Showing posts with label Buddhists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Buddhists. Show all posts
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Courtney
Hello and Happy Saturday!
First up I wish to thank Ian Crossland for his wonderful interview last week. Thanks so much for sharing with us all Ian!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Courtney. Courtney is a Buddhist and I know you'll enjoy her interview as well!
Here Is Courtney's Introduction:
I am thirty-one years old and live in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was raised in a Christian environment and have been generally encouraged to think for myself. I’ve enjoyed talking about religion since I was twelve years old, and have often felt like an outsider because of that! After high school, I was a nanny for a family that practiced Judaism. During that time I went to meetings about theosophy. I also explored existentialism and atheism during this time. Later in college and afterwards, I practiced Christianity, following along with my then-husband’s religion. Afterwards, I explored Buddhism and practiced meditation. I spent last year teaching in a private Islamic school. So I like to think that these experiences have exposed me to many different religions and perspectives on life; I’m so grateful to have had the opportunities to explore these different outlooks on life! I blog at http://tosomeonelikeminded.blogspot.com.
1) What religion do you practice?
I’m not sure I would say I practice a religion—I’m a very lazy religious practicioner—but I consider my religion to be a mix of Buddhism, Christianity, and atheism. I would probably say that I’m a practicing Buddhist because I meditate and try to bring myself to the present moment whenever I notice that I’ve lost that moment. Buddhism probably encompasses my viewpoint, but I feel very uncomfortable calling myself a Buddhist because then I either feel pretentious or ignorant.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I was raised in a Christian church and I converted to existentialism in high school. After high school, I spent some time studying theosophy. Then I went back to believing in Christianity. That period lasted a while and then I began practicing meditation and Buddhist principals in my late twenties. Right now I find a lot of reassurance through Buddhism, and I go to a Methodist church when the mood strikes. I also have fun believing that it’s all absurd (most of the art I love arises from thinking about life’s absurdity). I’ve done a lot of sifting through ideas that I once loved and came to reject and then loving ideas I used to reject (oftentimes over and over again). I think, in all, I’ve converted to allowing myself to let religion take the role I want it to take (and not the role I think it should take, based on my background, beliefs, etc.). So, I do think religion is important because, to me, religion is how we are framing our worldview.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
Oh, you have to be a radical observer if you’re going to do religion this way! Pema Chodron writes that you should stick with one boat (one religion) because you’re going to find what you need no matter what you observe. I’ve decided that my boat is my own boat; and if you’re going to stick with your own thing, then you need to be critical and heartfelt about everything that comes your way. I think that’s a radical and liberal process.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I chose this radical observance because I think it’s the only way that makes sense to me. I tend to think that Orthodox and conservative views stick to what a book says or what clergy say. I can’t put a lot of belief in books or people because meaning is so slippery and both, in my opinion, are fallible. So I choose to be liberal because I think it’s a way to think for myself and agree or disagree with things that come my way.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
I have no idea what happens. I know that our body particles will find their way into the Earth again; I know my body is made up of various other particles. As for the spirit, I just simply don’t know. I love the idea of reincarnation. I don’t really believe in a reward/punishment system, other than the concept of reaping what one sows. But I haven’t really found a direct relationship between reaping and sowing—usually things are more complex.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
When I was young, I heard the phrase that we make our own heaven and we make our own hell. As a kid, I took this to mean that my heaven didn’t have to be a boring place, like church made it out to be. As I’ve gotten older, I see that we don’t have to wait until we die to have a heaven or hell. So I do think everyone makes it into heaven here on Earth; or they don’t and they make their own existence a hell. In such cases, I think this makes someone closer to heaven because you learn (eventually, I believe) another way to exist in your world. I do believe that everyone makes their own world however they want it to be. And I don’t believe that any form of afterlife is going to exclude some people.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
Well, I need a religion that is smart because there are religions that ask its adherents to take certain texts literally. A literal view of many religious tracts mean that women, for one, are subservient—I refuse that position. A literal view frequently means, too, that there are loads of contradictions that people don’t know how to sift through and they do so without logic. I don’t think religion is a logical thing, but I do think logic is a type of religion. So I need a religion that can support all aspects of my rational and emotional sides; I need a religion that promotes curiosity and values the material world without taking that world too seriously.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
I really like Lent and the idea of doing without in order to prepare for a rebirth. I try giving up something little so I can observe my patterns of responding to the world. I love Easter for its symbolism, but I don’t do much to celebrate—maybe cook a nice meal. I enjoy celebrating Christmas with my family; everyone has his/her own views and we’ll read the Bible before opening presents. Now that I’m taking time thinking of this, pretty much any holy day involves eating an involved meal. Maybe food is my first religion?!
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
I would have to or I would have no friends!
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes, and I think it’s very exciting to do so. I’ve had the privilege to nanny for a Jewish family, and I enjoyed celebrating Rosh Hashanah and Hanukkah with them. While teaching at an Islamic school, and I tried my hand at fasting during Ramadan and then celebrating during Eid. I celebrate Christmas, and I don’t generally feel like an insider during that holiday. I like when others are excited about something, so in this sense it’s fun to be around different faiths during holy days. I like learning why others would do things.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I think the burqa is different from the hijab, which covers a woman’s hair, but not the face, like the burqa does. Even before war in Afghanistan began, a fellow undergrad wore a burqa to raise awareness about the Taliban and what women in Afghanistan faced. During one talk, she let us take turns wearing the burka, and I was horrified by how it felt. It was heavy and I felt invisible. I know I have a Western perspective, but I think burqas are repressive and I think they should be discouraged.
Where I worked, all Muslim girls/women needed to veil once they were in the fifth grade. I think if the goal is to promote female modesty, then this is (frankly) a poor practice because women still look beautiful in a hijab and there are still ways to decorate your garments to distinguish yourself from other women. I don’t think it should be mandatory for girls or women to wear the veil; I think it should be a choice. I see some girls who struggle with their hijab—they hate it! And I know plenty of women who embrace the veil. I just think putting choice at the forefront of the issue is what’s important.
In America, I think fretting over Shariah Law is asinine. I think it’s pure fear of Islam and Middle Eastern cultures. Oklahoma, where I live, had a vote on outlawing Shariah Law; I found this embarrassing and a waste of money, which is always on the forefront of political conservatives’ lips, but not their practices (in my opinion). I’m not knowledgeable about Shariah Law, but I know it’s not going to supersede any local, state, or federal laws.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
I don’t think we should trust systems that discriminate on the basis of gender. It’s real hard to believe a system that tells me and/or shows me that men can do things I can’t. From my own experience I see that men are no more special than women—I honestly don’t think this should have to be said in 2012! While I was married, I was part of a Christian denomination that had just, in the ‘70s, allowed women to hold office. It was interesting to see these arguments in comparison to their discussion on whether openly gay individuals should hold office.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
There is gender segregation where I worked, and I didn’t like it. That’s just my opinion, though, and I understand arguments for and against gender segregation. I think segregation doesn’t allow those in positions of power to learn as much as they otherwise could. And this ignorance affects everyone, sometimes to a very detrimental end.
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
I have long been for abortion and gay marriage, and I couldn’t understand my Christian friends telling me that I was wrong for believing in these things. This is partly what turns me against Christianity. Religion very much affects my everyday life. I try to approach everything with a sense of gratitude. I try to worship by smiling and by being in the moment. I try to end my own suffering and to promote happiness and joy. I very much feel that there is something larger than myself at work in the world, and I feel comforted by this thought. But I know that even if there was nothing larger than me that I would still want to live my life the way I’m living it now. It’s difficult for me to make decisions and so when I put happiness first, things become easier. That’s how my religion works in my life.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I would be bummed if I had a child who was a conservative adherent to a religion. And if s/he was marrying into a conservative faith, I would worry that s/he wasn’t making her/his own decisions. Similarly, if I had a child who didn’t have some thoughts about religion, I might worry that I raised a selfish person.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
I think heaven and hell is what we make of it. I’m less concerned about what might happen in the future compared to what is actually happening right now. And, right now, many people are suffering, and I think that’s a hellish existence. There are many ways out of that type of existence, and I believe everyone should have the right to find out what works for them.
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
I think a whole bunch of Christians aren’t practicing in loving each other or in turning the other cheek. I don’t think there are a whole lot of people speaking up for mixing together a bunch of religious practices. I see many atheists who profess to not believe in anything, but then pursue that idea with some vigor . . . I tend to think that their denial of a god becomes their religion. I also see some Buddhists who talk a good talk, but don’t put into practice what they say, either. But I don’t really hear Buddhists talking about how others should live their lives, and I respect that fact. I look up to religious thinkers like Pema Chodron and Thich Naht Han. And I look up to good writers and musicians—that’s probably where I draw my main source of religious fulfillment!
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
I have had people not talk to me because they disagreed with my views. But I haven’t had crimes committed against me. Unless ignorance could be classified as a crime--I’ve had a lot of that thrown my way (but probably not intentionally)!
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
When it does, then I change my views. I can’t believe in some things Paul has said about women, for example. When something feels bad or dumb to me, then I am learning to devalue it and find something that feels better and promotes my true nature.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes and no. I think it’s important to find peace of mind and I think the pursuit of that is a religious pursuit. I think not having peace of mind is a good place from which to seek out some peace. I don’t ever feel content or that I know all aspects of my religion, but I find that comforting because it’s a sign I’m still growing.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
I do believe in reincarnation partly because it’s a fun belief to hold. Sometimes I imagine what other lives I may have lived in order to explain the life I have now. This helps me learn why I do some things I do. It helps me make some sense out of what is, really, either a completely absurd or absolutely lucky life! I like to think of doing my best now so that I can get even more out of my next life. I’d hate to screw things up for me in the future! Basically I think reincarnation is a fun mind game and it promotes a positive morality. I don’t really think it matters a whole lot whether or not we can prove reincarnation exists. It doesn’t hurt me to believe in reincarnation—in fact, I think it helps a lot.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Harry (Buddhist name: Hanrei Banzan)
Hello and Happy Saturday!
