Junping Zhang
Tessa Mellas
English 1110.01
15th November 2012
Script for Backtalk
How do the pictures on the website send a message about BBAC’s identity?
Picture 1:
The BBAC refers to the organization “Bodhi Buddhist Association of Columbus”. It is a non-profit religious organization which collects a group of people who interested in Buddhism. BBAC locates in Bethel RD and founded by Mr. Guo who graduated from OSU and got a PhD in agricultural economics. This organization has a lot of communications with other religious group. For today’s presentation, I want to research how the images on website send a message to BBAC’s identity.
Picture 2:
Here is the preach area in BBAC. Although you may think it is very small and shabby, it reflects cleanness and nature of Buddhism. There are some specific aspects of Buddhism in this picture. You can notice that there is a picture of Buddha hanging on the wall, Buddhists should pray in front of the picture in order to show devotedness.
Picture 3: In this picture, many plants set around this monk. I want to emphasis that in Buddhism’s concepts, close to nature is very important. In fact, in ancient time, killing poultry and eating meat as well as getting married are strictly prohibited in Buddhism, which means all Buddhists are vegetarians and single. Although this rule is not that strict nowadays, a group of devoted Buddhists still follow this rule.
Picture 4:
The logo of BBAC is a Lotus. In fact, lotus has a special meaning in Buddhism, or even in the East World. Lotus represents cleanness and tenacious. Buddhism usually use lotus to praise follower’s prominent morality. In addition, BBAC can also use lotus describe itself, because Buddhism in Columbus is just at the initial stage which means it may face many troubles and difficulties. Since BBAC defeats these obstacles, Buddhism’s situation in Columbus will become beautiful as well as lotus.
Picture 5: As the picture shows, most of Buddhists are in East Asia. We can imagine how difficult for BBAC to spread knowledge in Columbus which doesn’t contact Buddhism in the past time. People have little recognitions of Buddhism will restrain BBAC’s development in the U.S.
Picture 6: The spread of Buddhism has a big improvement since the Industrial Revolution. In ancient time, Buddhist can only spread the knowledge and its concepts in the temple, which has the similar function as church. This is quite different as the missionary in Christianity. Buddhists usually build a temple at first, and then they will spread the knowledge.
Picture 7: As the rapid development of technology, people take more care on materialism instead of the focus on the religions. Therefore, when a religious organization wants to have more followers, it must receive more modern aspects and curve some concepts in order to get people’s acceptance. BBAC melts many modern aspects into Buddhism in the United States in order to let U.S citizens accept Buddhism.
Picture 8: On the other hand, the rapid development of the society forces Buddhism has more modern aspects. As the picture shows, the monks must drive cars if they want to go out; they can’t just walk or ride horses. Therefore, Buddhist must learn the social skills and cannot live isolated.
Picture 9: In addition, BBAC has another two efficient methods to spread Buddhism’s concepts and knowledge---social network and website. For the social network part, BBAC uses Facebook, blog to introduce itself and sets up memberships. On the other hand, BBAC has a well-developed website which contains completed information about the organization.
Picture 10:
This is a screen cut from the home page of BBAC’s Facebook; you can see there are few followers. I just want to this image to point out the embarrassing situation BBAC faced at this time, few people notice it. Although Buddhism is one of three most developed religions in the world, it has limited influence in the Columbus. Most followers in BBAC right now are from Asia, who has the cultural background to accept Buddhism.
Picture 11: In addition, BBAC faces the cultural barriers to spread Buddhism in Columbus. Although United States is based on the immigration which means it will not oppose the alien religion, U.S citizens cannot understand some Buddhism’s concepts. For instance, Buddhists must be vegetarians. In fact, from scientific view, it is difficult to maintain human’s lives by just eating vegetables.
Picture 12: On the other hand, besides the cultural barriers, a geological barrier is another aspect to stop BBAC spread knowledge in Columbus. As shown on the picture, Buddhism has more effect in the coasts of United States because a lot of Asians immigrated to United States in 20th century. Therefore, BBAC spread knowledge in Columbus may face more resistance because of lacking support from people who have related background.
Picture 13: Although BBAC faces many restrictions for spreading Buddhism in Columbus, it still holds many Buddhism communication activities. In fact, Buddhism has many branches in its long history, such Chinese Buddhism, India Buddhism and Japanese Buddhism. Therefore, communications among these different branches are important in broaden people’s eyesight.
Picture 14: This picture shows the BBAC’s communication program with other Buddhism organizations, I think this a good way for BBAC to defeat the cultural barriers and absorb more followers. Many people from different race participate in the same Buddhism activity which is big development for BBAC.
Picture 15: In the future, it is necessary for BBAC build a temple in Columbus, because a temple is the symbol of Buddhism as well as church for Christianity. Although it is hard for BBAC to raise the funds, I think more people will interest in Buddhism as time passed by.
