How Then Should We Then Live in...a Buddhist Country

The refinery is having a safety celebration next week after reaching the one year mark with no reportable injuries. The festivities have all been planned by the Public Affairs department and will be on the same order as previous celebrations in the refinery. Mark was told that as the Refinery Manager he would be setting on stage with the monks and be asked to light candles and pray with the monks. Mark felt uncomfortable but wasn't quite sure what the best way to handle this situation would be. We are living in a 98% Buddhist country full of many traditions and cultural differences and are grateful for this experience but never want to compromise our Christian convictions and beliefs. Mark had brought his concern before his men's Bible study and we had prayed as a family for wisdom in dealing with this situation. I want to share with you the e-mail correspondence between Mark and his PA manager, with Mark's permission of course.

From Mark:
Khun Pairoch-I've thought about next week's plans a good bit more. Bottom-line, as a Christian, I am not comfortable participating in any active way during the Buddhist ceremony, but at the same time, I want to show proper respect to everyone attending the ceremony. Therefore, I will be happy to sit with the lead delegation and observe the ceremony, but if you need someone to participate by lighting candles or similar activities, then I suggest you have Khun Adisak provide that service. Please stop by to discuss this so that we jointly agree on the proper plan and thus insure that neither of us are caught by surprise next week. Thanks.

From Khun Pairoch:
Khun Mark-Your note has taken the worry out of me as it kept me thinking of how to properly manage this since I had informed you to light the candle and the joss sticks and know that it could be viewed that you are worshipping the Buddha. The other thing is it will be a torture for you(even myself) to sit on floor with crossing leg or squat position for an extended period.

I will ask ADJ to represent RLT on the lightings and rearrange the seating so everyone will be put on the right spot and feel comfortable. Will stop by your office to brief you on the ceremony but for the time being, let me try to give you a summary of the ceremony as follows:

*Arrival of 9 monks at around 10:00 a.m. The monks will be invited into the room to the monk-seat (higher than the level of the audience)

*All staff go into the room (those who sit on the floor will take off their shoes infront of the room)

*RLT (Refinery Leadership Team) members will sit on the couch and no need to take off shoes.

*Representative of the RLT (ADJ) to light the candles and the joss (incense) sticks and pay obeisance 3 times to the Buddha image (by putting both hands together to the forehead and bending forward with the hands until they rest on the floor).

*Representative of the audience (SOA) will lead the promising to follow the commandments pronounced by a monk (The monk will lead the praying and SOA as well as the audience will repeat the praying). This will take about 5 minutes.

*The 9 monks will begin the praying for about 20-30 minutes. The audience will listen/meditate in silence with both hands on the chest. (You may sit without putting both hands on the chest and observe. Chatting in a low voice is not prohibited).

*At around 11:30 a.m., the audience will serve lunch for the monks (meals after lunch time or 12:00 is prohibited for the monk). You will see a number of audience participating in serving lunch to the monks (as it is the belief that offering food/drink/clothing/medicine etc. to the holy monk will receive highest merit due to purity of those under monkhood. It is like planting a tree on good ground. The tree will grow better than on the poor ground).

*After lunch the monk will move to the monk seat, 9 representatives of the audience will present offerings to the monks (including flowers, candles, joss stick, and small donations).

*The monks will pray to bless the audience for performing the merit. You will see the audience gathering in round to perform the libation (pouring water from a small bronze jug into the small bronze bowl). The water in the bowl will be poured into the tree later so the merit will reach the destination depending on one's wishes. On this occasion, the merit should go to all the holy spirits protecting our refinery from bad things and to bring all the good things to our refinery).

*The lead monk will walk around to sprinkle the holy water on the audience and the NAB building.

*Around 12:00 p.m., the monks will leave the refinery.

Regards


A couple reasons I wanted to post this lengthy e-mail.

-several of our Christian friends here are lead country managers of their companies and there has been much discussion on how they should respond to these Buddhist ceremonies, Spirit houses on the site...this email confirmed a couple of things in our minds-as Christians we should not participate in these ceremonies, they are a religious ritual and they are bowing and praying to a Buddha image.

*America that was founded on Christian principles would never allow such a religious ceremony at their workplaces, just something to think about.

-and to remind you to please pray for us as we take a stand here for Christ, not only that we do it in a loving, respectful way but that we have the courage to do it!

I read this from 2 Timothy 3:12-16

Yes, and all who desire to live goldy in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.