First up I wish to thank Joel Holopainen for his wonderful interview last week. I learned much from you and I thank you for that. Thanks Joel!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Harry (Buddhist name: Hanrei Banzan).
Harry is a Buddhist and I know you'll enjoy his interview as well!
Here Is Harry's Introduction:
I'm a Zen Buddhist practitioner based in Ireland. I received the Bodhisattva Precepts from my teacher a few years ago here in Ireland and was given the Buddhist name 'Hanrei Banzan'. I practice zazen (seated meditation) specifically 'shikantaza' ('just thoroughly sitting'), sometimes referred to as the 'method-less method' of Zen. Part of the practice is integrating the wide open view of zazen into our daily life. I study the teachings of Zen Master Dogen, a gifted 13th Century monk and teacher, and also the wider Chinese and Japanese Zen literature including koans and sutras.
My main blog is: http://bodhiarmour.blogspot.com/
1) What religion do you practice?
I practice Buddhism. More specifically I practice the 'Dharma', as the Buddha did not intend to start a 'cult of Buddha' but sought to teach the 'Dharma', which is a word that predates Buddhism. 'Dharma' is, in a sense, a complex word. In Buddhism it can refer to the Buddhist teachings themselves, but in the most direct sense it means the 'law-of-thusness', or 'things-as-they-are'. It's not a law confined to a principle or just one philosophical outlook or world view; it's the law of 'how every thing is' that we become familiar with intuitively through our own zazen practice.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I wasn't raised a Buddhist, but I don't really feel that I 'converted' as such as Buddhism essentially doesn't require people to adopt or reject personal beliefs. I consider taking the Buddhist Precepts as an expression of intention to practice Buddhism, but it's often considered that one formally becomes a Buddhist when one takes the Precepts. Personally I think that one is a Buddhist, or, even more to the point, a buddha, when one practices as a buddha (and people everywhere of all faiths or none do this all the time).
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
Yes, there are different degrees of observance within Buddhism. I think that is fair to say. There are a lot of different schools and sects in Buddhism; some cater for people who want to actually practice what the Buddha is said to have practiced, and some are for people who feel devotion to the Buddha and who like to more casually venerate the Buddha and/or various Buddhist figures, for example. This distinction becomes blurred in instances though, and so it's not a hard-and-fast division.
Within Zen there are those whom are drawn to the more institutionalised, formal, and/or traditional expressions of practice (with more detailed ceremony, insistence on robes, correct protocol, hierarchy etc), while there are those who prefer to practice more independently in less formal groups or on their own. It really caters for all, and all these perceived differences are only provisional as, for example, some people can realise a great freedom of expression in the seemingly fixed 'traditional' forms, or they can practice devotional practices very sincerely in the same manner as others may practice zazen/ meditation.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I tend to be quite independent in my practice and in my thinking about what Buddhism is. This is partly because I don't belong to a particular group as such. I practice with various Zen groups. There are no groups active in my locality, so I have to travel to practice with others. Also, I tend to feel that my own practice, particularly zazen, is the pivotal matter, and that can be done anywhere at any time. I don't see that it requires me to be part of a group, and I tend to be wary of some of the dynamics that I've seen come to the fore in groups, particularly in religious groups. I think 'group think' and competition can quickly be contrary to the original intention of Buddhism and other religions.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
Buddhism has traditionally had heaven realms and hell realms. Interestingly, being born in a heavenly realm is traditionally considered to be inferior to being born a human as it is easier to practice and realise the Dharma as a human. More recently 'heaven' and 'hell' in Buddhism has been rationalised to explain the various states of mind that we create for ourselves (a particularly bad 'hell realm' is associated with anger, for example). It's not something I think of much. It seems better to me to worry about this life here-and-now than to worry about the next one! Buddhism says that we're born and die in a sense many times every moment... it also says that, essentially, we are not born and we don't die as we are already that which is much, much bigger than what we tend to think we are .
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I don't know about heaven, but if people are not happy (people, that is, who have a reasonably stable life and who are not being abused by others or otherwise sorely persecuted etc) then it may be that they themselves are the reason for their own unhappiness. Buddhism generally puts a lot of responsibility for our situation squarely onto us ourselves.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It's practical and, at it's best (at it's core), it is not bullshitty. It also (again, when it's at its best) puts the responsibility of becoming 'saved' or 'redeemed' or whatever squarely on me and my own efforts. I think that is very sensible and realistic.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
There are days like the Buddha's birthday, and the celebration of his final passing etc. But they differ from country to country in the Buddhist world. I don't observe them much unless I'm at a sesshin (zazen retreat) which happens to coincide with a holiday in which case I'll be involved in the ceremonies like everyone else.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes... until they prove me wrong at least! :-)
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes, I would consider it if it was appropriate. I wouldn't want to just 'go through the motions' of some ceremony if I thought it made a mockery of other traditions, but if it was an expression of mutual respect and understanding then I would have no trouble in participating. I think that all genuine religion, when it is practiced sincerely and when it leads us beyond our small notions of our selves and of each other, aspires to the same thing.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I don't know much about it really, but I tend towards a secular model for our Western societies. I feel that a secular model, where no religion is promoted in public buildings/spaces, is better for societies that are increasingly diverse. A secular society can be respectful of people's religious observances, it needn't disrespect them, it can promote acceptance and respect in other ways. At the same time, people have to take responsibility for their own personal beliefs, and the consequences of them, in wider society. I acknowledge that other cultures and societies have different observances about this. When different cultures/societies meet, there will have to be some sort of discussion and resolution. That process will be different every time I think as the situation will be different every time. I hope that I keep an open mind on the subject.
Islam has gotten a lot of 'bad press' recently. I think that is a shame. Certain sections of the media, certain politicians, and certain 'religious' people have been very irresponsible in their portrayal of Islam. They have simplified the situation in some very emotive ways. We need more sincere dialogue with Islam in the West, and more accurate portrayals of the diversity within Islam, so as to dispel the myths and assumptions that have been created. There are different interpretations of Shariah Law within Islam, for example, but how often do we hear the voice of Islam moderates on our TVs?
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Yes, women can be Zen nuns, teachers, Roshis, etc etc. Traditionally it was male dominated. I'm glad it's changing, because I think women are generally more sensible than men in many regards (at least, they generally seem more sensible than me!) I think they may be hardwired to be more emotionally evolved.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
When we are on sesshin (Zen retreat) generally the men and women sleep in different dorms. This makes me sad because I have to sleep in a room filled with men: Men snore more... and women smell better!!!
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
Zen practice does affect the way I think in some indirect ways... more in my reactions to my thinking than my thinking itself maybe. I don't take my own views and opinions as seriously as I used to. Practicing zazen tends to give us a broader viewpoint on our own views/opinions. In relation to abortion I would say that it is a very complex situation where I hope we can work towards supporting women before making, and after making, their choice. I think women who are presented with this choice (regardless of what I think of the choice) are at all sorts of risks. That should be a big concern. A lot of the ''Pro-Life" campaigns seem so concerned for the life of the unborn foetus and not concerned at all with the life of the mother: The 'moral question' seems to dominate. As to gay marriage; I think it's fine and should be an option if it makes people more content and fulfilled... Marriage, of course, doesn't always do that!
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
No problem. Religion would likely be the last thing I'd worry about. If the potential spouse was a zealot of ANY religion I'd be very vocally worried though.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No.
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
I prefer to think of it in terms of all the 'infidels' who are unwittingly practicing the Dharma! ...When we're totally disarmed by the wonder or terror of life; when we're caused to see outside the little bubble of our own thoughts and feelings; when some aspect of our life is so engaging that it swallows us up whole in its Big Embrace; when we unknowingly thrust out a hand of assistance to some stranger...
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Yes, but it's generally just my own 'stuff'. Sometimes I feel like I'm owed something more, more, more... but, without fail, it's due to my own faulty thoughts and feelings.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes. The practice of Zen is peace of mind, even within the chaos of our selves and the world. My mind isn't always peaceful though, accepting that is a big part of the practice.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
This is a sticky one in Buddhism. A lot of Buddhist argue about this. If reincarnation is real then it doesn't matter if I believe in it or not! Buddhism posits that there is no 'self' to reincarnate; that is, there is nothing that I usually identify as 'me' that survives death. At the same time, in Buddhist practice, we identify with everything, with that which was never born, and that never dies... so, in a sense, belief in this or that is a sort of trivial sideshow.
Life is the truth, death is the truth and the truth never starts and never ceases. The head of the lineage I ordained in, Gudo Nishijima Sensei, a grand older Japanese Gentleman of 91 years, says that he is very happy because every day he is living in God.
First up I wish to thank Joel Holopainen for his wonderful interview last week. I learned much from you and I thank you for that. Thanks Joel!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Harry (Buddhist name: Hanrei Banzan).
Harry is a Buddhist and I know you'll enjoy his interview as well!
Here Is Harry's Introduction:
I'm a Zen Buddhist practitioner based in Ireland. I received the Bodhisattva Precepts from my teacher a few years ago here in Ireland and was given the Buddhist name 'Hanrei Banzan'. I practice zazen (seated meditation) specifically 'shikantaza' ('just thoroughly sitting'), sometimes referred to as the 'method-less method' of Zen. Part of the practice is integrating the wide open view of zazen into our daily life. I study the teachings of Zen Master Dogen, a gifted 13th Century monk and teacher, and also the wider Chinese and Japanese Zen literature including koans and sutras.
My main blog is: http://bodhiarmour.blogspot.com/
1) What religion do you practice?
I practice Buddhism. More specifically I practice the 'Dharma', as the Buddha did not intend to start a 'cult of Buddha' but sought to teach the 'Dharma', which is a word that predates Buddhism. 'Dharma' is, in a sense, a complex word. In Buddhism it can refer to the Buddhist teachings themselves, but in the most direct sense it means the 'law-of-thusness', or 'things-as-they-are'. It's not a law confined to a principle or just one philosophical outlook or world view; it's the law of 'how every thing is' that we become familiar with intuitively through our own zazen practice.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I wasn't raised a Buddhist, but I don't really feel that I 'converted' as such as Buddhism essentially doesn't require people to adopt or reject personal beliefs. I consider taking the Buddhist Precepts as an expression of intention to practice Buddhism, but it's often considered that one formally becomes a Buddhist when one takes the Precepts. Personally I think that one is a Buddhist, or, even more to the point, a buddha, when one practices as a buddha (and people everywhere of all faiths or none do this all the time).
