Buddhist 'life release'

[GeneChing]

I've always thought this was the stupidest Buddhist tradition. When I was in Bodh Gaya, people tried to sell me fish to release in the lotus pond. I was like 'why don't you just release it yourself and get the good karma instead of selling it to me?'

Buddhist 'life release' breeds illegal animal trade in Hainan
Andy Hong and Staff Reporter
2014-10-08
08:57 (GMT+8)


Sea turtles released in Hainan, May 9. (Photo/Xinhua)

Businesses which cater to individuals wanting to perform the Buddhist practice of life release, or releasing animals back to nature for spiritual purposes, have been established on China's southern island province of Hainan, a place where endangered species are known to be bred illegally, China National Radio (CNR) reports.

In the coastal resort of Sanya, CNR reported the existence of a life release operation in the Buddhist-themed Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone. Various species of fish and turtles are available for people to set free into the sea, with prices ranging from 39-1,999 yuan (US$6.35-$325). The most expensive are sea turtles, which can cost up to 50,000 yuan (US$8,150).

Workers there told CNR that the turtles are purchased from licensed farms and that they are not recaptured after being released.

However, a report by Shanghai-based online news agency the Paper said local fishermen had admitted to capturing the released sea turtles and selling them back for a profit.

One sea turtle breeder from a nearby town said that his farm is unlicensed since the turtles are protected animals in China and breeding them is not allowed. Yet he still sells smaller turtles to businesses for 1,000 yuan (US$162) and larger ones for 2,000 yuan (US$325). These are later priced to customers at 4,000 to 5,000 yuan (US$650-$815).

[David Jamieson]

I've always thought this was the stupidest Buddhist tradition. When I was in Bodh Gaya, people tried to sell me fish to release in the lotus pond. I was like 'why don't you just release it yourself and get the good karma instead of selling it to me?'

Maybe it's silly because it's a cultural tradition and has nothing really to do with Buddhism in any actual sense?

Blame Mahayana. It caused the waves of cash for grace. It still does. And look at all the people who think that karma can be acquired like money through actions such as this.

Ah well, that's the wheel for ya.

[Scott Larson]

That is certainly missing the point. I guess people will always try to cheat.

[breeze]

Better ways 1 :

Hundeleben im Shaolin-Tempel (Doglife at Shaolin Temple - in German language)

[breeze]

Better ways 2:

Tibetan Monks in Qinghai protecting snow leopards:

Buddha and the Snow Leopards

A documentary by Zhou Bing

In co-production with Beijing New Century Media & Sund Media International (China), CCTV9, NDR/arte

Snow leopards are one of the most endangered cat species worldwide and are strictly protected. Their habitat continuously shrinks because of environmental destruction and the local herdsmen broadening their pastures. A conflict between humans and nature. Buddhist monks try to solve this conflict with an extraordinary project: The herdsmen are given cameras to document their daily lives and rediscover their traditional understanding of nature.
News

and:

Buddhist Monks are Champions of Snow Leopard Conservation

September 10, 2013

Our team in China has enlisted monks at several Buddhist monasteries on the Tibetan Plateau to help protect snow leopards. They are convinced that these monasteries can be crucial partners in the fight to save these endangered cats.
Tibetan Buddhist Monastery

Hanle Gompa, an ancient Tibetan Buddhist monastery in India

A majority of people on the Tibetan Plateau in China – and across the snow leopard range – practice Tibetan Buddhism, a faith that highlights love, respect and compassion for all living beings.

Tibetan Buddhist monasteries are often found in the same high-mountain areas that snow leopards inhabit – and they have long had an important role in protecting nature and wildlife. Since Tibetan Buddhism considers the snow leopard and other wildlife as well as their habitat sacred, monks would patrol wild landscapes surrounding monasteries and implement edicts against killing wildlife.

[GeneChing]

Spotted: Residents 'release life' right into waiting fishermen's nets



On one side of a lake in Jinan, local residents performed the Buddhist practice of "releasing life" setting free dozens of captured fish, meanwhile on the opposite side of the lake, fishermen joyfully pulled in a nice day's haul.



According to reports from NetEase, park workers at Daming Lake in Jinan city, Shandong Province, quickly responded to the illegal fishing activity, and it soon turned into a good old-fashioned game of hide-and-seek with fishermen trying their best to conceal their day's catch and fishing implements from the workers.






This isn't the first time that the opportunistic nature of the fishermen in Jinan has sparked some outrage. Last year, Jinan residents attempted releasing some 800 captive carp into the Yellow River, only to have the fish's freedom cut tragically short just a few minutes downstream by prudent men with nets. It seems like Jinan's Buddhist population is going to have to adapt faster, and not sure that releasing the fish into a small city lake is heading in the right direction.



"Release life" or "fangsheng" is the practice of releasing animals from captivity into the natural environment. Fish are released for enlightenment and turtles are released for longevity. After a ceremony in Shanghai last year, local Buddhists became enlightened when learning that they really shouldn't release 250 kilos of fish into the water at the same time. Meanwhile, last month, businessmen in Hainan became enlightened upon realizing that they could make a lot of money in the long run by exploiting this practice.

by Alex Linder

Hold the phone...is that a bokken in the 4th pic?

[GeneChing]

Police dismiss video of Chinese qigong master holding back floods
Source: Global Times Published: 2020/7/15 19:13:03


A man in Lengjiang, Central China's Hunan Province, is chanting while making dancing, rolling and meditating movements on a square half engulfed in water. Photo: Screenshot of a vedio posted by the Paper

A video titled 'Qigong master sends back floods in Lengjiang, Central China's Hunan Province', has been spreading on Chinese social media recently.

In the video posted by the Paper, a man is seen chanting while making dancing, rolling and meditating movements on a square half engulfed in water to assuage the roaring floods, while some people carrying umbrellas stood by and watched. The man was believed to be practicing qigong, a Chinese breathing exercise that is sometimes described in martial arts novels as being able to physically control objects using an invisible power.

The video racked up millions of views and also sparked criticism, with many denouncing it as sensationalist and indecent, especially when people are fighting hard to tackle the floods, which have severely hit southern China.

"If this kind of superstition works, why do the soldiers have to work so hard to fight the flood on the front line?" a netizen asked.

Local police rejected the rumor on Monday after an investigation, and said it was just footage of local residents holding a fish release and blessing ceremony.

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[GeneChing]

[breeze]

If every Chinese buddhist, instead of lazily using business-people's traps, would go to Yulin festival to release those animals who urgently need it ...

And Yulin festival is not only once a year - many dogs in China (and other Asian countries) go through the same suffering day by day by day.

https://twitter.com/RileyTChiweenie/...13814271889409

[breeze]

... of course you don't have to go that far. There are so many animals who need to be rescued from imprisonment, torture, abuse, mistreatment etc. - and surely in your closer environment you can find them as well. Just include it in your training ....