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Mickey Bosatsu
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Found souvenir photograph

Miroku Bosatsu - the Contemplative Bodhisattva of the Future. He's found everywhere - predating Rodin's Thinker by millenia - but the most beautiful are found in Seoul, Kyoto and Nara. The one at Horyu-ji in Nara attracted me, so I went to sit with him on two occasions, maintaining a proper meditation posture with eyes slightly downcast. But every now and then would look up and laugh because the black chingon balls (an ancient hairstyle) and hairline look just like Mickey Mouse ears!

He is contemplating how to reduce suffering in this world, a pretty heavy subject - but is smiling, suggesting that he has the answer and everything will be all right. What does he know? Could the forces of mass media entertainment and consumerism be applied to reduce world suffering? A Buddhist Disneyland perhaps?

Osaka '98