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
Yes, there are different degrees of observance within Buddhism. I think that is fair to say. There are a lot of different schools and sects in Buddhism; some cater for people who want to actually practice what the Buddha is said to have practiced, and some are for people who feel devotion to the Buddha and who like to more casually venerate the Buddha and/or various Buddhist figures, for example. This distinction becomes blurred in instances though, and so it's not a hard-and-fast division.
Within Zen there are those whom are drawn to the more institutionalised, formal, and/or traditional expressions of practice (with more detailed ceremony, insistence on robes, correct protocol, hierarchy etc), while there are those who prefer to practice more independently in less formal groups or on their own. It really caters for all, and all these perceived differences are only provisional as, for example, some people can realise a great freedom of expression in the seemingly fixed 'traditional' forms, or they can practice devotional practices very sincerely in the same manner as others may practice zazen/ meditation.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I tend to be quite independent in my practice and in my thinking about what Buddhism is. This is partly because I don't belong to a particular group as such. I practice with various Zen groups. There are no groups active in my locality, so I have to travel to practice with others. Also, I tend to feel that my own practice, particularly zazen, is the pivotal matter, and that can be done anywhere at any time. I don't see that it requires me to be part of a group, and I tend to be wary of some of the dynamics that I've seen come to the fore in groups, particularly in religious groups. I think 'group think' and competition can quickly be contrary to the original intention of Buddhism and other religions.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
Buddhism has traditionally had heaven realms and hell realms. Interestingly, being born in a heavenly realm is traditionally considered to be inferior to being born a human as it is easier to practice and realise the Dharma as a human. More recently 'heaven' and 'hell' in Buddhism has been rationalised to explain the various states of mind that we create for ourselves (a particularly bad 'hell realm' is associated with anger, for example). It's not something I think of much. It seems better to me to worry about this life here-and-now than to worry about the next one! Buddhism says that we're born and die in a sense many times every moment... it also says that, essentially, we are not born and we don't die as we are already that which is much, much bigger than what we tend to think we are .
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I don't know about heaven, but if people are not happy (people, that is, who have a reasonably stable life and who are not being abused by others or otherwise sorely persecuted etc) then it may be that they themselves are the reason for their own unhappiness. Buddhism generally puts a lot of responsibility for our situation squarely onto us ourselves.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It's practical and, at it's best (at it's core), it is not bullshitty. It also (again, when it's at its best) puts the responsibility of becoming 'saved' or 'redeemed' or whatever squarely on me and my own efforts. I think that is very sensible and realistic.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
There are days like the Buddha's birthday, and the celebration of his final passing etc. But they differ from country to country in the Buddhist world. I don't observe them much unless I'm at a sesshin (zazen retreat) which happens to coincide with a holiday in which case I'll be involved in the ceremonies like everyone else.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes... until they prove me wrong at least! :-)
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes, I would consider it if it was appropriate. I wouldn't want to just 'go through the motions' of some ceremony if I thought it made a mockery of other traditions, but if it was an expression of mutual respect and understanding then I would have no trouble in participating. I think that all genuine religion, when it is practiced sincerely and when it leads us beyond our small notions of our selves and of each other, aspires to the same thing.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I don't know much about it really, but I tend towards a secular model for our Western societies. I feel that a secular model, where no religion is promoted in public buildings/spaces, is better for societies that are increasingly diverse. A secular society can be respectful of people's religious observances, it needn't disrespect them, it can promote acceptance and respect in other ways. At the same time, people have to take responsibility for their own personal beliefs, and the consequences of them, in wider society. I acknowledge that other cultures and societies have different observances about this. When different cultures/societies meet, there will have to be some sort of discussion and resolution. That process will be different every time I think as the situation will be different every time. I hope that I keep an open mind on the subject.
Islam has gotten a lot of 'bad press' recently. I think that is a shame. Certain sections of the media, certain politicians, and certain 'religious' people have been very irresponsible in their portrayal of Islam. They have simplified the situation in some very emotive ways. We need more sincere dialogue with Islam in the West, and more accurate portrayals of the diversity within Islam, so as to dispel the myths and assumptions that have been created. There are different interpretations of Shariah Law within Islam, for example, but how often do we hear the voice of Islam moderates on our TVs?
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Yes, women can be Zen nuns, teachers, Roshis, etc etc. Traditionally it was male dominated. I'm glad it's changing, because I think women are generally more sensible than men in many regards (at least, they generally seem more sensible than me!) I think they may be hardwired to be more emotionally evolved.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
When we are on sesshin (Zen retreat) generally the men and women sleep in different dorms. This makes me sad because I have to sleep in a room filled with men: Men snore more... and women smell better!!!
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
Zen practice does affect the way I think in some indirect ways... more in my reactions to my thinking than my thinking itself maybe. I don't take my own views and opinions as seriously as I used to. Practicing zazen tends to give us a broader viewpoint on our own views/opinions. In relation to abortion I would say that it is a very complex situation where I hope we can work towards supporting women before making, and after making, their choice. I think women who are presented with this choice (regardless of what I think of the choice) are at all sorts of risks. That should be a big concern. A lot of the ''Pro-Life" campaigns seem so concerned for the life of the unborn foetus and not concerned at all with the life of the mother: The 'moral question' seems to dominate. As to gay marriage; I think it's fine and should be an option if it makes people more content and fulfilled... Marriage, of course, doesn't always do that!
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
No problem. Religion would likely be the last thing I'd worry about. If the potential spouse was a zealot of ANY religion I'd be very vocally worried though.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No.
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
I prefer to think of it in terms of all the 'infidels' who are unwittingly practicing the Dharma! ...When we're totally disarmed by the wonder or terror of life; when we're caused to see outside the little bubble of our own thoughts and feelings; when some aspect of our life is so engaging that it swallows us up whole in its Big Embrace; when we unknowingly thrust out a hand of assistance to some stranger...
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Yes, but it's generally just my own 'stuff'. Sometimes I feel like I'm owed something more, more, more... but, without fail, it's due to my own faulty thoughts and feelings.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes. The practice of Zen is peace of mind, even within the chaos of our selves and the world. My mind isn't always peaceful though, accepting that is a big part of the practice.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
This is a sticky one in Buddhism. A lot of Buddhist argue about this. If reincarnation is real then it doesn't matter if I believe in it or not! Buddhism posits that there is no 'self' to reincarnate; that is, there is nothing that I usually identify as 'me' that survives death. At the same time, in Buddhist practice, we identify with everything, with that which was never born, and that never dies... so, in a sense, belief in this or that is a sort of trivial sideshow.
Life is the truth, death is the truth and the truth never starts and never ceases. The head of the lineage I ordained in, Gudo Nishijima Sensei, a grand older Japanese Gentleman of 91 years, says that he is very happy because every day he is living in God.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Justin Whitaker
Hello and Happy Saturday!
I am a doctoral student in Buddhist Ethics splitting my time between Montana, England, and India, amongst other travels. I grew up and completed my first degree in Montana and went on to study in England. I made my first trip to India last year as a teacher of Buddhist Philosophy for Antioch University's Education Abroad program. I am grateful for my travels as they have enriched both my life and my teaching career. I am also an amateur photographer and marathon runner.
http://americanbuddhist.blogspot.com
1) What religion do you practice?
I practice Buddhism.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I am a convert. I basically eased into it with some courses at the University when I was 20 years old. With most Buddhists, especially in the West, there is no official 'conversion ceremony.' One simply 'takes refuge' in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha and that's it. Before converting I was an atheist or 'Freethinker' - very much interested and engaged with theological questions, but holding no particular religious beliefs.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
Yes, in Buddhism there are degrees of observance, but they are not well defined or codified. Some Buddhists uses these labels, borrowed from Western religions, in order to clarify their own type of practice.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
As a Buddhist in the West, I'm not sure exactly what my degree is. I'm rather orthodox and conservative in some of my understandings of concepts such as karma and rebirth, and moderate in my attempts to perfectly uphold the five precepts.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
In Buddhism, afterlife is generally conceived as rebirth for those who do not attain awakening in this life. Those who lived a poor life here will be reborn in a 'lower' realm as an animal, hungry ghost, or hell denizen (not too pretty). And of course the higher realms correspond with the human, titan, and godly realms. But it's fair to say that these are mainly states of mind, meaning that if we act horribly now, we will be consumed with either painfully desirous (hungry ghost) or angry (hell denizen) minds in the future, whether in a future literal life or not. This explanation also falls within the Buddha's main form of teaching which was pragmatic, psychological, and this-worldly. I believe that for the Buddha there was/is truth to the doctrine of rebirth, but I don't think we're meant to be too literal about it.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
It's not a given, but it IS the mission of thousands or millions of people out there called Bodhisattvas to get everyone into an awakened state. For now, all that holds us back is our own ignorance, fueled by and fueling our greed and anger. Once those are overcome, one is awakened, sees the connectedness of all beings, and vows - if not done already - to bring about the awakening of all others.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
I think it fits in the sense that I've always been a pretty laid back person and Buddhism has a reputation for fitting the peaceniks and 'it's all good man' hippy types. On the other hand it has offered powerful antidotes to my difficulties with anxiety and depression.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Buddhists across the world have a variety of holy days, most particularly vesak, the celebration of the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. But, like many Westerners, I am not particularly observant.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Most certainly, yes. I have had the great fortune of a great diversity of friends in all possible ways.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes, I would and have celebrated the holy days of people of other faiths. Being raised in a Christian society, Christian holidays such as Christmas are part of my culture. For me, Christmas is about family, joy, and sharing at the coldest, darkest time of the year. It happens to be a time adopted by early Christians and designated as the birth of their savior, but the holiday predates them and is observed in different, yet very similar ways around the world.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
On the one hand, I believe fully in the freedom of religion, all religions. But on the other hand I believe religion serves to lift people up to be their best selves. Thus for the burka I believe that those who choose to wear it should be allowed, so long as it is done freely with honest understanding of the social and political circumstances accompanying that choice. I have listened to Muslims discuss the burka, pro and con, and I hope that these discussions continue and percolate into the broader populace. Of course there are many nuances to the question, such as children wearing it, and the question of location. Shariah Law is even more complex! As with ancient Jewish or Christian texts, or even Buddhist sutras, I think it may be useful in the formation of laws in some societies. But again, all laws must serve to lead people to greater freedom and independence (or as my favorite philosopher would put it: away from heteronomy - literally 'ruled from the outside' - and toward autonomy, self-legislation).
