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There was a time years ago, when Dan Stevenson would survey the median at the end of 11th Avenue in his Oakland, Calif., neighborhood, and see nothing but trash. “No Dumping” signs were covered in graffiti. Mattresses and box springs were stacked on stacks of garbage.
“It was just like a dump,” Stevenson said. “And it just got tiring.”
Stevenson reasoned maybe the neighborhood just needed a little divine intervention. So he and his wife enlisted the services of a small concrete Buddha statue, which he installed on the median, beneath a sprawling olive tree. And just in case someone got any ideas, he anchored the Buddha with $35 dollars in epoxy and rebar.
“My wife and I thought we might be able to change the direction of the energy,” said Stevenson, standing in front of his house near the shrine. “We’re not Buddhists so we just liked the little garden guy.”
When he first installed the statue in 1999, the Buddha slowly endeared itself to the neighborhood. People began to leave incense, candles, flowers and small offerings. People showed up to pray at the shrine. And something else unusual happened.
“There’s no garbage now,” said Stevenson. “There’s no graffiti, it’s just a lot of people just respect the area.”
To neighbors the little shrine became a gathering spot. People would meet in front of the statue to chat. Others would clean the area, change the flowers and spruce up the median.
Read NBCBayArea.com's story on Buddha's intervention in one Oakland neighborhood
“No one ever touches the Buddha, removes anything,” said neighbor Ericka Huggins. “He is always like an oasis.”
Several weeks ago, someone installed a wooden structure around the Buddha, with a concrete slab for people to pray. Soon after, the city got a complaint about the display. Stevenson said an inspector from Oakland’s Public Works Department showed up to inspect the median.
“He said they’re going to have to remove it,” Stevenson said. “And if we can find the people who put it in and everything to remove the parts, then they wouldn’t have to come in and jackhammer him out.”
But before the city could jackhammer the Buddha into the afterlife, neighbors kicked up a fuss. They banded together and sent loads of emails to District 2 City Councilwoman Pat Kernighan.
“There is a potential safety issue,” said Kernighan, “which is that people who come to pray at the Buddha have to be in the street because of where it’s located.”
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But Kernighan insists there are no plans to tear out the Buddha just yet. She said the city is merely investigating the complaint.
“My feeling is maybe if there are some downsides to it,” Kernighan said adding, “ if we could work with the community we could figure out a solution.”
Stevenson said he’s amazed at how much power a tiny Buddha can yield. It cleaned up the corner, brought together neighbors, and is now taking on City Hall, Stevenson said.
“I didn’t realize how big he was,” Stevenson said. “Because to me he’s just a little guy sitting over there changing the energy.”
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You don't have to be a Buddhist to appreciate beauty. To respect ones neighborhood. To bring people together in peace. Why can't people just leave things alone? I suppose this person who put in a complaint would rather it go back to being an eyesore? I have friends who aren't Christian who wear crosses. They just happen to like crosses. I have family members who are Christian and who practice Wicca. I think most people appreciate one another's religion or lack of religion and can just appreciate what it represents. This little Buddha has brought a lot of good to a little piece of the world. It would be a shame if he had to go and that little piece of the world go back to a vermin infested, graffiti defacing, dump. I vote for the Buddha.
I have no problem with it but I wish that people would respect all religious symbols. Honestly what harm is there in this, a Nativity scene or any of the other options?
Yes, there is a religious issue. I am Buddhist but I realize that Christians, Jews, Muslims or just plain Atheists might object to the religious figure sitting there. It is a hard question. Do you go with the separation of church and state or do you go with the fact that the Buddha appears to have cleaned up the neighborhood and brought people together? Maybe some kind of use permit is needed? I am not a lawyer but something might be worked out. Maybe you add a cross, a Jewish star, Muslim symbol and something for the Atheists (a picture of Richard Dawson?).
The main issue is that they have erected a religious monument on public property. As much as this has done some good for the neighborhood, to allow it to remain would set a very bad precedent. Once you allow one item like this to remain, you lose all right to remove any other religious symbol that anyone else decides to erect on any public land within the jurisdiction, no matter how out of place or objectionable it might be. They really have no option but to force the removal of the statue. The only other option would be to sell the land to a private organization, but then it would need to be put out for anyone to bid on and you would not be able to control who purchased it or what they might erect on the land. The reality is that there is no legal way for them to allow this to remain.
I'm only a "dabbler" in Buddhism, but I have never, and will never, consider it a religion, since one is not required to supplicate themselves to a non-existent deity. Therefore, the Buddha statue (IMO) is not a religious monument, and that whole line of discussion is a non-starter.
The owner of the object in question was very clear that it is not a religious figure - it is a garden ornament, and the owner is not a Buddhist. A garden ornament is a garden ornament. If people want to make it a figure of adoration that is their business. If you want to interpret a shovel leaning up against a wall a religious symbol that is fine. Religious symbols are created in the minds of people not the objects themselves. Let it stay - it is not a spiritual symbol, the people who come to care for it are the symbol.
