Buddha’s finger points way ahead
By Michael Bristow in Taipei
SEALED inside a miniature golden pagoda and
guarded by 40 Kung fu experts, the remains of what
is believed to be one of the Buddha’s fingers is
drawing vast crowds in Taiwan and moving many
adults to tears.
Hundreds of thousands of people have turned out to
view the 2,500-year-old relic, which has been loaned by Famen Temple near Xian in China, where it was discovered after a flood in 1981.
The finger’s Taiwan tour is being hailed as a great religious event on an island that has undergone a Buddhist revival over recent years. Taiwan now has about four million Buddhists.
But for some, the relic has a wider significance. Many see the finger as a symbol of peace between China and Taiwan, which have been at loggerheads since the end of China’s civil war in 1949.
Hsin Yun, a Buddhist Master said: “I hope that it will help purify people’s spirits . . . and bring peace to cross-Strait relations.”
What are you implying 40kungfu masters are only good for gaurding a finger, i find this very offensive; *****
why dont you go back where you came from!.
the mma forums:)
im eating soup and thiers a cool radio show on so i felt like joshin ya, is this real?.
I concurr with you. I have only read a partial segment of the story, but I too hope Diego is joking too, or prehaps his impropriety is directly related to his not recognising the significance of the event.
im eating soup and thiers a cool radio show on so i felt like "joshin"ya, is this real?.
I guess yall aint got proper english over thier so close to england, i siad i was joshing you, anyone know where the term joshing came from, obviously not.
It does sound funny to, 40kungfu masters, why not cia or kgb; kinda cheeze no.
errr please tell me im not the only sceptic wondering how a finger found in a flood during the 80s somehow managed to become ‘Buddhas finger’? I mean did it have his name written on it or something?
Surely this is just a LITTLE odd to someone other than me?
I also see Diegos point its pretty weird to have fourty ‘kung fu guys’ gaurding this sacred finger. Surely a couple of dudes armed with m16s armour peircing ammo and bullet proof vests would do a much better job?
Im not saying we kung fu guys cant do some matrix insipred stunts, i know i dodge bullets reguarly but i still cant help but think for THIS job - i would have picked the army.
Im sceptical of Buddhas finger does that make me evil?
I concurr with Scotty, to josh, comes straight out of English history books, approximately 17th century probably earlier. By the way Diego why is it you ask us about whether we know our english or not, when your sentences are strewn with mis-spellings all over the shop???
I think it’s a cool story althought the finger is probably as authentic as the relics in catholic alters. (not) The English can lay claim to joshing, (Josh is probably p*ssed by now) but we norte americanos can lay claim to shucking and jiving.
I really love the story of “The Finger”. I mean the real finger.
First, it is true that one of the most important buddhist relic is being displayed in Taiwan. And yes it is true that several ( forgot the number ) of “kung fu monks” are indeed guarding it.
However…
a few things needs correcting. these monks, although are quite “advance” in the wushu standard, are but symbolic. They serve as a kind “actor” for the buddhist guards in legends or stories. Sure, they may indeed “fight” if something does get out of hand, but the main bulk of the security are acutally provided by the Taiwan Government. And yeah, they are people armed with MP5s with bullet prove vests and all kinds of high-tech gagets and training.
for what it’s worth, the container of the relic is bullet proof.
2nd, it is not a “finger”. I am certain the translater here has made a mistake. It is more like a small hard, marble-like object. If was supposed to be found in the stomach of the buddha. These are not rare to find really. People who have lived on a buddhist diet all their lives will normally have them. Don’t know the medical reason. But alot of monks has them. When the bodies are cremated, these the normally the things which survives the fire. Hence, it is said to contain all the intellegence of the owner. And would only develop if the monk is exceptionally gifted ( questionable claim, but thats buddist mysticism. ). Since this one was from Buddha himself, well, the religous significance is imaginable. Maybe matchable only by things like the holy grail or something like that.
