Ziguang Shang Shi: What would Buddha do?



Photo by Michel wal

According to Michael Cooney’s 11/28/10 Upstate Earth post, Lucas Wang (aka Holy Master Ziguang Shang Shi) has been thinking of moving to France. 

He and his avowed followers are finding the climate in Amsterdam NY to be harsher than hoped for.  Not only have they been robbed of sacred statues, but they have also been subject to a level of criminal mischief that seems driven by hatred.  Ziguang therefore recently told an Amsterdam group that “he might go to France if people here do not want him.”

This seems to be a radical turnabout from Ziguang’s former stance.  When previously asked about why he chose Amsterdam NY as his central location, he had hinted that this was divinely ordained.  Pete Iorizzo of the Albany Times Union had reported Ziguang as saying that he intends to “transform this old mill city along the Mohawk River into a booming monument to health and wealth.”

For one with this strong a vision – and especially for one who purports to heal the incurable – this sort of abrupt plan-reversal (and accompanying rationale) seems rather odd.  After allegedly casting out numerous demons, Ziguang could conceivably also be able to overcome these Amsterdam challenges.

Iorizzo reports some details from a dream that Ziguang had in which Jesus comes to him and says:  I’m just the same as you.  We’re teaching the same dharma... 

Would Jesus have changed so strong a vision in this manner?

For that matter, would Buddha?

Resources

http://upstateearth.blogspot.com/2010/11/published-in-schenectady-gazette.html

http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Utopia-along-the-Mohawk-709937.php

Copyright November 29, 2010 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved