tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post3291420145045409795..comments2023-08-21T01:41:13.490-07:00Comments on Three Dogs in a Garden: Is it in poor taste to use a Spiritual Figure in a Decorative Way?Jenniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-79937393111081899142016-05-22T07:08:45.821-07:002016-05-22T07:08:45.821-07:00I can identify with your feelings Lynne. I have al...I can identify with your feelings Lynne. I have always been drawn to Buddha statues for some unknown reason, but as a non-religious person, my attraction has always made me feel a bit uneasy. Kate's comments were very reassuring. I find Buddha statues leave me feeling calm and serene.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-16519290636368748712016-05-22T04:40:22.099-07:002016-05-22T04:40:22.099-07:00I am Christian, but a lot of Buddhist principles o...I am Christian, but a lot of Buddhist principles of living are very closely aligned with my Christian ones so I would feel very comfortable (and indeed have been wanting to) place a statue of Buddha in my garden for years. What has held me back has been concern that it might be deemed offensive. I've been letting my head rule my heart in this. Having read Kate's comments I think I might let my heart have its way and enjoy the peace and serenity that lovely Buddha statues evoke in my small suburban garden sanctuary :-)Lynnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06765211976700712553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-89684123991744677322016-05-21T10:39:14.158-07:002016-05-21T10:39:14.158-07:00I believe that St. Francis is the patron saint of ...I believe that St. Francis is the patron saint of animals. I'd love to hear why you chose this figure for your garden.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-27246044721732156672016-05-21T08:12:24.857-07:002016-05-21T08:12:24.857-07:00I have a statue of Saint Francis in my garden here...I have a statue of Saint Francis in my garden here in South Dakota--any thoughts?Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02106181191240557608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-19501933069147588532016-05-20T06:07:22.392-07:002016-05-20T06:07:22.392-07:00The book on sacred gardens sounds like a really in...The book on sacred gardens sounds like a really interesting read. As the first commenter pointed out as well there is a subtle cultural undercurrent that links gardens/nature with a search for deeper truths and God. I like the idea that a garden can speak to people of many faiths and even to those with no formal religion.<br />Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-19113853796886257672016-05-20T05:56:31.242-07:002016-05-20T05:56:31.242-07:00"...my garden is a place for peace and spirit..."...my garden is a place for peace and spirituality, not the divisiveness of this world." So well said Rose! I do think that most people incorporate a Buddha in their garden for exactly the reasons you suggest- they represent pease and tranquility.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-50595617502334549332016-05-20T05:51:05.110-07:002016-05-20T05:51:05.110-07:00Your choices for your new garden sound terrific He...Your choices for your new garden sound terrific Helene. I will have to pop over and see them. I do agree that a home garden is a private space and surely we should feel free to be ourselves at home.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-15227595561461174672016-05-19T18:49:42.064-07:002016-05-19T18:49:42.064-07:00I've have been giving your post a lot of thoug...I've have been giving your post a lot of thought-not that I have come up with any good answers. I have just read an interesting book about gardens as sacred spaces and they seem to have been used in most if not all religions. This makes me think our gardens are places to connect with all people regardless of whether they follow a formalized religion or not. Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12830177691014290662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-63241190806496965752016-05-18T06:04:07.325-07:002016-05-18T06:04:07.325-07:00What an interesting question, Jennifer, and I appr...What an interesting question, Jennifer, and I appreciate all the information about the significance of the different poses of the statuary. I do have a small Buddha head which sits directly on the ground--I didn't realize that might be offensive. I also have a tiny sitting Buddha in my miniature Japanese garden, which seemed so appropriate to me. I am a Christian, but I admire the principles of Buddhism. To me, the statue represents peace and tranquility, and in no way do I mean to be disrespectful. I also have several angels in other places in the garden. I hope that anyone would realize I am tolerant of all religions, and that my garden is a place for peace and spirituality, not the divisiveness of this world.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01384059342847120951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-35212595882941269972016-05-17T15:41:07.944-07:002016-05-17T15:41:07.944-07:00What an interesting subject for a post! Spirit and...What an interesting subject for a post! Spirit and Nature (and a garden is a part of nature) are inseparable. You showed some tasteful ways to put a religious figure in the garden. Thank you Jennifer!Tatyana@MySecretGardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15230255354868127650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-61536326015607510482016-05-17T06:03:30.399-07:002016-05-17T06:03:30.399-07:00Your well-written post came in such an appropriate...Your well-written post came in such an appropriate time for me Jennifer, as I have been trying to find some way of decorating my new garden and struggled a bit. I really would love a sculpture – or a few. There are lots of angels, gnomes, Disney dwarfs and fairies online but that’s not really me – that’s REALLY not me. As a non-religious person I would not choose an obvious religious symbol either, and to me, a Buddha represents Buddhism and would be just as inappropriate to me as a Christian cross or an angel. But religious symbols might mean very different things to other people and I accept that – and what we put in our gardens should be a private matter and entirely up to each and everyone :-) <br />In the end I went for a few upturned roots together with some ceramic colourful toadstools in my woodland bed, and I have decorated with jewel like solar lights in the rest of the garden!HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-75014255904081086432016-05-16T19:13:31.509-07:002016-05-16T19:13:31.509-07:00Your comment has left a question in my mind, but I...Your comment has left a question in my mind, but I won't want to press, because spirituality is such a personal thing.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-79433780818739495862016-05-16T19:09:49.947-07:002016-05-16T19:09:49.947-07:00Thank you Debbie. I think many gardeners would agr...Thank you Debbie. I think many gardeners would agree whole heartedly with you.