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Yes. In the West, women hold equal footing as leaders in almost all branches of Buddhism (Tibetan being the exception). In Eastern countries, where Buddhism has taken root over the last 2500 years, the religion has mostly adopted the patriarchal structures of those countries. This is shifting though, slowly, mostly due to the influence of Western values in those Eastern countries.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No, absolutely not.
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
I hope that some elements, such as being able to return to my breath during a heated moment or developing all-pervading loving-kindness do affect all parts of my daily life, even if only minutely. But from the outside, one might not call me particularly 'Buddhist' in my daily activities. Even meditation, the hallmark of Western Buddhism, is generally only a weekly practice for me. On issues such as abortion and gay marriage I would imagine the views of my own family play as strong a roll as my religion does.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I would have no problem with that.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
Perhaps. What matters in Buddhism is not faith, but actions. Of course faith in such things as karma (that your actions will have consequences) might be essential in the beginning, what leads you on to a future in this realm or another are your choices and the actions that follow. Buddhism, by the way, speaks of acting with "body, speech, and mind," and also asserts that the mind is the most important, as actions (of body and speech) follow it "like a cart follows the ox."
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
I'm not sure I understand the first question, so I'll skip on to the second. In the West there are a variety of Buddhist leaders who speak for Buddhism. These range from monks such as H.H. the Dalai Lama and Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh to academics such as Robert Thurman or Charles Prebish, to a younger generation of Buddhists such as Rev. Danny Fisher and Vince Horn. These are just some of the ones I'm most familiar with, but many others pop up here and there. Most of them I think I agree with on most things - but I likely gravitate toward them for just that reason, in part. And Buddhism here in the West generally promotes free thinking, so whether I agree or not, as long as I am learning and developing greater insight into the world through these public faces, I am happy.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No, fortunately nothing of the sort.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No, absolutely not.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes, if and when I practice it and bring its principles into my life, I do tend to feel peace of mind.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Tricky question. In the literal sense of "me having lived in a past life and me coming back in a future one" I see no reason to hold this belief. But in a more nuanced sense of a continuous flow of experiences (physical and otherwise), arising and falling away in each instant, then there seems to be something like reincarnation happening all the time. As for the space in between, I'm not sure it's important to how I live my life day to day, so I'm happy to plead ignorance/agnosticism.
I'm glad to participate in this and wish you and your readers peace, happiness, and well-being!
I wish to thank Jenny for her enjoyable interview last week. Thanks for sharing your faith journey with us Jenny!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Justin Whitaker. Justin is a Buddhist and I know you'll enjoy his interview as well!
Here Is Justin Whitaker's Introduction:
I am a doctoral student in Buddhist Ethics splitting my time between Montana, England, and India, amongst other travels. I grew up and completed my first degree in Montana and went on to study in England. I made my first trip to India last year as a teacher of Buddhist Philosophy for Antioch University's Education Abroad program. I am grateful for my travels as they have enriched both my life and my teaching career. I am also an amateur photographer and marathon runner.
http://americanbuddhist.blogspot.com
1) What religion do you practice?
I practice Buddhism.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I am a convert. I basically eased into it with some courses at the University when I was 20 years old. With most Buddhists, especially in the West, there is no official 'conversion ceremony.' One simply 'takes refuge' in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha and that's it. Before converting I was an atheist or 'Freethinker' - very much interested and engaged with theological questions, but holding no particular religious beliefs.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
Yes, in Buddhism there are degrees of observance, but they are not well defined or codified. Some Buddhists uses these labels, borrowed from Western religions, in order to clarify their own type of practice.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
As a Buddhist in the West, I'm not sure exactly what my degree is. I'm rather orthodox and conservative in some of my understandings of concepts such as karma and rebirth, and moderate in my attempts to perfectly uphold the five precepts.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
In Buddhism, afterlife is generally conceived as rebirth for those who do not attain awakening in this life. Those who lived a poor life here will be reborn in a 'lower' realm as an animal, hungry ghost, or hell denizen (not too pretty). And of course the higher realms correspond with the human, titan, and godly realms. But it's fair to say that these are mainly states of mind, meaning that if we act horribly now, we will be consumed with either painfully desirous (hungry ghost) or angry (hell denizen) minds in the future, whether in a future literal life or not. This explanation also falls within the Buddha's main form of teaching which was pragmatic, psychological, and this-worldly. I believe that for the Buddha there was/is truth to the doctrine of rebirth, but I don't think we're meant to be too literal about it.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
It's not a given, but it IS the mission of thousands or millions of people out there called Bodhisattvas to get everyone into an awakened state. For now, all that holds us back is our own ignorance, fueled by and fueling our greed and anger. Once those are overcome, one is awakened, sees the connectedness of all beings, and vows - if not done already - to bring about the awakening of all others.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
I think it fits in the sense that I've always been a pretty laid back person and Buddhism has a reputation for fitting the peaceniks and 'it's all good man' hippy types. On the other hand it has offered powerful antidotes to my difficulties with anxiety and depression.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Buddhists across the world have a variety of holy days, most particularly vesak, the celebration of the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. But, like many Westerners, I am not particularly observant.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Most certainly, yes. I have had the great fortune of a great diversity of friends in all possible ways.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes, I would and have celebrated the holy days of people of other faiths. Being raised in a Christian society, Christian holidays such as Christmas are part of my culture. For me, Christmas is about family, joy, and sharing at the coldest, darkest time of the year. It happens to be a time adopted by early Christians and designated as the birth of their savior, but the holiday predates them and is observed in different, yet very similar ways around the world.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
On the one hand, I believe fully in the freedom of religion, all religions. But on the other hand I believe religion serves to lift people up to be their best selves. Thus for the burka I believe that those who choose to wear it should be allowed, so long as it is done freely with honest understanding of the social and political circumstances accompanying that choice. I have listened to Muslims discuss the burka, pro and con, and I hope that these discussions continue and percolate into the broader populace. Of course there are many nuances to the question, such as children wearing it, and the question of location. Shariah Law is even more complex! As with ancient Jewish or Christian texts, or even Buddhist sutras, I think it may be useful in the formation of laws in some societies. But again, all laws must serve to lead people to greater freedom and independence (or as my favorite philosopher would put it: away from heteronomy - literally 'ruled from the outside' - and toward autonomy, self-legislation).
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Yes. In the West, women hold equal footing as leaders in almost all branches of Buddhism (Tibetan being the exception). In Eastern countries, where Buddhism has taken root over the last 2500 years, the religion has mostly adopted the patriarchal structures of those countries. This is shifting though, slowly, mostly due to the influence of Western values in those Eastern countries.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No, absolutely not.
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
I hope that some elements, such as being able to return to my breath during a heated moment or developing all-pervading loving-kindness do affect all parts of my daily life, even if only minutely. But from the outside, one might not call me particularly 'Buddhist' in my daily activities. Even meditation, the hallmark of Western Buddhism, is generally only a weekly practice for me. On issues such as abortion and gay marriage I would imagine the views of my own family play as strong a roll as my religion does.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I would have no problem with that.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
Perhaps. What matters in Buddhism is not faith, but actions. Of course faith in such things as karma (that your actions will have consequences) might be essential in the beginning, what leads you on to a future in this realm or another are your choices and the actions that follow. Buddhism, by the way, speaks of acting with "body, speech, and mind," and also asserts that the mind is the most important, as actions (of body and speech) follow it "like a cart follows the ox."
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
I'm not sure I understand the first question, so I'll skip on to the second. In the West there are a variety of Buddhist leaders who speak for Buddhism. These range from monks such as H.H. the Dalai Lama and Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh to academics such as Robert Thurman or Charles Prebish, to a younger generation of Buddhists such as Rev. Danny Fisher and Vince Horn. These are just some of the ones I'm most familiar with, but many others pop up here and there. Most of them I think I agree with on most things - but I likely gravitate toward them for just that reason, in part. And Buddhism here in the West generally promotes free thinking, so whether I agree or not, as long as I am learning and developing greater insight into the world through these public faces, I am happy.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No, fortunately nothing of the sort.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No, absolutely not.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes, if and when I practice it and bring its principles into my life, I do tend to feel peace of mind.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Tricky question. In the literal sense of "me having lived in a past life and me coming back in a future one" I see no reason to hold this belief. But in a more nuanced sense of a continuous flow of experiences (physical and otherwise), arising and falling away in each instant, then there seems to be something like reincarnation happening all the time. As for the space in between, I'm not sure it's important to how I live my life day to day, so I'm happy to plead ignorance/agnosticism.
I'm glad to participate in this and wish you and your readers peace, happiness, and well-being!
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Bill Jiryu Webb
Hello and Happy Saturday!
http://digital-dharma.net
1) What religion do you practice?
I refer to myself as a Buddhist Ignostic. An ignostic is one who maintains that there can be no sensible discussion about the existence of god until we arrive at a definition upon which everyone can agree. Until that point, we are literally speaking nonsense. A Buddhist, of course, is one who attempts to follow the path and precepts outlined by the historic Buddha about 2500 years ago.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I would not call myself a convert, because I do not practice Buddhism as a religion. However, it does not conflict with any other belief system, to my way of thinking. I know observant Jews and Catholics who practice Zen, even a couple of Southern Baptists -- although I'm pretty sure they don't talk about it much at Sunday meetings.
