participate in temple activities.

Now, if one of the monks showed up in an ad for a gun range or slaughterhouse, I'd start raising my eyebrows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even monks need money and PR.

It was really jarring to see the monk standing in the doorway of a shed staring directly at the camera and the business owner advertising his monk approved sheds.

It's possible the business owner is a Buddhist who belongs to a local temple and it matters personally to him to have his business blessed by a monk.

I somehow doubt that this endorsement will be a big money maker in [checking notes] South Carolina, and actually would be surprised if the monk received any money for this. More likely the business donated to the Walk via the local temple.

I get the Facebook post feels jarring but I doubt it's a true commercial endorsement. Also many nks on often sell goods to help support their temples, and there's nothing about Buddhism that says you can't own a business -- you are just expected to interrogate your own attachment to material goods and seek to relinquish unhealthy attachments. But Buddhists are people who live in the world. They aren't expected to starve or be homeless. Most Buddhists aren't monks, just people leading normal lives but who meditate, study Buddhists texts, and may participate in temple activities.

Now, if one of the monks showed up in an ad for a gun range or slaughterhouse, I'd start raising my eyebrows.

No the picture is not advertising the shed 🤣.

Read Majjhima Nikāya 140 (MN140)

It’s symbolism of a teaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even monks need money and PR.

It was really jarring to see the monk standing in the doorway of a shed staring directly at the camera and the business owner advertising his monk approved sheds.

It's possible the business owner is a Buddhist who belongs to a local temple and it matters personally to him to have his business blessed by a monk.

I somehow doubt that this endorsement will be a big money maker in [checking notes] South Carolina, and actually would be surprised if the monk received any money for this. More likely the business donated to the Walk via the local temple.

I get the Facebook post feels jarring but I doubt it's a true commercial endorsement. Also many nks on often sell goods to help support their temples, and there's nothing about Buddhism that says you can't own a business -- you are just expected to interrogate your own attachment to material goods and seek to relinquish unhealthy attachments. But Buddhists are people who live in the world. They aren't expected to starve or be homeless. Most Buddhists aren't monks, just people leading normal lives but who meditate, study Buddhists texts, and may participate in temple activities.

Now, if one of the monks showed up in an ad for a gun range or slaughterhouse, I'd start raising my eyebrows.

Pretty sure the shed company owner is a Mennonite. In rural upstate SC, Mennonites run the shed/little house/ cabinet/countertop/electrician/etc game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even monks need money and PR.

It was really jarring to see the monk standing in the doorway of a shed staring directly at the camera and the business owner advertising his monk approved sheds.

It's possible the business owner is a Buddhist who belongs to a local temple and it matters personally to him to have his business blessed by a monk.

I somehow doubt that this endorsement will be a big money maker in [checking notes] South Carolina, and actually would be surprised if the monk received any money for this. More likely the business donated to the Walk via the local temple.

I get the Facebook post feels jarring but I doubt it's a true commercial endorsement. Also many nks on often sell goods to help support their temples, and there's nothing about Buddhism that says you can't own a business -- you are just expected to interrogate your own attachment to material goods and seek to relinquish unhealthy attachments. But Buddhists are people who live in the world. They aren't expected to starve or be homeless. Most Buddhists aren't monks, just people leading normal lives but who meditate, study Buddhists texts, and may participate in temple activities.

Now, if one of the monks showed up in an ad for a gun range or slaughterhouse, I'd start raising my eyebrows.

No the picture is not advertising the shed 🤣.

Read Majjhima Nikāya 140 (MN140)

It’s symbolism of a teaching.

I mean, in the Facebook post, the picture is definitely advertising the shed -- it was posted to Facebook by the shed company with info about financing and rent-to-own options, and made sure you knew it was located between the Cookout and the Salvation Army on the bypass.

But I agree the monk's decision to take the photo was not an advertisement and that he was not paid for his "endorsement."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even monks need money and PR.

It was really jarring to see the monk standing in the doorway of a shed staring directly at the camera and the business owner advertising his monk approved sheds.

It's possible the business owner is a Buddhist who belongs to a local temple and it matters personally to him to have his business blessed by a monk.

I somehow doubt that this endorsement will be a big money maker in [checking notes] South Carolina, and actually would be surprised if the monk received any money for this. More likely the business donated to the Walk via the local temple.

I get the Facebook post feels jarring but I doubt it's a true commercial endorsement. Also many nks on often sell goods to help support their temples, and there's nothing about Buddhism that says you can't own a business -- you are just expected to interrogate your own attachment to material goods and seek to relinquish unhealthy attachments. But Buddhists are people who live in the world. They aren't expected to starve or be homeless. Most Buddhists aren't monks, just people leading normal lives but who meditate, study Buddhists texts, and may participate in temple activities.

