I am writing to object to the application of a cannabis business named Happy Buddha to locate in Sidney. It is truly incredible that in 2020 we even have to have a discussion of this nature.

How can anyone, Buddhist or not, not think that this is a scandalous sacrilege to use the name of the Buddha in such a bigoted and insensitive manner.

Buddhists, like any other major religion, revere the very name of their founder. To use it in such a sacrilegious manner is beyond comprehension. In addition, the owners show their incredible ignorance by even displaying a statue of the Lord Buddha in their photographs. Buddhists, like all religions, consider statues of their founder to be sacred. How can anyone be so bigoted and insensitive just to make a buck?

Surely Sidney council and mayor have enough decency to disapprove such bigotry.

If anyone has any doubt about how outrageous this name is, imagine the justifiable outrage that would be expressed if a business chose the name of B次元官网网址淛esus JuiceB次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址淛ews JewelryB次元官网网址�. I wonB次元官网网址檛 even mention an example for Islam, as their believers donB次元官网网址檛 even themselves use their founderB次元官网网址檚 name.

Imagine the black eye Sidney would receive if a foreign tourist from a Buddhist country saw such a sign and went back home and told their local press.

Finally, the subtle but clear sub-message in such a name is that Lord Buddha is B次元官网网址渉appyB次元官网网址� because he smokes cannabis. How much more sacrilegious can one get?

Please make a clear statement that such bigotry is not welcome in Sidney in 2020.

Michael Madrone

Ngakpa Buddhist Centre