One of the things that first drew me to Buddhism is the fact that it is the only major religion that does not proselytize, nor does it claim to give you something for nothing. One has to seek and work at Buddhist training, and it's a real pain in the ass for a while. Then you start to get the point, and see some results.
To me a religion involves things like beliefs, a metaphysical or supernatural reality, faith, dogma, ritual, prayer, salvation and eternal reward. I consider myself to be a spiritual person, but not religious. At all. I believe in the human spirit: love, compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, responsibility, contentment and occasional joy. These are things that bear fruit immediately. I don't trust the Big Banker In The Sky to pay me back when the note comes due.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
There are substantial degrees of disagreement within Buddhism regarding practice. All Buddhist faiths follow the Four Noble Truths, which culminate in the Eightfold Path, and all serious practitioners take precepts, which are guidelines for living similar to the Ten Commandments, but not mandatory nor punished by gods. Buddhists believe that bad behavior brings its own punishment, right here and often right now.
The differences that arise are principally over the degree to which mysticism should play a part. They range from Tibetan Buddhism, with its great variety of supra-natural beings, to some Zen sects which do not believe in a supernatural component at all (the position that I espouse). It should be noted that following the teachings of Buddha does not require a belief in the supernatural.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I don't know how to answer that. It's like asking a Baptist what position he would hold in the Catholic church. I make a real and sustained effort to follow the precepts and the other guidance that Buddhist philosophy provides. I have "taken refuge," (analagous to confirmation in some Western faiths), but my practice is largely solitary both of necessity and preference. I read, meditate regularly, and attempt to live according to my understanding of Buddhist ethics -- with varied degrees of success.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept).
Some Buddhists believe in reincarnation, althouth it was not a teaching of the Buddha. That got grafted on from the Hindu faith, and was tweaked by the Tibetans and the preceding Bo religion that so shaped their practice. Personally, I do not expect an afterlife or any form of survival after death. I believe that there are no dress rehearsals -- this is the Big Show, so you'd better play your part the best you can. That is not to say that I negate the possibility. I am not arrogant enough to believe that I have that answer, I simply find no evidence of it. I am trained as a scientist, and such concepts are not amenable to study, therefore can't be commented upon rationally.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I believe people get what they deserve. If I am a kind, pleasant person who treats others fairly, then I will attract that sort of person into my life and it will be good here and now. That is my reward for good behavior. If I behave badly, I will attract others like myself and will end up having to watch my back all the time, whether or not I become wealthy in the common sense of the word. Whether that extends to an afterlife, I can't say.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It is based on pure logic. Every idea of the basic Buddhist teachings can be examined with whatever kind of scrutiny one likes, and will always withstand the analysis. (I understand that many will disagree with that statement. To that I can only say that it is likely that their study of Buddhism may have some gaps in it.)
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Buddhis "holy days" celebrate things like the Solstices, the birth and death of the historical Buddha, and a variety of similar things. They are observed differently by various sects. I observe them by making an effort to live up to the precepts as closely as possible for that day.
I should probably include the Precepts I keep talking about, for the sake of clarity:
I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from ...
...harming living beings.
...taking things not freely given.
...sexual misconduct.
...false speech.
...intoxicating drinks and drugs causing heedlessness.
If one thinks deeply about those things, it becomes clear that they have a great deal of meaning beyond the simple words that make them up. For example, taking things not freely given also extends to cheating your boss by wasting time at work, and a lot of other stuff. One meditates; one learns; one applies. Sometimes.
These are all things that cloud the mind and prevent a clear perception of reality. The goal of Buddhism, vastly oversimplified, is to see reality and only reality -- to abolish delusion.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Some of them. I don't consider a person's faith to bear on friendship at all, unless it causes them to behave in ways that are detrimental to others. I find it difficult to be friends with that sort of person.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I do it frequently. It has nothing to do with me, in terms of practice, and it is an opportunity to be with friends during happy times.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I believe that things of that sort are a matter of personal choice, and I have no opinion on them per se. However, when they are forced upon others it is no longer a religious issue, but an issue of politics and/or control. I believe that forcing anyone to do something that they do not want to do is wrong. It is sometimes necessary, but there is always a degree of wrong, even if it is on both sides. The parallel thought to that is that we should all have the right to do as we please, as long as it does not interfere with anyone else's right to do as they please. As the Wiccans say, "And it harm none, do what thou wilt."
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
I would never belong to an organization that discriminates on the basis of sex, sexual preference, race or other aritificial ways of separating human beings. Some Buddhist sects allow women to attain the highest offices, many do not. In that respect, I believe they are behaving unskillfully. To the extent that I participate in formal religious activities, I do so in a Zen tradition that does not discriminate.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
See above.
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
I try to consider it in those decisions and activities where it is applicable, with greater or lesser success. I find no conflicts with those things because while I might deplore them and never consider them for myself, it is none of my business what others do, so long as it harms no one else. (Don't go there; I am a scientist, and I know the difference between undifferentiated cells and viable creatures, human or otherwise. It is not an issue that I debate.)
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
My children follow their own paths, which is fine with me. I don't consider religion to be a criterion for partnerships, although it can certainly complicate them if the parties allow it to do so.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
I think the idea of a loving god and hell is an oxymoron. That said, I don't believe in either.
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
Buddhists rarely claim to speak for others. They may offer teachings and opinions. In that regard I greatly respect His Holiness The Dalai Lama, The Venerable Thich Nhat Hahn, and I was a disciple and great fan of Abbot John Daido Loori, of the Mountains and Rivers Order, until his recent death.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Not as far as I am aware. I don't live my beliefs in such a way as to draw that kind of attention to myself.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Quite the contrary; it empowers me greatly.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
That is the whole point.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
See "ignostic," above. I don't think the issue can be discussed rationally, so there is no point in contemplating it. Death is a part of life. Life is what it's about. If there is an encore -- and I see no reason to believe there will be -- it will be a pleasant surprise. The whole point is to live so that it doesn't matter. Live a good life here, and it will be a satisfying life. Then if anyone's handing out medals beyond the curtain, you win again.
I wish to thank Monica Chase for her wonderful and very interesting interview last week. Thanks so much for sharing with us Monica!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Bill Jiryu Webb. Bill is a Buddhist and I know you will enjoy his interview as well!
Here Is Bill Jiryu Webb's Introduction:
I was raised in a strict Catholic family, and tried to incorporate it into my life. However, try as I might I was never able to accept the essential illogic of the whole thing. Eventually I drifted away from the church, and for a number of years dabbled in a variety of New Age ideas. Over the past 20 years I have found that the secular practices of Buddhism seem to fit my needs and provide me with the satisfaction of following a well-defined path.http://digital-dharma.net
1) What religion do you practice?
I refer to myself as a Buddhist Ignostic. An ignostic is one who maintains that there can be no sensible discussion about the existence of god until we arrive at a definition upon which everyone can agree. Until that point, we are literally speaking nonsense. A Buddhist, of course, is one who attempts to follow the path and precepts outlined by the historic Buddha about 2500 years ago.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I would not call myself a convert, because I do not practice Buddhism as a religion. However, it does not conflict with any other belief system, to my way of thinking. I know observant Jews and Catholics who practice Zen, even a couple of Southern Baptists -- although I'm pretty sure they don't talk about it much at Sunday meetings.
One of the things that first drew me to Buddhism is the fact that it is the only major religion that does not proselytize, nor does it claim to give you something for nothing. One has to seek and work at Buddhist training, and it's a real pain in the ass for a while. Then you start to get the point, and see some results.
To me a religion involves things like beliefs, a metaphysical or supernatural reality, faith, dogma, ritual, prayer, salvation and eternal reward. I consider myself to be a spiritual person, but not religious. At all. I believe in the human spirit: love, compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, responsibility, contentment and occasional joy. These are things that bear fruit immediately. I don't trust the Big Banker In The Sky to pay me back when the note comes due.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
There are substantial degrees of disagreement within Buddhism regarding practice. All Buddhist faiths follow the Four Noble Truths, which culminate in the Eightfold Path, and all serious practitioners take precepts, which are guidelines for living similar to the Ten Commandments, but not mandatory nor punished by gods. Buddhists believe that bad behavior brings its own punishment, right here and often right now.
The differences that arise are principally over the degree to which mysticism should play a part. They range from Tibetan Buddhism, with its great variety of supra-natural beings, to some Zen sects which do not believe in a supernatural component at all (the position that I espouse). It should be noted that following the teachings of Buddha does not require a belief in the supernatural.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I don't know how to answer that. It's like asking a Baptist what position he would hold in the Catholic church. I make a real and sustained effort to follow the precepts and the other guidance that Buddhist philosophy provides. I have "taken refuge," (analagous to confirmation in some Western faiths), but my practice is largely solitary both of necessity and preference. I read, meditate regularly, and attempt to live according to my understanding of Buddhist ethics -- with varied degrees of success.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept).
Some Buddhists believe in reincarnation, althouth it was not a teaching of the Buddha. That got grafted on from the Hindu faith, and was tweaked by the Tibetans and the preceding Bo religion that so shaped their practice. Personally, I do not expect an afterlife or any form of survival after death. I believe that there are no dress rehearsals -- this is the Big Show, so you'd better play your part the best you can. That is not to say that I negate the possibility. I am not arrogant enough to believe that I have that answer, I simply find no evidence of it. I am trained as a scientist, and such concepts are not amenable to study, therefore can't be commented upon rationally.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I believe people get what they deserve. If I am a kind, pleasant person who treats others fairly, then I will attract that sort of person into my life and it will be good here and now. That is my reward for good behavior. If I behave badly, I will attract others like myself and will end up having to watch my back all the time, whether or not I become wealthy in the common sense of the word. Whether that extends to an afterlife, I can't say.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It is based on pure logic. Every idea of the basic Buddhist teachings can be examined with whatever kind of scrutiny one likes, and will always withstand the analysis. (I understand that many will disagree with that statement. To that I can only say that it is likely that their study of Buddhism may have some gaps in it.)
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Buddhis "holy days" celebrate things like the Solstices, the birth and death of the historical Buddha, and a variety of similar things. They are observed differently by various sects. I observe them by making an effort to live up to the precepts as closely as possible for that day.
