The Guardians of Waterfall Bay
Over the years I've visited Hong Kong, there is something that I have noticed. That are collections in towns and villages, where the locals place statues of Buddhas, Bodhisatvas and Daoist dieties. I have always been curious over why they are there in the first place.
Some years ago, I finally found out why they are there. These shelves are a home for statues, who's owner have moved or passed away. There might not be decendents who are willing to give these statues a home. It is a sad end to statues that have been well loved in another time.
For others, it maybe that people have decided to change their religion and become Christians, or that their children have. Having these statues goes against their Christian values, so they must go. Anything that is not "Christian" must also go. There goes misguided teachings, which develops into intolerance, prejudices and discrimination. For older people, let them believe what they like. Let them enjoy their remaining days. This wouldn't hurt to let them have this freedom, would it?
There are cases where people from churches will come around and rid your homes of dieties, they'll even take away your ancestral tablets. This sounds extreme, yet it happens. Civilised people do not do this, cult members, religious fanatics and extremists do this. This sort of behaviour is not acceptable. Statues can be seen as just objects. You could simply view them as decoration or art. Keeping them should not be a problem. Prejudice and discrimination on religious grounds is not acceptable and in some countries, illegal. Yet in Hong Kong, some people don't understand the errors of these thoughts and actions that come from it. Is the Life of Brian available in Hong Kong? Because it should be. There are some important lessons to learn from that film and I don't mean to mock Christ.
For years I've seen pictures of these collections and there are many in Hong Kong. The biggest and perhaps the most well known is the collection at Waterfall Bay, Wah Fu Estate in Hong Kong Island. This collection dates from the 80s and yet many are in good condition. It presents a sensation that is both sad and yet curious. From this collection, you can see which Buddhas, Bodhisatvas and Daoist dieties are were most popular. On pondering, these statues were once loved and probably consecrated. How long have they been with their owners? It could of been worst and the statues get destroyed.
I know the media keeps telling you about the lack of religious freedom. Yet I cannot see how the government has had a part to play. Vesak, the Buddha's Birthday is celebrated as a national holiday. Buddhist and Daoist festivals are popular and some are major events. Islam thrives in Hong Kong and Mosques are continually being built. Let's be honest, tourists don't visit Hong Kong to see the churches, they come to see Hong Kong's culture and heritage. That includes the temples and festivals. The root of the problem is not with the government.
So what's has this got to do with martial arts?
Well it does, because of its association with Buddhism and Daoism, traditional martial arts also suffers. You don't need to convert in order to practice martial arts, but you should at least respect their origins and the culture in comes from. Some have taken to strip the spiritual culture off martial arts. So what is Shaolin without Buddhism and what is Tai Chi without Daoism? How can an art be meaningful without the culture? What is Christmas without Jesus and Santa?
The statues on Waterfall Bay are a sad reflection of the times. It also shows how the popularity of religions have their ups and downs. Perhaps in a few decades time, somewhere in Hong Kong, will serve as a home to abandoned statues of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and other saints. What your gods cannot give you, you seek from another. So at the end the day, people are simply repackaging their superstitions. Genuine spirituality doesn't work this way. In my travels, I have read that in Daoism, there is no such thing as heresy. Furthermore, the difference between religion and spirituality is that religion is what somebody tells you to believe. Spirituality is what you want to believe.
The irony is, despite why these statues now reside on Waterfall Bay. The place has become a place where locals and tourist visit. So they do at least recieve interest. Incense sticks are offered, so they they still are appreciated. I respect Christian traditions and their festivals, yet, nobody in the West has forced me to change. I have visited many churches and have enjoyed the experience. Whilst this blog topic is somewhat different, it is something that should be talked about. Society only progresses when live together in harmony.
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