Now, if one of the monks showed up in an ad for a gun range or slaughterhouse, I'd start raising my eyebrows.

Pretty sure the shed company owner is a Mennonite. In rural upstate SC, Mennonites run the shed/little house/ cabinet/countertop/electrician/etc game.

The man in the picture doesn't own the shed company. Second, you can be Mennonite and come from a Mennonite background and still become a Buddhist. I was raised Catholic and was confirmed as a Catholic and am now a practicing Buddhist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They walked through our area and I saw that local businesses were advertising their business with photos of the monks at their businesses. It seemed odd. I saw several photos on facebook and other social media with the monks standing around their businesses looking straight into the camera. They are definitely using it as an advertisement. They were not casual photos or candid photos.

Why was it jarring?
Nobody is asking YOU for money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even monks need money and PR.

It was really jarring to see the monk standing in the doorway of a shed staring directly at the camera and the business owner advertising his monk approved sheds.

It's possible the business owner is a Buddhist who belongs to a local temple and it matters personally to him to have his business blessed by a monk.

I somehow doubt that this endorsement will be a big money maker in [checking notes] South Carolina, and actually would be surprised if the monk received any money for this. More likely the business donated to the Walk via the local temple.

I get the Facebook post feels jarring but I doubt it's a true commercial endorsement. Also many nks on often sell goods to help support their temples, and there's nothing about Buddhism that says you can't own a business -- you are just expected to interrogate your own attachment to material goods and seek to relinquish unhealthy attachments. But Buddhists are people who live in the world. They aren't expected to starve or be homeless. Most Buddhists aren't monks, just people leading normal lives but who meditate, study Buddhists texts, and may participate in temple activities.

Now, if one of the monks showed up in an ad for a gun range or slaughterhouse, I'd start raising my eyebrows.

Pretty sure the shed company owner is a Mennonite. In rural upstate SC, Mennonites run the shed/little house/ cabinet/countertop/electrician/etc game.

The man in the picture doesn't own the shed company. Second, you can be Mennonite and come from a Mennonite background and still become a Buddhist. I was raised Catholic and was confirmed as a Catholic and am now a practicing Buddhist.

If a Mennonite did that in this community, they would no longer be allowed to attend the Mennonite church and be shunned from their Mennonite community. Mennonites are a large population here. They have their own schools, doctors, churches, etc.

Where have you met or known Mennonites who were Buddhist?

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Buddham sharanam gacchami
Sangham sharanam gacchami
Dhammam sharanam gacchami

Om mani padme hum

[Anonymous]

I just pay attention to what they post themselves on their Facebook or Insta accounts. Not what others post in theirs.
BTW the dog is successfully recovering from leg surgery. They do name and thank the vet clinic and staff. So what.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even monks need money and PR.

It was really jarring to see the monk standing in the doorway of a shed staring directly at the camera and the business owner advertising his monk approved sheds.

It's possible the business owner is a Buddhist who belongs to a local temple and it matters personally to him to have his business blessed by a monk.

I somehow doubt that this endorsement will be a big money maker in [checking notes] South Carolina, and actually would be surprised if the monk received any money for this. More likely the business donated to the Walk via the local temple.

I get the Facebook post feels jarring but I doubt it's a true commercial endorsement. Also many nks on often sell goods to help support their temples, and there's nothing about Buddhism that says you can't own a business -- you are just expected to interrogate your own attachment to material goods and seek to relinquish unhealthy attachments. But Buddhists are people who live in the world. They aren't expected to starve or be homeless. Most Buddhists aren't monks, just people leading normal lives but who meditate, study Buddhists texts, and may participate in temple activities.

Now, if one of the monks showed up in an ad for a gun range or slaughterhouse, I'd start raising my eyebrows.

Pretty sure the shed company owner is a Mennonite. In rural upstate SC, Mennonites run the shed/little house/ cabinet/countertop/electrician/etc game.

The man in the picture doesn't own the shed company. Second, you can be Mennonite and come from a Mennonite background and still become a Buddhist. I was raised Catholic and was confirmed as a Catholic and am now a practicing Buddhist.

Maybe this should be a new thread and not to hijack this one. I am curious about your perspectives on, "I was raised Catholic and was confirmed as a Catholic and am now a practicing Buddhist."

How do you view belief in Jesus (and/or trinity), the 1st Commandment, and being a practicing Buddhist?