Founding teacher at Las Cruces center hopes it's just being "borrowed."

A 40- to 50-pound statue of the Buddha went missing some time late Sunday or early Monday from the Zen Garden in front of the Zen Center in Las Cruces, and the center's founding teacher hopes whoever took it finds peace, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported.

The Rev. Harvey So Daiho Hilbert-roshi, a Clear Mind Zen abbot and founding teacher of the Zen Center of Las Cruces, told the Sun-News he doubts he'll involve police in the matter, saying they have more urgent matters to deal with.

"And what could they do?" Hilbert asked. "Come over and say, `Yes, it is missing,'?"

"May the person or persons responsible for taking our Buddha find peace," Hilbert told the paper. "It's a wonderful image, the seated meditating Buddha. It's a peaceful and serene image. I would hope it would bring peace to the person who's gazing on the Buddha today. But it does leave a hole."

Hilbert told the Sun-News that the statue that has graced the front of the Zen Center at 706 South Mesquite St. for more than eight years is more than just an ornament.

"This statue is of the same significance as a crucifix in a Catholic church or a Torah scroll in a synagogue," said Hilbert, who told the paper he prefers to think the Buddha is just being borrowed.

Hilbert said he hopes the person or persons who took the statue realize it's more than a mere ornament and the statue finds its way home, the Sun-News said.

"It would be nice if the Buddha returned," said Hilbert, who, according to the Zen Center's Web site, can be reached at (505) 521-3711. 

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