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Follow on Google News | Christian-Hindu-Buddhist leaders seek apology from Taylor Swift for trivializing "karma"By: USOH Senior Episcopal priest in Connecticut Father Thomas W. Blake, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, renowned Buddhist priest Rev. Matthew T. Fisher, Senior United Methodist Pastor Rev. Dawn M. Blundell; in a joint statement today, said that while Hindu and Buddhist seekers and devotees took the concept of karma very seriously; Swift seemed to have irreverently trivialized it in her "Karma" song in newly released album "Midnights". Swift handled "karma" frivolously; Doctrine of karma had been pervasive in Hindu thought for thousands of years and found expression in ancient Hindu scriptures like Brhadaranyaka-Chandogya- Shvetashvatara and other Upanishads, Bhagavad-Gita, Puranas, Dharmasastra, Shatapatha Brahmana; and various sages delved into it. Even Lord Krishna in ancient Bhagavad-Gita talked about karma yoga, the active path of selfless service. But Swift treated it very flippantly, without any regard to the feelings of devotees; Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated. Rev. Fisher emphasizes that a 2,600-year-old faith should not be trivialized for profit, but Swift chose to debase and thus harm the entire Buddhist tradition with her ignorant cultural appropriation in this deeply careless and hurtful song. In the Pali sutra, "The Great Exposition of Karma", Lord Buddha clearly shows that the Law of Karma is the most powerful natural law in the universe and sentient beings ignore it at their peril. Our actions plant seeds and those seeds bear fruit. We welcome Swift's belief in karma, which seems like having a colossal place in Swift's cosmos; but she should have handled the concept more appropriately, responsibly and thoughtfully; Singers-songwriters should not be in the business of trivializing serious spiritual concepts, religious appropriation and sacrilege. Insensitive handling of faith traditions sometimes resulted in pillaging serious spiritual doctrines and revered symbols, and thus hurting the devotees; Blake, Zed, Fisher, Blundell stated. Rajan Zed further said that Hindus welcomed the entertainers to immerse in Hinduism and create projects about/around Hindu doctrines; but taking it seriously and respectfully and not for refashioning/ End
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