tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post2117650970422957549..comments2023-10-22T18:25:39.688+08:00Comments on The View from Taiwan: Master Hsing Yun in the NYT *sigh*Michael Turtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-50328641196294785892017-07-13T09:25:56.844+08:002017-07-13T09:25:56.844+08:00Stop trying to create fake Taiwanese identity that...<b>Stop trying to create fake Taiwanese identity that is completely artificial. If you wanna be independent then do it at a political level like Canada does. There is no difference between canadians and americans. But they are still seperate cause of political reasons.</b><br /><br />So i guess the completely different historical experiences of the last 400 years are meaningless, eh? <br /><br />Can't fix stupid, I guess. But at least it is sometimes amusing. Sadly, though, behind this stupidity lies a vapid, venomous lust for power.Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-9396148438615993492017-07-13T01:28:46.827+08:002017-07-13T01:28:46.827+08:00He is telling the truth. Difference between Chines...He is telling the truth. Difference between Chinese people in Taiwan & people from Fujian is zero. Same language, culture, family value & also ancestry.<br /><br />Stop trying to create fake Taiwanese identity that is completely artificial. If you wanna be independent then do it at a political level like Canada does. There is no difference between canadians and americans. But they are still seperate cause of political reasons.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-33899659087422654072017-07-04T21:43:18.495+08:002017-07-04T21:43:18.495+08:00Michael and Anon, you guys do realize for centurie...Michael and Anon, you guys do realize for centuries religious institutions (church, temple, mosque) served under the pleasure of the ruler, whether it be the kings or emperors or sultans. This is no different.<br /><br />You mean to tell me these religious institutions never shaped the moral standard? <br /><br />China was founded as a communist society. The state religion was Communism. As China became capitalist, Communism as a religion became a joke. So they thought they can use nationalism as the religion to fill the void. But things can get quite fascist that way. Since the Celestial Cloud is eager to return to his home country, the Party now welcomes him back to help fill that void. <br /><br />Given Buddhism is a religion with less sharp edges then unbridled nationalism, this is a better alternative. Are they going to try to inject nationalism into their messaging? Of course they are, but still better than straight up nationalism.<br /><br />TaiwanJunkienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-52562353808029307872017-07-04T20:23:55.863+08:002017-07-04T20:23:55.863+08:00I would be interested to see concrete information ...I would be interested to see concrete information on how recent socio-political changes have affected Foguangshan. Have they really lost any money or followers? How much or how many? He's got two universities, you know--are they hurting? etc. And what's going to happen to the organization when Xingyun kicks the bucket / ascends into mahaparinirvana? Same for the other "Big Buddhist" entities here (Dharma Drum, Chung Tai, Tzu Chi).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-38552229308794727152017-07-04T18:16:27.929+08:002017-07-04T18:16:27.929+08:00Well done Michael!
