Expert: Bodhicitta - 1/25/2008

Question
The owners of the fitness center I go to recently returned from a trip to
Bhutan where they purchased a bell and dorje set.  They have it displayed on
the counter with a sign asking to ring the bell for assistance.

It turns out that this bothers me.  As a person who has been interested in
Buddhism (specifically Tibetan Buddhism) for many years, I'm torn between
looking at this in a couple of different ways.  Because of my Buddhist
leanings, on the one hand I find this to be disrespectful to items that are used
ritually.  I certainly wouldn't use a crucifix to stir my coffee, for example!  On
the other hand, I wonder if I should be bothered at all.  Am I placing too
much importance on a material thing when the practice itself is what is
important?

I would appreciate your comments on the matter, and if you could steer me
toward any resources that address issues such as this I would be most
grateful.

Answer
Hi Leanna
Thanks for raising the question.

I think, like you this would bother me.

As I think you are fully aware the Bell and Dorje have a specific meaning in Tibetan Buddhism, as supreme symbols
of enlightenment.

I would certainly try and point out this to them. Maybe you
could put it in a way that you think might speak to them.
Such as saying, some of your customers are Buddhists and
find this use of the bell inappropriate, can I buy you another bell? Or some such.

So looking at it a bit more analytical. New age and fashion
has meant that Westerners have acquire ritual objects
from Buddhism and are using them in an inappropriate way.

Examples might be the use a Mala (beads) as a kneckless
or wrist band. Or maybe using the small cymbol bells
used for summoning various non human beings to call
people together in various workshops.

Westerners can not be held wholly to blame for this
use of sacred symbols in profane ways. We must also blame
the asian Buddhists who have sold these things for profit.

The net result is that these symbols will loose their power
and ritual connection. So traditions that are very old
loose their power. Maybe new secret symbols will need to
be found in the future and kept secret.

So in summary I would say. There is ignorance on the part
of the people who run the fitness centre and on behalf
of those that sold them the object. If you are bothered
you should make some attempt at pointing the problem out
and offering an alternative but not being too heavy about it.There maybe some problem for the people concerned
or for a weakening of the ritual objects. But this is not
your responsibility.

I wish you well.

Bodhicitta