A new 'Asian fusion' (whatever that is) bar/restuarant has recently opened up in Woking, and one prominant item of decoration is a large head of the Buddha.

When Noi saw this through the window she was outraged. She says that using the image of the Buddha as mere decoration is insulting, even more so when it is being used to decorate a bar. She was similarly outraged a few months ago when she found out that a different place in Woking has a large reclining Buddha as decoration behind the bar.

I wonder what the reaction would be if a bar used Christian images as decoration; or Muslim ones !

Fortunately Buddhists tend to be less violent than either Christians or Muslims, and Noi's reaction is to simply refuse to enter these establishments.

Whilst not religious myself, I am saddened that others have such a low respect for the beliefs and religious sensitivities of others that they could use these, or any sacred, images in this way.

If memory serves me right wasn't there a similar discussion about a year ago when abar in Glasgow opened called Bar Buddha,which caused abit of outrage at the time because they used Buddha images.

All Chinese restaurants and most Thai restaurants in Germany Switzerland and locally in France have Buddha images a plenty No one seems to be bothered by it (Thats within 30 kms of Basel )

The local Indian restaurants have Ganesh images plus other Hindu gods again does not seem to pose anyone a problem.

As to Christian images certainly would not bother me

If the Buddhas were being used as chairs , ashtrays or worse then I can see a problem but to set the theme

ash

Nick,have you considered writing to the restaurant to express your outrage and dismay that in this climate of culteral diversity they choose to alienate customers and polarise opinion?

Well Nick you do not need to wonder too much, if they were Muslim images the council would have stopped them, or Bin laden boys would have made a house call.
Personally I think there is too much PC in this country already, just ignore it, By the way there is a bar in Kanchanburi called Buddha bar, run by Thai & Farang.

quote:

Buddha bar, run by Thai & Farang.

Do they drink Buddha beer there

They might drink Bud, but looking at the colour of the place, I think they smoke Buds

To comment on the comment made by Ash it is true that you will find Buddha images in restaurants and bars even in Thailand but they are there as objects of reverence not as a come on to attract custom and I believe that is what Noi is taking exception to.
My wife is upset when she sees Buddha images in garden centres as ornaments and placed on the ground or a bottom shelf. Buddha should be above all the other items and certainly not on the ground she tells me in no uncertain terms as if I can do anything about the garden centres shelf stacking although I do give in and mention it to the manager.

quote:

To comment on the comment made by Ash it is true that you will find Buddha images in restaurants and bars even in Thailand but they are there as objects of reverence not as a come on to attract custom

Thats not the case here they are there to provide atmosphere and for marketing not as objects of reverence.

ash

Quote from Ash:
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"Thats not the case here they are there to provide atmosphere and for marketing not as objects of reverence".
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Yes indeed that was my point.

Quote from Nick:
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"I wonder what the reaction would be if a bar used Christian images as decoration; or Muslim ones"
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I believe that the objects of devotion used in Islam and Christianity are not endearing to restaurant and bar goers as are the images of the Buddha unless it is Xmas or Easter of course. Then we see them everywhere! But I think a statue of Christ on a cross would put people off rather than attract them to a bar. And lets not think about a statue of Mohhamed attracting anyone to drink!!

quote:

A new 'Asian fusion' (whatever that is) bar/restuarant

We have a "fusion" recently opened in our town too and basically its an Indian Restaurant. When I poked my head in thinking it may be a Thai etc mixed Restaurant like one in Chelmsford (our County Town) it was clearly not but no Buddha images in sight.

NB The one in Chelmsford according to the wife is Arab as it does not have Pork (moo) on the menu so she declared it a no go area
colin 244

quote:

Originally posted by DavidJohn:
To comment on the comment made by Ash it is true that you will find Buddha images in restaurants and bars even in Thailand but they are there as objects of reverence not as a come on to attract custom and I believe that is what Noi is taking exception to.

Spot on. Most (all?) Thai restaurants, shops etc in the UK have Buddha and other images as objects of reverence and/or to bestow good luck and these are placed in a high position and treated with respect; exactly as they are in Thailand.

The images in these two bars, though, are there purely to provide decoration. They are placed low down (for a short time the Buddha head was under the open plan stairs leading to the first floor so that customers walked over the top of it!) and they are not respected at all.

It is this lack of respect that upsets Noi and her Thai friends.

quote:

Originally posted by Ash:-
they are there to provide atmosphere and for marketing not as objects of reverence.

As I said before, it saddens me that that others have such a low respect for the beliefs and religious sensitivities of others that they could use these, or any sacred, images in this way. It saddens me even more that so many Thais in Switzerland would do this.

But it is their choice to put marketing above their religious beliefs.

Roly, the boss has told me not to bother complaining, she simply wont go into either place and encourages our friends not to either. Although I believe that a complaint by another Thai did get the image moved from under the stairs.

quote:

Roly, the boss has told me not to bother complaining, she simply wont go into either place and encourages our friends not to either.