Way to go little Buddha. Don't need the city to bust up the harmony. Heaven knows that Oakland needs all it can get.
Maybe...just maybe MS. Kernighan instead of working with the community (political translation: we'll pretend to listen to the community residents but we're still going to remove it all), you should support your community/constituents.
This PC crap is totally out of hand! What ever happen to majority rule?
I agree with you, Harry!! I'm not a Buddist, I'm a Christian, but I don't have a problem with the little Buddah being there, and if there are any questions about the state endorsing it, just put up little symbols of other belief systems there--including perhaps a pict. of Richard Dawson, or maybe a pict of the Humanist Manifesto.
Why do they all have to be there? Let each be in its own place. I like all sorts of food but I do not need it ALL on my plate at one time. The Buddha is bringing peace now because it symbolizes harmony. Put all the religious symbols up and all you have is clutter and ultimately cause for conflict. I'm Christian but I am fine with your Buddha if you are ok with my Nativity scene and can deal with the other religions symbols. Though to be honest I am a little confused about how to honor Atheism in a positive way but whatever symbol they choose is ok with me as long as they aren't defacing another faith's symbol
Dosen't oakland have enough more serious problems? This is oakland ,ca right?
Agree. This is just a nice little story about a neighborhood getting cleaned up. People want to throw their personal ideology at anything that slightly moves anymore. Give it a effing break.
Looks like some guy and his wife did something without Government approval. Didn't they realize this is America and nobody does nothing without the Government (Local, City, State, Regional, Federal) poking their nose in it. As soon as the drones are deployed this kind of thing won't last overnight. God help us all
Actually the Councilwoman appears supportive based on the article. It was actually a citizen that complained - no good deed goes unpunished.
I am an atheist and the little Buddha does not offend me in the least. I think the shrine is lovely and the fact that he has helped to clean up the neighborhood and brought the neighbors together in his defense is marvelous. I'm thinking maybe a little Buddha would help a lot of neighborhoods.
I'm betting if you cruised through the Oakland City Hall you would find all kinds of religious objects on people's desks, etc. Don't even think about going to City Hall at Christmas. You'll be tripping over mangers and Christmas trees and all kinds of religious displays. Frankly, I don't mind, sometimes they are very pretty. But if the workers at City Hall can put up those holiday displays then the folks in that neighborhood should be able to display their Buddha.
You go Buddha, you're doing a good job and don't let anybody tell you differently.
Thank you, Skip, I appreciate your comments--and I like Harry McNicholas' suggestion too (see my reply to Harry). If you, being an atheist, me being a Christian, and Harry being a Buddhist, can get along, then there is hope for the world yet! :)
Yes, a church is a good place for parents with children. The only thing wrong with religion is these religious wackos protesting this and that in favor of their warped mind. Little Budha is doing a fine job, you protestors, leave the dude alone. I'm a Dallas Cowboy fan, but you don't see me protesting. Wanting little Budha wear a Dallas Cowboy jersey. Get a life you religious wackos.
The Buddha must be removed ASAP because, it is on public land. The govenment must not support any specific religion. All they did was replaced gargage with a different kind of garbage. Believe whatever you want but in your own home, church or your heart but not in public land.
People like you suck all the fun out of life.
Robbie the Robot,
your name says it all, at least you know who you are
Rtherobot - you are an idiot.
an idiot and a half!
What a bore
Buddha loves Peace & Peace loves Buddha.......
So, a statuette which denotes peace, serenity and enlightenment - placed by non-budhists, in a non-budhist neighborhood - has resulted in a cleaner environment and community cohesion.
We must put a stop to this stuff right now! Sad.
Good luck to the neighbors. I hope they win this one!
The city should get rid of that religious crap ASAP. If a neighbor wants it, he can have it in his front yard.
I think it's great.
As a Christian I may disagree with Budhist beliefs but I see no harm in allowing a decoration on public land. Separation of Church and State not only means the government not sponsor a specific religion but not interfere with religious practice. To prohibit use of public space for religious purposes deemed for the good of the citizenry would seem to violate the second half of the separation concept.
A novel and intriguing post.
They've forgotten about not interfering with religion.
Buddha is nothing but anyone religious symbol that does not belong in public land. Bulldoze that crap out of there. Nuon Chea is a Buddhist Monk and is one of the leader of the Khmer Rouge that murdered over 2,000,000 people.
He CALLS himself a Buddist Monk but does not practice the tenants of the faith, just as the catholic priests and nuns who abused children and slaughtered indigenous people for centuries CALLED themselves Christians but did not practice the concepts of Christianity.
You can call yourself a cowboy, but can you rope and ride?
RobbietheRobot~ You call yourself a robot, but do you crap oil and parts?
