Buddhist Monastary Vandalized in MI

September 8, 2004

Source: The State News (Mich.)

http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=25145

On September 8, 2004 The State News reported, "a room of incense, candles and lotus lights remains under lock and key because of frequent attacks on the Americana Buddhist Temple that houses it... This room once was open to the public, as Buddhist tradition dictates, but vandals have become too frequent for Abbot Cheng Kuan to ignore them. Kuan said he blames the vandalism on prejudice and ignorance, citing the fact that the criminals did not even spell the name of his religious leader, Buddha, correctly. Acts of vandalism also were seen in mid-August at the Dhammasala Forest Monastery in Perry. Unknown people entered the unlocked meditation hall and knocked over the shrine tables. Flowers were strewn, water spilled and statues toppled... The monastery's members disagree about the reasons of the break-in."