Today we visted the famous Beijing Lama Temple and took a look at what
must be the biggest statue of Maitriea I have ever seen. 13 meters high!
Tibbetan Buddhism always slightly freaks me out as it is very unique
to the country. I can see influences of Hinduism, yoga and Chinese
mystical theory deep within it. The statues of demons eating entrails,
while standing on human bodies and also having sex are not to be
examined too closely. Connecting such things to the smiling visage of
HH the Dali Lama is not easy.
I can’t help but wonder what the Buddha himself (here relegated
amongst many Buddhas past, present and future) would make of it all.