As a Buddhist, I can tell you that it's not simply a question of religion. Buddhism is a way of life. It's about compassion, love and respect for others, etc. There are MANY obvious Christian symbols all over the US, on both public and private land. It's a little unnerving that people think it's just a "garden statue"... but I know that Buddha himself wouldn't care. Worldly things have zero meaning. The change in attitude in the neighborhood, however, expresses what this way of life hopes to accomplish. Remove it, don't remove it.. but if they do I hope they know the problem will return. Also, if you're going to go that far to remove a Buddha statue, then there needs to be a great change in how and where Christian symbols in this country are displayed.
Take your weak little spine and move along
They're already attacking the Christian religion and Christian symbols.
So the Councilwoman thinks “. . . there is a potential safety issue." Really? The piles of garbage and filthy mattresses weren't a safety issue? A little common sense, please.
People
have become so intolerant that anything that the majority likes, it takes one
person to shoot it down. I am Christian, but hope little Buddha can stay just
because of the positive aura it brings.
If it helps leave it.Oakland was a city of pigs and cutthroats when I was there 35 years ago-sounds like it's the same
:)
35 years ago when i lived there it was way better than it is now (except for that foot they found in Lake Merritt). i'm with pained1 if it makes it better, leave it.
First, what an absolutely beautiful little shrine. Even if the owner of the statue isn't Buddist he did something that is/was very much in keeping with Buddism, as I understand it. Inspiring beauty, encouraging the spirit of community, what great things to have in this day and age on a small local scale. This is what this country needs.
I am also beginning to see a difference between Humanists, whom I greatly respect and admire for their convictions to work for peace, beauty, community, equality in society; and a certain faction of Atheists who seem just to hate everything and only want to tear people apart. Cold logic and science are what enabled the Doctors and Scientists who worked for the Nazis, (and other organizations/governments like them) to justify the experiments conducted on living people. Science without conscious is almost never a good thing.
I see two solutions to the issue, one turn the shrine around, it might be a little bit of work to free the original statue from it's concrete, but it can be done, then swivel it on the rebar and turn it around, that way people who want to leave an offering or make a prayer wouldn't be in the street. Or they could with the cities help, build a small island that would protect the shrine and statue a bit more and anyone coming to it. If the street is wide enough this would be pretty easy to do. In my own city many of the smaller avenues have had this done at the corners to 1, encourage the neighborhood to plant flowers and keep it clean, and 2 to discourage people from speeding on the streets. And it's working, the neighborhoods that have done this are lovely, and no driver in their right mind goes speeding along these streets to blow through an intersection, because you can't see what might be coming at you unless you slow down and stop as you're supposed to. It even makes drivers who have the right of way wary and they slow down just in case someone does run a stop sign or a child or pet runs into the street.
I hope they find a way to leave the little shrine, I think it is a good idea and a wonderful thing, humans need beauty and small evidence of peace in their lives.
He discovered that the biggest problem with people at that time and it holds true today is people want what they can’t have. I believe it is good to set goals and strive to be a better person, but most importantly, it is just a little matter of respect for others; or as the Golden Rule implies, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. A simple philosophy of live!
The fact is Buddhism is not a religion: It is a philosophy of life. Buddha himself said he was not a god or a profit; he was just a man seeking knowledge and enlightenment.
He discovered that the biggest problem with people at that time and it holds true today is people want what they can’t have. I believe it is good to set goals and strive to be a better person, but most importantly, it is just a little matter of respect for others; or as the Golden Rule implies, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. A simple philosophy of live!
What needs to be removed is the jerk who complained about the statue. When all you can come up with to complain about is something positive, you really need to get a life.
I wonder if this would work on the Las Vegas strip, negating the power of those misery brokers.
That city needs all the help it can get. Let it be! I understand the safety issue involved so hopefully the city folks will keep an eye on it and tell the complainer to take a hike!
Understandably theres an issue with a public display of religion on state or municipal property. But, as some above had previously stated, Buddhism is in fact not a religion. The teachings from various sects of the 2500yr old wisdom handed down from the buddha all will state that buddhism is in fact a life philosophy of love, compassion, wisdom and inner peace, not actually a religion. That is why the teachings of the buddha can directly correlate and strengthen the core teachings of all the worlds major religions.
It has taken on the majority title as a religion due to a lack of knowledge in the taught wisdom from the experiences of the Buddha.
With that said, if the location is in fact a place of pending danger to those that come to bath in its goodness then ultimately it has to be removed or provisions made to ensure their safety. I hope the latter can be provided but I've learned the teachings of the buddha represent more of the heart/mind and less the tangible exterior. Hopefully those that visit the statue took a lesson with them and now carry the experience with them, planting the seed of a beautiful flower to come within them.
May I wish all that read this infinite joy and peace.....
Smile
Namaste