The Ashes of Advertisement

     My particular religious finding was surprisingly founded down the block of my apartment building in Flushing, Queens on Prince Street where I have been residing for the past five years. It is a temple known by the name of "The Temple of Mercy Charity" on 37th Avenue. However, the religious temple is not what I am going to be focusing on as the religious artifact. Rather, the unique religious aspect(s) I am going to draw attention to is the the implicit "advertisement" technique they are using, whether intentional or accidental, that has undoubtedly been drawing the attention of many passerby. It was something that I saw, smelled, and felt nearly every week as I passed by on 37th Avenue. The incense that was being burnt during the daily ceremonies that would take place a couple of times throughout the day (mostly in the afternoon) would elicit a strong smell noticed by any passerby on the block.  Often times, traces of the ash of the incense coming from the gorgeous central golden urn visible once the front doors were open, would be blown onto my skin as I walked by the front doors. One practice I found unusual was that it left its doors open during the time of their ceremonies. This would potentially draw the attention of buddhists and non-buddhists alike, simply by the strong smell, clear view of the gorgeous golden urn, and occasional brush of ash on windy days.

     From my perspective, this resembled a softer version of the Methodist Camp Revival Meeting that I read about within The Damnation of Theron Ware. The similarities present were that both the Methodist Revival groups and the Buddhist group in this temple do not mind that everything they do and partake in is clearly visible to all those who pass. Both show disregard for any judgements and critique that any passerby might possibly have. If anything the chants and incantations spoken by the Buddhists within their ceremonies remain as resounding as ever. However, it is in some way advantageous to them that this is a neighborhood predominantly populated by Chinese people, which make up the majority of those who practice Buddhism. Of course, there are aren't any camping onlookers who spend their time mocking them as this temple is fixated in a civilized urban setting whereas the Methodist Revival was situated in the woods in tents. As long as there are no complaints about the strong incense and the attractive golden urn does not get stolen, I see no reason why the temple should not continue to keep their doors open. If anything, I would say most passerby who are religiously open may be drawn towards it in wonder simply by how beautiful and magnificent the urn is and how "open" the temple religion seems to be. Often times, I feel that the open-ness of a religion is an essential characteristic that it must have to draw the most followers. If a certain religion does not seem open, how would it hope to convince potential followers to open up to it? The Temple of Mercy and Charity seems to take this important first step in the mutually open relationship any successful religious conversion requires in keeping its doors open during ceremonies. This temple takes that concept of open-ness and applies it physically. I would even go as far to say that they are proudly pronouncing their religion across the Flushing neighborhood.