Posted on 08/14/2007 12:00:16 PM PDT by Daffynition
PATERSON - A New York sect of Amitabha Buddhists bought hundreds of eels, frogs and turtles in Chinatown to set them free in the Passaic River, hoping they would not only survive but also realize their karmic potential.
Saving the animals, though, did not do anything for the karma of the state Department of Environmental Protection. DEP pfficials say the Buddhists did not have a permit and may be subject to fines up to $1,000.
Releasing critters into the wild takes a permit - and because of fears of harm being done by nonnative species, New Jersey is reluctant to issue them out for anything beyond stocking fish ponds.
"We're dead-set against it," DEP biologist Mark Boriek told the Herald News of West Paterson for Tuesday's newspapers. "It's even illegal to stock any kind of carp or goldfish in New Jersey in a place with an inlet or outlet."
The DEP said it would try to figure out where the reptiles and amphibians came from to try to guess how they might impact the river, which has been cleaned up in recent years.
Authorities have not found the Buddhist group yet.
But one member, Ann Chin, talked to the Herald News.
She said the idea was not to hurt other species, but to save the animals that were destined for dinner tables.
"When I pass by the fish market, I cry," Chin said. "I tell people: 'Stop killing them.' Then: 'Don't eat them.' Then your heart goes to mercy."
But in the Passaic River? The pollution will kill them.
Wetland, Floodplain, and Shoreline Data (RM 0 - 1)
Jacques Whitford Company
During this review, no data on vegetative communities or wetland, floodplain, or
shoreline habitat in River Miles 0 -1 were found. The JWC Regulatory Consultation
Document (2000) qualitatively discussed birds, mammals and herptiles likely to be
found in the Kearny Point area. The same document listed New Jersey and federal
threatened/endangered species, and concluded that the site was currently used by
peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and osprey (Pandion haliaetus), two species listed as
endangered and threatened, respectively, by the State of New Jersey.
While the following species where not known to be present at the site, the JWC report
also concluded that it was possible that they could use the site vicinity in some fashion:
http://www.ourpassaic.org/projectsites/premis_public/DM/index.cfm/Biological%20Literature%20Review.pdf?fuseaction=GetDoc&DocId=2496
- · Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- · Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser breviostrum)
- · Northeastern beach tiger beetle (Cicindela doesalis dorsalis)
- · American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosos)
- · Pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
- · Yellow-crowned night- heron (Nyctanassa violaceus)
- · Black -crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
- · Piping plover (Charadrius melodus)
- · Black skimmer (Rynchops niger)
- · Least tern (Sterna antillarum)
- · Sedge wren (Cistothorus platensis)
- · Red knot (Calidris canutus)
- · Black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis)
- · Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
- · Seabeach amaranth (Amaranthus pumilus)
Isn’t “diversity” WONDERFUL!!!!!
We just have to ACCEPT other “cultures” and relish the “diversity”!
Mega barf ....
People today actually PRAY TO Buddha. All Buddha provided was a code of conduct - similar to Christianity - in fact an imitation of it ... . My spouse WENT to a Buddhist school YEARS AGO and KNOWS also how people happily pervert anything or anyone they want.
No, my spouse is not a Buddhist - never was but found the teachings interesting.
Buddhism has it's roots in Hinduism, although it isn't Hindu and doesn't recognize their gods. Many Buddhists are vegetarians based on the principle of 'do no harm' that stems from their four noble truths:
1. There is Suffering Suffering is common to all.
2. Cause of Suffering We are the cause of our suffering.
3. End of Suffering Stop doing what causes suffering.
4. Path to end Suffering Everyone can be enlightened.
There is, however a BIG difference between American neo and paleo hippie types who take on the mantle of Buddhism and Hinduism and those who are native believers of those religions. For example, neo-hippie Buddhists do have the conflict that you discuss regarding being pro-abortion but are against killing an animal. I know some Vietnamese Buddhists, on the other hand, who refuse to condemn the Iraq war on two folds, because lack of action often causes more harm, and doing no harm is a personal action, not something you can will on others (they believe that forcing your will on others is as much harm as physically harming them.)
It sounds either like you have met some of the hippie-preverted versions of Buddhism. Traditional Buddhism (Theravada) is very strict in its followers following rituals and very high standards. They must follow the five precepts in all they do:
1. No killing Respect for life
2. No stealing Respect for others' property
3. No sexual misconduct Respect for our pure nature
4. No lying Respect for honesty
5. No intoxicants Respect for a clear mind
There is another school of thought in Buddhism called Mahayana which teaches that the specific rules that the Theravada schools teach aren't as important as living a 'good life'.. this latter school is what many hippie Buddhists have perverted into their own religion. The Mahayana school isn't all bad, however. This is the school of thought where you would find the Japanese Zen Buddhism, but as you probably know the contrast, it is very strict in its teachings as well.
People today actually PRAY TO Buddha.
Sounds like more hippie perversion of the religion.
Some people believe that Buddhists worship idols, but this is not true. Buddhists bow or make offerings of flowers and incense in reverence to the Buddha, not to the image. When they do so they reflect on the virtues of the Buddha and are inspired to become like him. Buddha images are not necessary, but they are helpful. The most important thing is to follow the Buddha's teachings.
NO, you list the perverted form.
In it’spurest form as taught over seas what you list is not what Buddhism is about ... perhaps it has evolved to that ... .
OOOPPSSS!
I confused this with Taoism.
Sorry about that ... .
It’s sad to see people put their “faith” in THAT.
You can get them in Chinatown and we have had snakeheads showing up in our waters.
>>>...which has been cleaned up in recent years.
The Passaic River? LOL
Not sure if they released the snakeheads ...but under the precept of “do no harm” ... there seems to be a lot to be desired. It would be interesting to see how PETA falls on this behavior.
That is one ugly fish.
Someone is moving them, as I see reports on them in several states.
Would you class this as another bad import from China?
They are imported from China. They are blackmarketed in China Town.
According to this article, this Buddhist group was purchasing invasive species from China Town and releasing them into local waters. The article doesn’t specifically mention snakeheads; but you had all those articles about snakeheads from that message board 2 years ago.
AND snakeheads have been found in our local waters within the past 2 to 3 years.
They kill all local water inhabitants and walk on land for 3 days to find other water sources.
It certainly fits the plan on the message board.
They wanted them to spread and ruin our water areas, and they have done so.
I know people who used to swim in the passaic river, and they’re still alive.
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