I should probably include the Precepts I keep talking about, for the sake of clarity:
I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from ...
...harming living beings.
...taking things not freely given.
...sexual misconduct.
...false speech.
...intoxicating drinks and drugs causing heedlessness.
If one thinks deeply about those things, it becomes clear that they have a great deal of meaning beyond the simple words that make them up. For example, taking things not freely given also extends to cheating your boss by wasting time at work, and a lot of other stuff. One meditates; one learns; one applies. Sometimes.
These are all things that cloud the mind and prevent a clear perception of reality. The goal of Buddhism, vastly oversimplified, is to see reality and only reality -- to abolish delusion.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Some of them. I don't consider a person's faith to bear on friendship at all, unless it causes them to behave in ways that are detrimental to others. I find it difficult to be friends with that sort of person.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I do it frequently. It has nothing to do with me, in terms of practice, and it is an opportunity to be with friends during happy times.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I believe that things of that sort are a matter of personal choice, and I have no opinion on them per se. However, when they are forced upon others it is no longer a religious issue, but an issue of politics and/or control. I believe that forcing anyone to do something that they do not want to do is wrong. It is sometimes necessary, but there is always a degree of wrong, even if it is on both sides. The parallel thought to that is that we should all have the right to do as we please, as long as it does not interfere with anyone else's right to do as they please. As the Wiccans say, "And it harm none, do what thou wilt."
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
I would never belong to an organization that discriminates on the basis of sex, sexual preference, race or other aritificial ways of separating human beings. Some Buddhist sects allow women to attain the highest offices, many do not. In that respect, I believe they are behaving unskillfully. To the extent that I participate in formal religious activities, I do so in a Zen tradition that does not discriminate.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
See above.
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
I try to consider it in those decisions and activities where it is applicable, with greater or lesser success. I find no conflicts with those things because while I might deplore them and never consider them for myself, it is none of my business what others do, so long as it harms no one else. (Don't go there; I am a scientist, and I know the difference between undifferentiated cells and viable creatures, human or otherwise. It is not an issue that I debate.)
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
My children follow their own paths, which is fine with me. I don't consider religion to be a criterion for partnerships, although it can certainly complicate them if the parties allow it to do so.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
I think the idea of a loving god and hell is an oxymoron. That said, I don't believe in either.
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
Buddhists rarely claim to speak for others. They may offer teachings and opinions. In that regard I greatly respect His Holiness The Dalai Lama, The Venerable Thich Nhat Hahn, and I was a disciple and great fan of Abbot John Daido Loori, of the Mountains and Rivers Order, until his recent death.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Not as far as I am aware. I don't live my beliefs in such a way as to draw that kind of attention to myself.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Quite the contrary; it empowers me greatly.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
That is the whole point.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
See "ignostic," above. I don't think the issue can be discussed rationally, so there is no point in contemplating it. Death is a part of life. Life is what it's about. If there is an encore -- and I see no reason to believe there will be -- it will be a pleasant surprise. The whole point is to live so that it doesn't matter. Live a good life here, and it will be a satisfying life. Then if anyone's handing out medals beyond the curtain, you win again.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
AnnMarie
Hello and Happy Saturday!
I wish to thank G*3 for his very interesting interview last week. I very much enjoyed reading it and I thank you so much for sharing your journey with us G*3!
Today we have a new post so please welcome AnnMarie.
AnnMarie is a Buddhist and I know you will enjoy her interview as well!
Here Is AnnMarie's Introduction:
AnnMarie is an aspiring novelist and poet. She grew up in a devout Catholic family and has written numerous poems (and one novella) about the experience of being Catholic. Now she practices Buddhism. She still studies Christianity and has a blog about where Jesus would have stood on our political issues. She graduated from UCLA with a degree in American Literature and Culture, and acknowledges that Christianity has historically played a huge role in our culture. She currently works as a librarian assistant and is studying to get her master’s in library and information science. She has a husband and a young daughter who is ten months old.
http://wwjv4.blogspot.com
1) What religion do you practice?
I consider myself a secular humanist. I practice Buddhism because I find that its practices are in line with my values of intellectual inquiry, self-awareness, serenity and wisdom.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I am a convert of a sort. I was raised Roman Catholic. When I was growing up I was quite obsessed with Catholicism and wanted to be a nun. My beliefs changed quite drastically as I got older and was exposed to a more diverse group of friends and people with other viewpoints. I still retain a lot of knowledge and interest in Catholicism and Christianity in general, and think that it will always be a part of me, a major part of my background.
I didn’t need to do anything to “convert” to Buddhism. I just needed to learn about the beliefs and decide whether or not I accepted them. I also had to learn how to practice meditation and why. I approached Buddhism at first the way I approached Christianity as a child--by studying its texts closely. But now I approach it as a simple, thoughtful, fully-aware way of life.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
As a Catholic there were certainly many degrees of observance and I would say that my family ranked either highly conservative or orthodox. I spent much of my childhood memorizing facts about saints and dogmas and even competing with other children to win competitions about that. My family prayed the rosary every day. For a while, I voluntarily spent my school lunches in the church going to Mass every day at twelve.
There are also degrees of observance within Buddhism, although I’m not sure they can be classified this way. There are three major sects of Buddhism: Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. These sects all have different denominations and traditions which are mostly a product of culture and history. I have had the most familiarity with Theravada Buddhism, although I reject most of the fanciful stories that have been passed down about the Buddha as being highly improbable (much like, say, the Nativity stories about Jesus). But I also studied Taoism which had an influence on the way Buddhism would be transmitted to East Asia. And for a bit I studied Nichiren Buddhism, which is a Japanese Mahayana tradition.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I observe certain practices in line with Theravada Buddhism, which is considered to be the “original” tradition associated directly with Siddhartha Gautama. I recently adopted a vegetarian lifestyle, although I added fish back to my diet for health reasons. I also read Theravada texts and practice meditation.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
In Catholicism, there is definitely a concept of Heaven and Hell and a concept of Purgatory also--this is a realm sort-of in between Heaven and Earth, where you go to perfect your soul before it meets God in Heaven. I used to believe in it strongly but as an adult I no longer see any point to believing this. It’s too easy to write off people as “going to hell” and too easy to assume that you are “going to Heaven” if you do everything you’re told and obey all the rules.
In Buddhism, the belief is that when you die, you are reborn again as a completely new person or animal. You do not have a “soul” that travels from one life to the next, but your energy, thoughts, actions and volitions produce another life at the moment of your death. Because we all crave life, and that craving for existence is what mires us in this world of endless suffering. When you stop craving, you start the wheel turning in the other direction and you have the opportunity to really get a glimpse of what there is beyond life. That’s Nirvana.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
In my opinion, there is no such thing as heaven/paradise. It’s not practical to me to waste time thinking about. It’s a manifestation of our ego’s desires. There is no such thing as hell either. Most Buddhists believe there are different realms, some are pleasurable and others are painful. I don’t know if I agree. I think the thought of either a pleasurable or a painful afterlife is neither productive nor practical. I just think people get reborn over and over until they no longer feel the craving for this world.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
The invitation to think critically, and to question everything. The Buddha said “Don’t believe in anything because you heard it from someone or from one of your books. But if you have verified it from your own experience and your own experience tells you that it has value or truth, and is conducive to people’s good, then accept it and live up to it.”
I’d like to say a few words about Christianity too. I think Christianity has many good points, including the concept of loving all people (echoed also in the Buddha’s words five hundred years earlier). Jesus and the Buddha had a lot in common: they were outlaws, they were mavericks on the fringe of their own religion and interested in transforming it into a more global, all-embracing belief system. They both went out and preached kindness to all beings, charity to the poor and courage in the face of evil. These things still resonate with me whenever I open the Bible.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Not being raised Buddhist, I don’t have much familiarity with Buddhist holy days. I think they are celebrated differently depending on what country you’re from. I don’t celebrate any holy days or observe any rituals or traditions. For me, that’s not where the heart of the religion lies.
Catholics have many holy days throughout the year, and almost every single day is the feast day of a saint. I used to know many of them but now I rarely observe any of them unless I’m doing it out of respect and love for my parents.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
I have been blessed with a very diverse group of friends ever since I was in college. My friends are Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Jewish, and Atheist.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes. I have celebrated Sikh and Hindu holy days with my friends, and have been to weddings in many different religions. I also continue to join my parents in celebrating their Catholic religion on the holy days that are important to them, such as Christmas, Easter, and others.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I think anything that subjects women to abuse or oppression is horrible, and I don’t care who objects to my opinion on that. I think if women want to wear a burka that’s up to them--but the simple fact is, not all women who wear a burka want to. Besides, would the women who say they want to wear one still wear it if they knew there were alternatives and felt that they would still be accepted if they didn’t wear one? I think there are a lot of cultures in this world whom we historically absolve from their abuses for reasons of “tolerance” when we should make our fundamental goal the freedom and happiness of all people.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Currently, Buddhists do not have an official order of nuns, and this is unfortunate. They used to, but the order died out and the religion requires a certain kind of succession to establish a new order. There are a lot of Buddhist women who choose a religious life but it is not in an official capacity.
In Catholicism, women do not hold religious office but they are invited to enter the religious life as nuns. I wanted to be a nun for a long time. I was always drawn to the mystical and the spiritual. Now, I’m a much more practical person, interested in the here and now.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
I have visited several Buddhist temples and meditation centers and although there are some who conduct their services in a different language for people of a different culture than me, I have found a couple of Buddhist groups who have been welcoming and friendly.
Catholics don’t segregate, but they do alienate people who are different, like homosexuals for example.
14) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
Catholicism used to affect my views on abortion, although I always felt that gay marriage should not bear the stigma that it has for Catholics. I do not feel that gay marriage would even have been an issue for Jesus. He hardly ever talks about it. Today, these “hot-button issues” have become tools for the more conservative political groups in this country to get people to forget Jesus’ constant cries for equality and charity, and to get them to vote against things like social welfare, unemployment and education by focusing on irrelevant issues like abortion and gay marriage.
