[Buddha-l] In God we trust

[Christopher Fynn]

On 23/04/2012, Erik Hoogcarspel <jehms at xs4all.nl> wrote:

> Since the crisis the hotel prices in the Bahama's have gone up, so
> staying there for more than 4 months a year is treathening my budget.
> I'm contemplating to start a temple to get extra revenue. What would be
> better; a Buddhist one in Japan or China, or a Hindu temple in India?
> http://is.gd/CnKEib
>
> Erik

Not surprising that it is a Jain Mandir that is "the second highest
earner among all the temples in North India" - Many Jains are
jewellers or into other lucrative businesses. Very enterprising of
them to use their money to construct a Ram Mandir modelled on Angor
Wat. What Lord Rama has to do with Jainism  beats me - but it will
surely make them popular with the BHP, VHP and similar organisations
and attract vast numbers of Indian tourists whose offerings and
donations will undoubtedly add even more to their coffers.

However if you really want to get rich in India you should emulate
Swami Baba Ramdev who has his own TV network and is watched by
millions every day. He has even bought his own island:
http://is.gd/hsnN3N

These spiritual TV networks  have their own game shows
<http://is.gd/XIB7yC> where where  "knowledge on Indian rituals and
beliefs" is tested.. There was apparently even a  "reality TV" show in
India where Pandit Surender Sharma a Tantric Guru tried to kill
someone live on his TV show using a Tantric <ritual
http://is.gd/4yfjis>.

I'm sure a Buddhist temple in Taiwan or Singapore could do quite well
too - Especially if  you pretend you have been "recognised" as some
important lama and have monks proficient in performing rituals to
Vaiśravaṇa, Jambhala, Vasudhārā, Kurukule and so on which you can tell
your patrons will ensuring wealth and success in business. You could
also manufacture and sell fancy charms and amulets to ward off the
black magic of your patrons competitors.

- C