I have been to many countries in Asia, with Taiwan being one of them. If you do not mind, Jessie, let me give you my perspective from a western Lao Wai male point of perspectives.
You know, praying to the almighty God or any numerous Gods for wealth, health, love, spiritual power or other types of power is one thing.
We all live in a material world after all.
So how can anyone live in a world, a material world which screams for everyone to embrace materialism, without praying for or actually FIGHTING for more wealth, health, love, spiritual power and/or all other material goodies?
In my humble view.. these are the two critical important sides of the same coin..
1) In such a material world like ours, do you think it is right for any monks or nuns, Tibetan Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, Daoism, etc.. to preach to the masses that all of us must renounce our material lives?
The BUDDao people, I mean the Buddhist Daoist people preach everyone to be non-attached to wealth, health, love, power etc.
Hmmm.. I wonder how much of a fighter you are.. a fighter for all things good in life.. which are of course wealth, health, love, power and a whole lot more.. if you are non-attached to any material aspect of our world ..
2) On the other hand, I see Tibetan Buddhists, Chinese Buddhists, even Daoists preaching to everyone that if they pray to the Buddhas and the Dao, then everyone will be rewarded with endless wealth, health, love, power, etc.
Just examine this exerpt from the Medicine Buddha sutra.. http://www.fodian.net/world/0450.html ..
"Playing musical instruments and singing praises, they should circumambulate to the right of the Buddha's image. Moreover, they should recall the merit and virtue of that Tathagata's past vows. They should read and recite this Sutra, ponder its meaning, and lecture on and explain it. Then they will obtain whatever they seek: Those who seek long life will attain longevity; those who seek wealth will gain wealth; those who seek an official position will obtain it; and those who seek a son or a daughter will have one."
3) Isn't this the most contradictory of all Buddhist Teachings? You teach everyone to renounce materialism of wealth, love, health, power, etc..
On the other hand, you teach everyone that they will gain wealth, love, health, power, etc. if they whole-heartedly embrace the teachings of the Buddha and pray whole-heartedly to the Buddhas for all manner of material goods..
4) In Taiwan, they even have all manner of spiritual and religion television talk-shows about how anyone and everyone can attain all manner of material goodies of wealth, health, love, power, etc just by praying to the gods in the Taiwanese Temples constantly.
However I don't see Taiwan as the richest country in the world. How many rich Taiwanese are there compared to the Western Billionaires?