Buddhism does affect my decisions on abortion, although it would not influence my voting preferences. I believe that people should vote based on what’s best for the country and not based on their own personal convictions. Fortunately, Buddhism is very accepting of gay marriage and I am happy that this religion embraces alternate lifestyles.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I know it’s a pretty likely thing so I will not feel shocked in any way. I actually have a dream that one day all my children will be seated around my table, each comfortable and confident in expressing their gratitude for the food before them in his/her own way.
Unfortunately, I never felt that my parents would react calmly to me rejecting their religion. That’s why I wish to maintain a certain level of anonymity here. I feel like they’d be very upset and would never see it in a rational light.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
Absolutely not. I think nothing could be more pointless. If somebody does not believe in my religion, it simply means that they will continue to be born and reborn according to their own actions and live with the consequences of everything they do and say and think. That’s what karma is. Nothing changes for them at all, whether or not they are Buddhist.
17) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
Hm. There are plenty of people who claim to practice Christianity (Republicans for starters) who do not actually practice its basic tenets of charity and tolerance. Then again, there are people who practice Christianity only too well--in all the worst ways.
When it comes to Buddhism, I can only say that I have heard of Deepak Chopra and seen some of his interviews, and it irritates me when he speaks for Buddhists because I do not think he is actually a Buddhist. I gather this from some of the things he has said about “God” (Buddhists don’t believe in God) and the “soul” (Buddhists believe there is no soul).
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No, never.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Absolutely not. If anything, Buddhism tells me that I--not God, not some savior or Messiah, but just I--have the power to cultivate my mind and my actions and improve my way of living and improve my consequences. It’s totally empowering.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Catholicism used to give me peace of mind in the practice of the sacraments, that I could get “in touch” with God and have a relationship with him. But it also gave me deep conflict when I began to question the existence of a God and question the cruel and intolerant views of the Catholic Church. Now, Buddhism gives me peace of mind. It gives me tools for improving my life, improving my mind, and yes, cultivating a sense of serenity and peace. It’s not the beliefs that give me comfort primarily, but the practice of meditating. Meditating will change your life. It will make you a calmer, happier, more in-tune person. It will teach you the meaning of awareness of all your thoughts and actions. It will open you up to the stores of insight within your own mind.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
I believe in rebirth. Reincarnation is slightly different (although you may say it’s a matter of semantics). I see reincarnation as being a concept related to the idea of “soul” or “self” which I do not hold to be true.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Ven. Jo Jo
Hello Everyone and Happy Saturday!
I wish to thank Mystic Tourist for sharing what it means to him to be a Secular Mystic. A very interesting read; thank you so much Mystic Tourist!
Today we have a new post. Please welcome Ven. Jo Jo.
Ven. Jo Jo is a Buddhist and I know you will enjoy his post as well!
Here Is Ven. Jo Jo's Introduction:
Ven. Jo Jo began training in Buddhist meditation in 1980 at the age of thirteen. After the passing of his master in 1992, he spent much of his time in the mountains continuing his pursuits of mental cultivation.
Gradually he began leaning toward becoming a monk as the pursuits of everyday life began losing their appeal. After choosing to reacquaint himself with some of the local temples and train under their teachers, he had firmly made the decision to become a monk. By the spring of 2006, he received ordination.
Ven. Jo Jo has decided to contribute to the Buddhist community primarily through writing. As such, he has begun work on several books as well as recently begun efforts to be active in the online community. Though most of his writings at this point are seen only by his students, he has every intention on getting active with posting essays to his blog - http://bhikkhujojo.blogspot.com/ for the general public. He also does a Dhamma Tweet every Sunday morning to inspire reflection. You can follow him on Twitter @BhikkhuJoJo.
1) What religion do you practice?
Buddhism.
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I was not converted nor was I born into Buddhism. I was raised in a family that was typically Christian, meaning they believed in some sort of Christian religion, but didn't practice it or talk about it. I have never considered myself a believing Christian. My great aunt and uncle dragged me to church occasionally when I was a toddler but I was disinterested, as I'm sure most kids of that age are.
I was never truly a practitioner of any religion. In my teens I intently studied the Bible and various Christian denominations because I enjoyed going to the preachers around town and debating with them. Though I know now, looking back, it was more along the lines of arguing with them. So I went through that phase. Then I began to feel the social pressures of identifying with a religion, so I experimented in various occult practices. In the end I found all of these previous studies and dabblings to be lacking.
At the age of thirteen I began to study meditation from a master who was also my martial arts master. He would only train us if we cultivated not just our bodies but our minds as well. This marked the beginning of my Buddhist practice. However, I was already familiar with meditation to some extent from an earlier age growing up in the tail end of the hippie era and always enjoyed just being in my mind. So much so that my mother was at her wits end on how to punish me as a child because sitting in a corner (which was common in those days) was no punishment at all for me.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other?
If this is referring to politics, I don't concern myself with politics. Therefore I'd have to answer none of the above. With regards to Buddhism, again, none of the above. Buddhist practice is about recognizing these sorts of biased states of mind, which cloud our perception and judgement, and purging them.
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
Refer to question three.
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
When we get caught up in our thinking and begin to identify with the subsequent opinions and positions we begin to create an imbalance in our minds. This is how these defiled states arise.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
The Buddha used the prevalent Brahman cosmological view of the day as a metaphor to help people understand his teaching in a way they could relate to. Therefore, when he spoke of the heavenly realms, he was illustrating that it's a mental state we are "born" into when we are at peace and happy. Likewise, when we are perhaps angry, we are "born" into the hell realms.
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Again, irrelevant. What Buddhist practice aims to uncover in this situation, if speaking of it literally, would be why the person has a need to feel as though they are going to go to heaven or some sort of paradise. It's all about delving into the mind and uncovering what's there, why it's there, and how it got there.
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It's relatively scientific. The claims it makes, though not always testable via instruments, are verifiable by practicing. For example, if I say sit down and breath in and out deeply for two minutes and you will experience a relaxing feeling, that would be verifiable. You could go try it, and see for yourself. This is what makes it appealing to people — "It just works". Living in the modern age of science and critical thought, we expect our practices for well-being, religions, philosophies, etc., to be able to hold up to scrutiny. Being told to follow something on blind faith, just doesn't make sense to the modern human anymore.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
There are numerous occasions that would be referred to as holy days in Buddhism. Each country will celebrate a different variety than others. However, the one universally celebrated holiday, as well as the biggest event in Buddhism, is Buddha's Birthday. The rituals and ceremonies will all vary depending upon the country as well, but the one common theme throughout the Buddhist community is the tradition of pouring water over a little statue of the Buddha as a baby. This is done by each member in attendance. The decor is often replete with hanging Chinese-style lanterns and parades being held with elaborate floats. People will flock to the temples and mediation centers to meditate or participate in ceremonies and hear talks on Buddhism, or about Buddha's life given this occasion.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes, I have even done this a few times. Irregardless of whether someone thinks these holy days are sacred and important or not, realistically they are social occasions that bring people together. When someone I care about is celebrating an occasion that's important to them and they wish to share the experience with me, then why would I not go? When this dualistic thinking of "their way" and "my way" ceases, then there's no problem, only harmony.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
There are countries where women are beaten and the law either permits it or traditionally turns a blind eye to it. Or children are turned out into prostitution to earn money for the struggling family. Yet I hear so much uproar over Islam's burka which isn't harming anyone. It being a degradation of women is merely a cultural way of thinking. Muslim women who wear the burka say they are proud to wear it, some even say they have a choice. Whether this is a result of indoctrination or not is a matter of speculation. The bottom line is that the Western world has latched onto the burka as a way of maintaining its disdain for Islam as a result of the acts of terrorism in the last decade and Islam's perceived role in fostering it. Instead of recognizing that those responsible, though Muslim, are radicals just like other religions have their radicals now and in antiquity, we choose to continually bash an entire religion and grasp at petty things to continue fueling our outrage. What if we were to do this with the Christian religion because of their crusades, or in recent times the mass suicides, and other unfortunate happenings? No one is hesitant then to recognize these as the actions of radicals, cults, and other misguided people.
As for the shariah, I must profess I know virtually nothing of it save for the commonly criticized law that puts people to death for leaving Islam. I understand that the Islamic community has been attempting to push their ways on the societies in which they have immigrated to, and even going so far as to attempt to have laws implemented for or in favor of Muslims. But a society is an aggregate of people. The laws and culture are made up of all those individuals. If the masses don't want such Islamic laws being incorporated into their system, then they won't be. But they have just as much right to try and integrate their ways into their new culture as others before them have likewise done and are still doing. By the same token, Islam or any other religion should not and must not be allowed a free pass based upon religion when they break the laws established by the people. Religion is not above reproach. If they kill someone while in a Western country because someone de-converted from Islam then they are punishable by those laws which prohibit such action. Or not being permitted to wear the burka when entering a bank. They do not get a get out of jail free card in the name of religion or shariah. They have their own countries and culture that has evolved with their religion and shariah in mind allowing them to live in accord with it, regardless of what the rest of the world may think of them for it.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
Religion is losing ground among the people not just because of the modern mind being more logical, scientific, and less apt to dispense with critical thought, but also as a result of the religious institutions being either unwilling or too slow to change and adapt to the times. People, at least in the Western world, do not accept discrimination anymore. When a religion is doing something that the people no longer wish or those people have higher moral standards than the religious institution, something is going to give and that is likely going to be the religion getting the boot.
