11.01.2017

The head of FIDE: "Religion is incompatible with alcohol and drugs"

A prosecutor's office of the Kemerovo region of the Russian Federation has detected the case of insulting the feelings of believers in Novokuznetsk Buddha-Bar restaurant, where diners were dancing in front of Buddha statue. As a result, the bar owners were served an order to eliminate the violations of the law.

FIDE President, the keeper of the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha Kirsan, Ilyumzhinov told the National News Service that the use of religious symbols in the interior of the nightclub was a provocation.

"Mixing religion and places of entertainment is like a cross between a snake and a hedgehog. Either you come to enjoy yourself or to get immersed into the teachings of the Buddha. There should be appropriate food, music, incenses that create a certain state of mind. Of course, alcohol, dancing and striptease cause negative emotions in believers, as in the case of Pussy Riot dancing in the Orthodox Church," said Ilyumzhinov.
"I did not see the Novokuznetsk bar. But I was in the Buddha-Bar on the Tsvetnoy Boulevard in Moscow. Instead of Buddha there was nice Chinese grandad - Hotei, wish-fulfilling, if one pats his belly. This mythical character is often confused with the Buddha, but they have nothing in common," said the head of FIDE.
"The owners of the restaurant should be asked about the reason why they put the Buddha statue. To attract the believers is one thing and to make a night club is quite another. My advice is to define the concept. If it is an entertainment place, then put Michael Jackson there. Buddhism sets people on meditation and cannot be associated with alcohol, drugs or cigarettes," he said.
According to Ilyumzhinov, it is permissible to use the Buddha image in the specialty restaurants, without meat or alcohol on the menu and where all religious paraphernalia aims to create an appropriate surrounding for the Buddhists.