Shanxi to Build 1.8-billion 'Eastern Buddhist Capital'

Shanxi Province in north China is planning to invest 1.8 billion yuan (286 million US dollars) in 14 projects towards transforming Wutai Mountain into an 'Eastern Buddhist Capital', Xinhua reports. The plan aims to fulfill the terms of being enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and transform Wutai Mountain into a tourist center of Buddhist culture.

The projects include, repairing and protecting the relics and historical sites; implementing security facilities; improving the surrounding environment; relocating nearby residents; the construction of infrastructure; building museums of Buddhism and geology; and building opera houses and cinemas. Most of the projects began in 2011, with the aim of being finished between 2013 and 2014.

http://english.cri.cn/6909/2012/02/27/3141s683321.htm

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is atheist and doesn't believe in religion. This will be a shame and a show. The CCP controls all religions and temples in China, appoints the heads of all religions and religious groups, and even bans religions (Falon Gong). It really doesn't matter what the CCP does there because, as the article says, it's just a tourist destination. The CCP will control everything and everything that happens their must conform to CCP ideology. Just ask the Tibetans about how the CCP behaves in Tibetan Buddhist temples. It will be an atrocious tourist trap of no spiritual value.

This project is part of the ongoing battle between China and India to become the leader in "Buddhist tourism."

Very sad to see "relocating nearby residents" on their to do list.

They had the good fortune to live near Manjushri's holy mountain, and now they must get kicked out to make way for opera houses and cinemas.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is atheist and doesn't believe in religion.

So are all good Budhists!

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is atheist and doesn't believe in religion.

So are all good Budhists!

Hmmmmm????

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is atheist and doesn't believe in religion.

So are all good Budhists!

The comparison you make is not valid and you are wrong, anyway. Buddhism is definitely a religion. Buddhists are atheists only in the sense that they don't believe there is a God beyond knowing who controls things. CCP believes the state highest authority; Buddhists believe the Buddha, Guru Rinpoche, and the enlightened mind are the highest authorities.

You know what I mean.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is atheist and doesn't believe in religion.

So are all good Budhists!

The comparison you make is not valid and you are wrong, anyway. Buddhism is definitely a religion. Buddhists are atheists only in the sense that they don't believe there is a God beyond knowing who controls things. CCP believes the state highest authority; Buddhists believe the Buddha, Guru Rinpoche, and the enlightened mind are the highest authorities.

You know what I mean.

Some Buddhists seem to accept a higher, transcendent, Brahman-like Consciousness as the Source. I'm thinking of Dzogchen (David Paul Boaz) and some Zen teachers. Soto teachers, Jakusho Kwong talks about "Big Mind", and Jundo Cohen speaks about blue sky (non-dual reality) and clouds (thoughts/epiphenomena) in exactly the same way as Advaita masters do.

(I'm reading a bit about Advaita Vedanta lately, so am interested, but still very much a novice and open to correction.)

Buddhism is definitely a religion.

It depends on your definition of "Buddhism".

If Buddhism is Buddhagosa's interpretation of what the Buddha was teaching (Theravada), then it's a religion.

The same applies to other sects such as Mahayana etc.

On the other hand scholars are discovering that much of Buddhism has been misinterpreted in translation.

In the Buddhas time the word "religion" wasn't even in their vocabulary.

They are pointing to Buddhism as simply being liberation from delusion, greed & aversion and by adopting a set of practices one can be liberated from suffering and live in the highest state possible.

Far from being a religion, it's a path which ultimately reveals the way things really are and not as we see them.

Buddhism is definitely a religion.

It depends on your definition of "Buddhism".

If Buddhism is Buddhagosa's interpretation of what the Buddha was teaching (Theravada), then it's a religion.

The same applies to other sects such as Mahayana etc.

On the other hand scholars are discovering that much of Buddhism has been misinterpreted in translation.

In the Buddhas time the word "religion" wasn't even in their vocabulary.

They are pointing to Buddhism as simply being liberation from delusion, greed & aversion and by adopting a set of practices one can be liberated from suffering and live in the highest state possible.

Far from being a religion, it's a path which ultimately reveals the way things really are and not as we see them.

You analysis misses the point. The CCP will have none of this when it comes to who is running things in China, and why. The CCP considers itself the highest authority there, period, and only it will say what is taught/not taught at their new tourist trap.

Buddhism is definitely a religion.

It depends on your definition of "Buddhism".

If Buddhism is Buddhagosa's interpretation of what the Buddha was teaching (Theravada), then it's a religion.

The same applies to other sects such as Mahayana etc.

On the other hand scholars are discovering that much of Buddhism has been misinterpreted in translation.

In the Buddhas time the word "religion" wasn't even in their vocabulary.

They are pointing to Buddhism as simply being liberation from delusion, greed & aversion and by adopting a set of practices one can be liberated from suffering and live in the highest state possible.

Far from being a religion, it's a path which ultimately reveals the way things really are and not as we see them.

You analysis misses the point. The CCP will have none of this when it comes to who is running things in China, and why. The CCP considers itself the highest authority there, period, and only it will say what is taught/not taught at their new tourist trap.

There's no dispute there J.

My post was just a clarification of your assertion that Buddhism is a religion.