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-55189579783873534922016-05-16T19:08:04.026-07:002016-05-16T19:08:04.026-07:00I think you make a number of important points Heat...I think you make a number of important points Heather. A spiritual element in a garden does transcend it into a more peaceful place. Our gardens are a refuge and a place of quiet reflection. Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-64405881394313844942016-05-16T18:58:56.724-07:002016-05-16T18:58:56.724-07:00I am glad to have your perspective as a Zen Buddhi...I am glad to have your perspective as a Zen Buddhist teacher and gardener included in this discussion Kate. My research indicated that placing a Buddha directly on the ground could be seen as being disrespectful. It is helpful to know that is not always the case. <br />I really like the inclusive belief that we all have the same true nature and can receive the message that a Buddha statue offers.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-5533342675579595022016-05-16T18:45:17.408-07:002016-05-16T18:45:17.408-07:00Thanks E for taking the time to write such a long ...Thanks E for taking the time to write such a long and well considered comment. I am glad you brought up the fundamental religious belief that all life began in a garden. I agree that there is a subtle cultural undercurrent that links gardens/nature with a search for deeper truths and God.<br /><br />As you point out, there are many examples of religious and cultural appropriation. The feelings of Native Americans about the ways there symbolism has been used is an excellent example and one I hadn't considered. <br /><br />Surely no harm can result from a little religious sensitivity. I agree with you that we should always strive to be respectful and considerate of the beliefs of others. Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116583212813729057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-15118288387536559822016-05-16T16:26:26.375-07:002016-05-16T16:26:26.375-07:00What a thought-provoking post this is, Jennifer!
I...What a thought-provoking post this is, Jennifer!<br />If someone wants to have Buddha in their garden, I am okay with that, but at the same time, you won't see one in my garden! :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02574946867709812195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-62481593617769836582016-05-16T14:08:11.926-07:002016-05-16T14:08:11.926-07:00I actually believe that a garden is the perfect pl...I actually believe that a garden is the perfect place for religious statues. A garden is a place for reflection and communing with nature. Many times, that IS a religious experience for people.Debbi Benedicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07022947175251684855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-82793815146668454752016-05-16T13:23:22.696-07:002016-05-16T13:23:22.696-07:00I don't believe that if something is placed in...I don't believe that if something is placed in a private garden that it could be offensive. Our gardens are our own way of expressing ourselves and if that includes a Buddha, it shouldn't offend anyone. Any spiritual element in a garden transcends it into a more peaceful place. And isn't that what we want to achieve as gardeners - a place of relaxation and spirituality.Heather @ new house new homehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09502741261030199040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-31407491208160258182016-05-16T12:04:33.539-07:002016-05-16T12:04:33.539-07:00As a Zen Buddhist teacher and gardener, I see noth...As a Zen Buddhist teacher and gardener, I see nothing wrong with anyone using a Buddha statue in the garden. My own garden features one - on the ground - and our temple garden has several Buddha statues also on the ground. In our Zen practice we don't discriminate between Buddhist and non-Buddhist. All have the same true nature, all can receive the message that a Buddha statue offers. I'm delighted whenever I come upon a Buddha in a garden, anyone's garden. Lovely photos, thanks for posting them!katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09424953074741031702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7116278351699614429.post-42286624204782781032016-05-16T09:54:06.599-07:002016-05-16T09:54:06.599-07:00This is a very interesting discussion - I come fro...This is a very interesting discussion - I come from a Christian background so I can only speak from what I know and believe.<br /><br />Many religions believe that all life started in a garden that was perfect and lacked nothing and was only ruined because of the choices of man. I think because of this a lot of us have some sort of subtle cultural undercurrent of thought that a garden, or at least nature, would be where you go back to find God, to be reminded of His magnificent mathematics and creation, and to ponder the many questions and joys of life. Where else could you find the thing that follows the pattern of God's original design?<br /><br />For me, even though it's not something that I consciously think of when I'm gardening, the very act of digging in my garden beds is an act of worship. It's partaking in the process of returning what I often mistake for mine back to a tiny spot of paradise (and I live in inner city Detroit, so returning is a very correct term). It's an act that reflects the value of stewardship that I hold important. <br /><br />That being said, I think the question is less about religion and more about cultural religious appropriation and where the line is. This kind of thing goes on everywhere - it's not isolated from western culture. I've lived in a few places where the largest religion was Buddhism and I can't tell you how many symbols of Christianity I've seen used in fashion, in architecture, in random things you buy off the side of the road. <br /><br />I think it's important to think about what the people who participate in the religion (or culture) would say and hold to that. <br /><br />In general, Christians don't get bothered by the cross being used as decorations or tattoos by people who don't have any idea or care about what it means. That little Jesus fish got turned into a million other little symbols and people are not screaming about it. Conversely, there are groups that are very unhappy with how their symbolism is used. Native Americans, for example, are deeply upset by their traditional clothing being co-opted by big box retailers.<br /><br />In short, when you are going to use a symbol or figure or imagery in some way it is most important to take a pause and do some research about how the culture you are using the imagery from will feel about it. If the majority of that group would feel deeply disrespected then don't do it. If they don't mind and you are doing it in a respectful way then I feel it's fine. <br /> Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10938556037743957916noreply@blogger.com