The Bodhisattva in Orange

[ecosophia]

I admit this one came as a bit of a surprise to me, though it shouldn't have...

Statues like the one on the left are selling like hotcakes all over China; you can get them up to 14 feet tall, though little 6" tall items suitable for a home or business shrine are much more popular. Yes, that's Donald Trump in lotus posture, dressed in Buddist robes, his hands in the dhyana mudra. You put one in a shrine and burn joss sticks to it to make your home or business great again. 

So far, the only version I've found for sale in this country costs $200, which is a little much for the budget of most ordinary deplorable Americans, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see less expensive versions popping up shortly, along with the more brightly colored sort of image that's used in Hindu spiritual practice. 

We live in strange times, and I think they're likely to get even stranger soon...

Comments

[sea_spray]

... That's not what I expected.

Any comment on the occult side of this? Would it boost trump himself or just the public persona/ Egregore he acted as the focal point for? Or is there likely a trickster at work in the background so the outcome will be the one thing nobody thinks will happen?

My thoughts are with those who are living through the fallout of all this on the ground level.

Thanks

[ecosophia]

I don't know. I don't think anyone incarnate does. One way or another, things are likely to get strange.

That Is Funny

[degringolade]

I had to clean my screen off as I was eating rice when I opened this and I spewed all over the screen...What a mess..

I'm still giggling.

Re: That Is Funny

[ecosophia]

A definite step up from tea on the keyboard! ;-)

[(Anonymous)]

I wonder if the Chinese love for Trump stems from the chaos that came about in his wake in the US. or the fact that he rattled their leadership in a manner no one else has even come close to. Or maybe they are longing for a Chinese Trump, and this is a way to speed things up?

I am just speculating. I am sure you have understood this better. It seems he was the most searched for person in their social media last year. So I wonder if the interest is beyond just curiosity.

Anonymez

[ecosophia]

I don't think it's a matter of love. I think that five thousand years of lively and inclusive polytheism have made it easier for Chinese people to recognize spiritual power when they see it. Love him or hate him, Trump has an enormous hold over the collective imagination -- even those who loathe him can't stop talking or thinking about him -- and that hold makes his name, image, and other emblems potent in the inner realms.

[wbj]

I was about to send you a link to an article discussing this. The fascinating thing is that I know a few people who despise Trump who are openly buying these statues, they say to smash them. The hold the archetype has on some people is getting very strange...

[ecosophia]

Too funny. And they seriously think that will do anything to dissipate the energy that surrounds him...

OMG!

[happypanda]

LMAO!

*falls out of chair laughing*

I love it! I wish I had one! Strange times indeed.

Re: OMG!

[ecosophia]

That was roughly my reaction. Heh heh heh...

[(Anonymous)]

My inner Trickster desperately wishes I could get the 14' statues as a Christmas gift for the Democrats in my life.
-Cliff

[ecosophia]

I admit the same thought had crossed my mind.

[(Anonymous)]

*chortle*

Would it be disrespectful of the Buddhist religion if I got one just because it amuses me?

—Lady Cutekitten

[ecosophia]

Nope. Even though he's dressed in Buddhist robes, I doubt many Buddhists would consider this a holy symbol!

I just love it.

[(Anonymous)]

I want to send one to all my woke friends. I'm sure they'll appeciate the thought.

It suggests the Chinese actually have some respect for Trump. Can we anticipate there will be a Biden boddhisatva any time soon?

Perhaps I'll pinch this idea and make a painting of the theme for a little shrine. I remember the old counterculture quite fondly, but this MAGA mudra is the kind we could use today.

Kevin

Re: I just love it.

[ecosophia]

A painting would be worth seeing. I'm wondering how soon we see a Trump mandala...

[(Anonymous)]

There's already a cheaper version,
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/636938571/trump-inspired-buddha-cheeto-orange
Whispers

[ecosophia]

That was faster than I expected! Next, an image of Donald Trump with angel's wings, trampling an allegorical figure representing a wokester...

Bizarre

[(Anonymous)]

Hello!

What possibly could be the motivations of the makers of this statue?
Obviously it isn't to mock him given the respectful composure of Trump as depicted.
Do the makers really think there is a market for people who will worship Trump?
All this is incomprehensible...

Re: Bizarre

[ecosophia]

It's not incomprehensible at all. To begin with, half the population of the US respects and admires Trump -- a detail that the talking heads of the privileged classes have been desperately trying to ignore for the last five years. Beyond that, of course, people in cultures where polytheism is the norm recognize that invoking the spirit of a very famous and successful human being is an effective option.