WayneWell done Michael!<br />WayneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-25228344072563586072017-07-04T16:44:19.230+08:002017-07-04T16:44:19.230+08:00Anonymous is entirely correct. It is fantasy to im...Anonymous is entirely correct. It is fantasy to imagine Foguangshan will change China in any meaningful way. Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-77846929717537265762017-07-04T11:12:08.611+08:002017-07-04T11:12:08.611+08:00Anon, I'm under no illusion the Celestial Clou...Anon, I'm under no illusion the Celestial Cloud is some wise benevolent moral compass. Nor did I say anything remotely close.<br /><br />Of course China is importing Foguangshan. If something is allowed to exist within China with the blessing of the Party, it is being imported by the Party. For you to think otherwise would be naive.<br /><br />As for Foguangshan's prior efforts to expand into China, that proves my point that China is importing Foguangshan. It is only because the Party is now allowing it in on a more massive scale. Think Special Economic Zone first and now more country wide. This is led by the Party, Foguangshan is just a willing participant.<br /><br />The moral standard is state sanctioned. The Party is trying to improve the overall manner and quality of the citizenry, and this is part of the central planning. My point is, this is better than the void that exists right now. <br /><br />As for Celestial Cloud's pro China agenda, as mentioned previously, its golden days in Taiwan is gone, it needs to find new furtile grounds. I do agree it was part of that massive KMT Party State apparatus. I don't really see a problem with it leaving for China much like the rest of the KMT.TaiwanJunkienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-64399105486548092512017-07-04T08:43:19.443+08:002017-07-04T08:43:19.443+08:00Michael,
Thanks for the pointed and informative p...Michael,<br /><br />Thanks for the pointed and informative post. I had previously suspected as much about the Foguangshan bunch, but I had no concrete basis to back up the suspicions with facts. Hsing Yun's past quotes in particular are starkly revealing. <br /><br />It is a shame that the NY Times did not do any homework before blindly funnelling this corrupt and conflicted charlatan's gospel to their readership. Frustrating. <br /><br />Keep up the great work Michael: yours is clearly an important service to anyone with a serious interest in Taiwan and its people. Your blog is a great resource. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-28209758725405531922017-07-04T02:54:08.194+08:002017-07-04T02:54:08.194+08:00TaiwanJunkie wrote:
>>China imported Taiwan... TaiwanJunkie wrote:<br /><br />>>China imported Taiwanese and HK businesses to develop its economy. Now it is importing Foguangshan to fulfill the moral vacuum. I am no fan of Foguangshan. But it is quite pragmatic and if it able to inject a different moral standard into a space currently only filled by nationalistic propaganda and rhetoric, why not?<<<br /><br />(1) China is not "importing Foguangshan". It has been Hsing Yun alone who's been trying to get his business footed in China.<br /><br />(2) It is not "Now": Hsing Yun has been eyeing his business expansion to China since before the Tiananmen Massacre in 1989. That's why he met with the Tiananmen Butcher Regime several times in 1989 and 1990, while the whole world was boycotting China.<br /><br />(3) Had Foguangshan managed to "inject a different moral standard" into China, it would've no sooner been "Falungong"-ed. This has not happened, in spite of Hsing-Yun's efforts of almost 30 years, simply because Hsing-Yun's intent has not been an "injectino of a difference moral standard into China". <br /><br />(4) The sole interest of Hsing Yun in China is commercial and political, i.e. to use religion to drag Taiwanese Buddhists into the "Non-Duality" of "non-separating" people into Chinese and Taiwanese. Yes, Hsing-Yun (mis-)uses the Buddhist concept of "Non-Duality" as a moral obligation of Buddhists to coerce a "unification"; thus, "we should unify people, not separate people", "There is no Taiwanese in Taiwan; we are all Chinese."<br /><br />A fantasy of Hsing-Yun "injecting a different moral standard" into China remains a naive fantasy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-42079210604506138882017-07-03T23:00:24.413+08:002017-07-03T23:00:24.413+08:00I doubt very much it can inject a different moral ...I doubt very much it can inject a different moral standard into a space, it didn't in Taiwan. <br /><br />Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-50132587147365394822017-07-03T21:58:02.015+08:002017-07-03T21:58:02.015+08:00Foguangshan is losing its audience in Taiwan. Most...Foguangshan is losing its audience in Taiwan. Most Buddhists within Taiwan know full well about its political connections and KMT leaning. Just like most religious organizations, seeking out new turf and new converts is prime objective. I think the article is simply pointing out the obvious, Foguangshan is in foreign turf and must stay away from the usual political mishmash.<br /><br />From the broader prospective, China imported Taiwanese and HK businesses to develop its economy. Now it is importing Foguangshan to fulfill the moral vacuum. I am no fan of Foguangshan. But it is quite pragmatic and if it able to inject a different moral standard into a space currently only filled by nationalistic propaganda and rhetoric, why not? TaiwanJunkienoreply@blogger.com