Sunday, June 14, 2009

"Jesus Saves"? Buddhist temple vandalized

"Great Buddha" sits in Todaiji temple in Nara, Japan and is an example of the pervasive art of Buddhism (Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images). Such graven images (idols) may have inspired Christian vandals who graffitied the hopeful promise of a very famous bodhisattva's salvation vow.

ROCHESTER, Minnesota (6/8/09) ― A Buddhist temple in Rochester has been vandalized twice over two weeks. The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incidents at the Buddhist Support Society.

Sgt. Scott Behrns says the second incident happened late Thursday or early Friday, when someone smashed spotlights and globe lights at the entrance to the property.

The weekend before, someone painted a cross on the driveway and the words "Jesus Saves" on the property. Behrns says the person behind the incidents needs to "knock it off and grow up." Behrns says anyone who sees suspicious activity should call police.

One of the eight objectives listed on the Buddhist Support Society's Web site is to propagate Buddhism, collect and compile Buddhist scriptures, and facilitate the study of Buddha-Dharma by reaching out to people of every age, race, and social status. Source