And of course there's the additional fun fact that this image is guaranteed to reduce most Americans of the privileged classes to shrieking incoherent rage, which is always entertaining to watch... ;-)

[(Anonymous)]

LOL. I think that the times that we live in has just become a little "too" interesting...

Aquamarine Hyperactive Chicken

[lincoln_lynx]

I never understood why the Chinese considered living in interesting times a bad thing. Now I'm getting the idea.

[stcathalexandria]

Love when the unexpected happens. Shows the universe is open to more change than I had originally thought possible

[ecosophia]

The world is in flux. Keep that in mind when it seems too static!

[(Anonymous)]

He looks surprisingly good for a Buddha, and "MAGA Mudra" is definitely a keeper.

There are people on the web who claim that Trump is St Germain, but I assumed that was, ahem, a joke...

Troll or Poe?

Tidlösa, Sweden

[ecosophia]

Good heavens -- I somehow managed to miss that. Given the political conservatism of the Ascended Masters movement here in the US, that doesn't surprise me at all!

[(Anonymous)]

Putting the "cult" in "personality cult"...wonder what sunthemata is finding its expression through the Orange One.

Axé,
Fra' Lupo

[ecosophia]

If the oracles hadn't gone silent in Plutarch's time, I'd suggest asking one!

Is it bad...

[brenainn]

...that I want one not merely as an interesting collectible or novelty item, but to include on my altar? The man, Donald J. Trump, is a fascinating figure but I'm interested (very interested these days) in whatever spiritual or divine power that seems to have become present in or through the man. It is clearly very potent. Does that make sense?

Re: Is it bad...

[ecosophia]

It makes perfect sense, and a couple of million Chinese are already doing that.

[realmscryer]

The amount of energy gathering is impressive. I don't have enough astrological magic background yet but some ideas do come to mind.

[ecosophia]

As a student of occult history, I find this whole process fascinating to watch. Yes, there's an immense amount of energy flowing.

[(Anonymous)]

https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/aztec-human-sacrifice-the-re-barbarization-of-california/

I don’t know how seriously to take this—anyone who reads Rod knows he’s easily frightened and prone to hysterics—but just in case there’s something to it I wanted to warn California readers.

—Lady Cutekitten

[ecosophia]

Yes, I heard of that. It would be worth watching the murder rate in that part of California; if it spikes hard, we'll know that Huitzilopochtli is listening.

[casmith]

That statue is sublime. I am not a Trump fan (not a hater either, he's just another politician tomy mind), but I find it oddly compelling. I don't know why.

[ecosophia]

That's what happens when a person -- even a politician! -- becomes the vessel for an archetype.

[(Anonymous)]

I voted for Trump, but I must admit that totally wigs me out.

[(Anonymous)]

Buddhist Trump fans? Didn't think that was the demographic he was appealing to.

In the comic strip "The Lockhorns," Leroy looks up from whatever he's reading and says "Remember when reality was believable?"

[(Anonymous)]

My God, the highest levels of society are in on this! 😄. Rod’s RIGHT!

https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-bites-wifes-finger-in-bizarre-campaign-stop-moment-2019-11?op=1

—Lady Cutekitten

[(Anonymous)]

Another very interesting article relevant to our—well, interests. 😀

https://www.newenglishreview.org/custpage.cfm?frm=190522&sec_id=190522

—Lady Cutekitten

[ol_bab5]

Thank you so much for the terrific link to another world in New Guinea !

[(Anonymous)]

This is definitely interesting; for the past several months I've been trying to figure out wether Trumps energy has burned out, or if it's just resting for a return. I should point out that the pro-Trump image boards are still going with the same energy and cheer in spite of what has happened to Trump over the past several months. While I really have no idea what is going to happen next, I think that the forces arrayed against Trump have won the battle but lost the war.

[ecosophia]

I keep on wondering whether the whole point of the 2020 election was to make sure that Trump wasn't the one who got inaugurated under those ghastly auspices, so that he could come sweeping back into the White House in 2024...

[causticus]

Too funny! It's about time we had a Mercurial Bodhisattva.

BTW, do you know what the magical implications of invoking a living person are? Also, are Trump-like figures the kind of people wild and fanciful legends are told about centuries after their death?

[ecosophia]

It used to be quite common in Roman times for people to invoke the Emperor as a deity, and IIRC it's quite common today in India for gurus to be invoked by their students. As for your second question, yes, very much so.

[marcrhodestaylor]

this is actually quite funny thanks for sharing john