Noted,but unless they're challenged how will they learn? They might be only too accommodating (and give you a slap up feed too ).

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Originally posted by Noi & Nick:
... Thai restaurants, shops etc in the UK have Buddha and other images as objects of reverence and/or to bestow good luck ...

Perhaps that's why they are also placed in the restaurant you complain about?

quote:

Originally posted by Noi & Nick:
... The images in these two bars, though, are there purely to provide decoration ...

And I suspect that is exactly what the vast majority customers think about those found in Thai restaurants too.

From their positioning etc. (remember that one was under the stairs) they are most definitely not there for any religious purpose. As confirmed, I feel, by the following comment on their website

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The décor continues the oriental chic and and helps to provide an atmosphere that is vibrant and sexy.

Oriental chic and vibrant and sexy! This shows respect and consideration for other's religious feelings?

I suspect that most customers eating in Thai restaurants in the UK are unaware of the significance of the Buddha images therein, but that is, I feel, irrelevant as it is the intention of those that placed the image which is important.

Roly, I have now contacted them and made Noi's and my opinion known to them. I wonder if they will bother to reply.

quote:

Originally posted by Noi & Nick:

quote:

The décor continues the oriental chic and and helps to provide an atmosphere that is vibrant and sexy.

Oriental chic and vibrant and sexy! This shows respect and consideration for other's religious feelings?

It's a restaurant Nick, not a temple!

Looks like a great deal will now recommend to all our friends

Nick we will be sure to mention the free advertising , remmber all publicity is good publicity

ash

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Quote from Tobias - โทเบียส

It's a restaurant Nick, not a temple!
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Sorry but as a restaurant surely it still shouldn't use religious objects or similies of religious significance to others as a means of providing:
quote:
The décor continues the oriental chic and and helps to provide an atmosphere that is vibrant and sexy.

And as Nick said earlier in this theme he wondered "what the reaction would be if a bar used Christian images as decoration; or Muslim ones"
I, like Nick, am not a Buddhist but I respect peoples who are and feel their religious beliefs and feelings should not be offended for the sake of adornment to a restaurant.

By the way can anyone explain to me how does an image of Buddha 'contribute to the oriental chic and helps to provide an atmosphere that is vibrant and sexy'?

As a Christian I find images of gods offensive whether in restaurants or temple etc but I would never consider complaining unless of course they were erected in a church.

This is clearly not a Thai restaurant and the proprietors have a different view of whats appropriate , which in the UK is a right. If anyone feels that this is wrong go eat somewhere else. My wifes view is that they are not Thai so who cares the Chinese are different.

If this were my bar, I would not use the images as to my mind they definitely do not contribute to the atmosphere.

As to using Christian images they mean nothing to most Christians so why not.
ash

We are fortunate to live in a relatively free society. We enjoy certain freedoms and privileges. If a restaurant choses to use a particular decoration then that is up to them, they have the right to chose what is placed in their establishment provided it is legal and not against public decency. If a customer doesn't like it, go to a different restaurant.

Some on here moan about political correctness, isn't this just another example of that? Why is it so offensive to have a statue? Some of them are very beautiful artistic pieces so why should they not be admired and enjoyed by those frequenting the establishment?

I've seen many such statues in Thai and Asian restaurants, indeed there are several restaurants named after the man himself.

Religion is for the religious, they have the freedom to follow their religion or practise their faith. Similarly those who like the statues are free to have one and display it. The restaurants are simply trying to create an ambiance, to present a little of the culture from the region associated with their cuisine, to offer a little authenticity - is that really so offensive?

100 % behind Tobias on this one.
Leave the Buddhists to revere the Buddha image, and at the same time allow those that find it a beautiful artistic image to view it simply as that.
I have many many photographic images of temples, buddha statues etc etc which i have taken for their beauty. I have shown these to family and friends as that, a thing of beauty, and not as a symbol of my wifes religion. Par finds it all very pleasing and in no way offensive that we are attracted to the Buddha image. Even ASDA are selling a sitting Buddha as a garden ornament, can you imagine anyone wishing to have a cross in their back garden ??
A work colleague of mine has just had a beautiful Buddha image tattooed on his forearm, even though he is in no way buddhist and hasnt even visited a buddhist country. Par finds this very confusing as to why he would do such a thing but once again is in no way offende.
Like someone posted earlier, if the image was being used as chairs and ashtrays then this would be very offensive, but simply on display then i, and my Buddhist wife, cant see the problem.

I was, of course, aware when I made the original post that there would be those who agreed with me and those who didn't; that is life.

Tobias says

quote:

they have the right to chose what is placed in their establishment provided it is legal and not against public decency.

So a line is obviously drawn somewhere. Would a restaurant displaying, for example, sexual images be allowed? I, for one, would not find such images offensive, merely boring, but I suspect that the answer is "No."

I really fail to see how you can compare displaying the Buddha image to displaying Sexual images.