In Buddhism we have a similar situation to the women not being allowed to become priests situation. In the school of Buddhism dominant in southeast Asia, the lineage of nuns died out long ago. It's only been being reinstated in the last ten years. But this is a slow and arduous undertaking. The reigning monks and institutions refuse to recognize these ordinations and officially disassociate themselves from those who do these ordinations. There are questions of legitimacy with regard to the rules and procedures for ordination as to whether it can be done or not. But these have been hashed out over the last decade also. It's been found that there is no reason to deny these ordinations. The reasons those in charge are giving are merely excuses in a feeble attempt to maintain their prejudices against women which stems from their culture. If they wish for their flavor of Buddhism to take root in the West, and they do, then they must find a way of rectifying this issue. Because to the majority of Western people involved or interested in Buddhism, it is an unacceptable situation and all of Buddhism is going to be hindered by this discrimination as long as it persists.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No it doesn't segregate. Though in the Buddhist monastic tradition the nuns are required to sit behind the monks. It's also most common for the monks and nuns to live in separate temples, though some do not. However, they all practice together, so in that sense there is no segregation.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
We all have mental defilements that keep us from experiencing life clearly and fully. It's like being sick, we just aren't functioning efficiently and effectively. Buddhist practice is like receiving a medicine that kills off the bacteria causing the sickness. Therefore, Buddhism does affect your daily life because it's exuding a profound change upon the mind. To say that it influences the way in which a practitioner views the issues of abortion or gay marriage would be hard to say. Out of hand I would say it quite possibly could. But these decisions are still up to the individual, there is no Buddhist doctrine that decrees they must think such and such a way on these issues. As for me, I don't know if it's influenced my thinking on these topics because I've been involved in the practice far before I even had a knowledge of these issues.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I would have no issues with it and have actually experienced this. The only concern is for the child and if the other person's fervor for their religion is going to dominate and cause difficulties in their marriage, which often doesn't become pronounced until after children enter the picture. This potentially volatile situation must be made apparent to the child. But this is a far cry from inflicting my own biases and prejudices upon him, it's simply ensuring he understands all the ramifications of his decision so HE can make an intelligent decision.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No.
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? i.e. who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
Yes, there are those who are purported as being authorities on Buddhism but clearly are not and/or should not be, though I won't give names. This is actually a topic of concern within Buddhism among some people. The issue has become pronounced with the introduction of Buddhism to the West. Western culture places a huge value on people of academia. So what we see are people who are getting a degree in Buddhism from a university and then going out and calling themselves a Buddhist teacher and writing books. Or people who are academically inclined go and become monks for a stint, then quit and become professors at a university as if they were merely conducting field research. These sorts of approaches to Buddhism is causing many issues, especially for those new to Buddhism, because their understanding of the teachings are often shallow and not tempered by serious practice and a sincere approach to introspection. Although none of this means that all of these people are not worthy of teaching.
Traditionally it's the monastic order that is charged with preserving the teachings and conveying those teachings down to the laypeople. By going through the proper channels and observations by masters during the monastic training they're ensured, in theory anyway, that by the time the practitioner becomes a full monk they are not only well rounded in their understanding of the teachings academically as well as the practice and absorption of those teachings, but that they are qualified to teach. However, this also doesn't mean they are any more qualified than the academics who call themselves teachers, especially with the deteriorating way monastics are often being bred in the modern age now.
These are the two factions that many feel needs to be resolved. And it clearly is an issue given the perceived decline in the quality of the monastic community, and the often intellectual-only approach to Buddhism the academics are often accused of. As for me, I agree and disagree with both sides. For the sake of those who are interested in training their minds effectively and efficiently and receiving the proper teachings of the Buddha and his practice, perhaps some sort of a worldwide certification or recognition process needs to be instated. This would ensure a level of integrity with regards to Buddhist teachers. Perhaps it's time for another Buddhist council involving all the three schools of Buddhism and their denominations from around the world to address this issue, as well as that of the ordination of women?
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Yes, I've been physically, though mildly, assaulted as well as being the victim of vandalism as a result of people being ignorant and intolerant of things they don't understand. Although this was quite a long time ago before Buddhism was seen as not so esoteric.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes. It's a training of the mind!
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Buddhism accepts what is commonly called in English, rebirth. This is to distinguish itself from reincarnation, though it doesn't do a very good job of it. Reincarnation is some sort of entity or soul that is transmigrating from one life to the next. Buddhism doesn't recognize any sort of unchanging and impermanent entity.
Whereas rebirth is the process of the idea of a soul, this sense of 'I'. When it arises in your mind "you" are born, and likewise when there is no grasping at this sense of Self, "you" die. It's a mental process that is the crux of the practice. When a practitioner reaches a point where they've seen the fallacy of the Self so the phenomenon no longer arises in the mind, he will have fulfilled perhaps one of the most difficult hurdles to realizing enlightenment.
I wish to thank Mystic Tourist for sharing what it means to him to be a Secular Mystic. A very interesting read; thank you so much Mystic Tourist!
Today we have a new post. Please welcome Ven. Jo Jo.
Ven. Jo Jo is a Buddhist and I know you will enjoy his post as well!
Here Is Ven. Jo Jo's Introduction:
Ven. Jo Jo began training in Buddhist meditation in 1980 at the age of thirteen. After the passing of his master in 1992, he spent much of his time in the mountains continuing his pursuits of mental cultivation.
Gradually he began leaning toward becoming a monk as the pursuits of everyday life began losing their appeal. After choosing to reacquaint himself with some of the local temples and train under their teachers, he had firmly made the decision to become a monk. By the spring of 2006, he received ordination.
Ven. Jo Jo has decided to contribute to the Buddhist community primarily through writing. As such, he has begun work on several books as well as recently begun efforts to be active in the online community. Though most of his writings at this point are seen only by his students, he has every intention on getting active with posting essays to his blog - http://bhikkhujojo.blogspot.com/ for the general public. He also does a Dhamma Tweet every Sunday morning to inspire reflection. You can follow him on Twitter @BhikkhuJoJo.
1) What religion do you practice?
Buddhism.
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I was not converted nor was I born into Buddhism. I was raised in a family that was typically Christian, meaning they believed in some sort of Christian religion, but didn't practice it or talk about it. I have never considered myself a believing Christian. My great aunt and uncle dragged me to church occasionally when I was a toddler but I was disinterested, as I'm sure most kids of that age are.
I was never truly a practitioner of any religion. In my teens I intently studied the Bible and various Christian denominations because I enjoyed going to the preachers around town and debating with them. Though I know now, looking back, it was more along the lines of arguing with them. So I went through that phase. Then I began to feel the social pressures of identifying with a religion, so I experimented in various occult practices. In the end I found all of these previous studies and dabblings to be lacking.
At the age of thirteen I began to study meditation from a master who was also my martial arts master. He would only train us if we cultivated not just our bodies but our minds as well. This marked the beginning of my Buddhist practice. However, I was already familiar with meditation to some extent from an earlier age growing up in the tail end of the hippie era and always enjoyed just being in my mind. So much so that my mother was at her wits end on how to punish me as a child because sitting in a corner (which was common in those days) was no punishment at all for me.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other?
If this is referring to politics, I don't concern myself with politics. Therefore I'd have to answer none of the above. With regards to Buddhism, again, none of the above. Buddhist practice is about recognizing these sorts of biased states of mind, which cloud our perception and judgement, and purging them.
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
Refer to question three.
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
When we get caught up in our thinking and begin to identify with the subsequent opinions and positions we begin to create an imbalance in our minds. This is how these defiled states arise.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
The Buddha used the prevalent Brahman cosmological view of the day as a metaphor to help people understand his teaching in a way they could relate to. Therefore, when he spoke of the heavenly realms, he was illustrating that it's a mental state we are "born" into when we are at peace and happy. Likewise, when we are perhaps angry, we are "born" into the hell realms.
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Again, irrelevant. What Buddhist practice aims to uncover in this situation, if speaking of it literally, would be why the person has a need to feel as though they are going to go to heaven or some sort of paradise. It's all about delving into the mind and uncovering what's there, why it's there, and how it got there.
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It's relatively scientific. The claims it makes, though not always testable via instruments, are verifiable by practicing. For example, if I say sit down and breath in and out deeply for two minutes and you will experience a relaxing feeling, that would be verifiable. You could go try it, and see for yourself. This is what makes it appealing to people — "It just works". Living in the modern age of science and critical thought, we expect our practices for well-being, religions, philosophies, etc., to be able to hold up to scrutiny. Being told to follow something on blind faith, just doesn't make sense to the modern human anymore.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
There are numerous occasions that would be referred to as holy days in Buddhism. Each country will celebrate a different variety than others. However, the one universally celebrated holiday, as well as the biggest event in Buddhism, is Buddha's Birthday. The rituals and ceremonies will all vary depending upon the country as well, but the one common theme throughout the Buddhist community is the tradition of pouring water over a little statue of the Buddha as a baby. This is done by each member in attendance. The decor is often replete with hanging Chinese-style lanterns and parades being held with elaborate floats. People will flock to the temples and mediation centers to meditate or participate in ceremonies and hear talks on Buddhism, or about Buddha's life given this occasion.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes, I have even done this a few times. Irregardless of whether someone thinks these holy days are sacred and important or not, realistically they are social occasions that bring people together. When someone I care about is celebrating an occasion that's important to them and they wish to share the experience with me, then why would I not go? When this dualistic thinking of "their way" and "my way" ceases, then there's no problem, only harmony.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
There are countries where women are beaten and the law either permits it or traditionally turns a blind eye to it. Or children are turned out into prostitution to earn money for the struggling family. Yet I hear so much uproar over Islam's burka which isn't harming anyone. It being a degradation of women is merely a cultural way of thinking. Muslim women who wear the burka say they are proud to wear it, some even say they have a choice. Whether this is a result of indoctrination or not is a matter of speculation. The bottom line is that the Western world has latched onto the burka as a way of maintaining its disdain for Islam as a result of the acts of terrorism in the last decade and Islam's perceived role in fostering it. Instead of recognizing that those responsible, though Muslim, are radicals just like other religions have their radicals now and in antiquity, we choose to continually bash an entire religion and grasp at petty things to continue fueling our outrage. What if we were to do this with the Christian religion because of their crusades, or in recent times the mass suicides, and other unfortunate happenings? No one is hesitant then to recognize these as the actions of radicals, cults, and other misguided people.
As for the shariah, I must profess I know virtually nothing of it save for the commonly criticized law that puts people to death for leaving Islam. I understand that the Islamic community has been attempting to push their ways on the societies in which they have immigrated to, and even going so far as to attempt to have laws implemented for or in favor of Muslims. But a society is an aggregate of people. The laws and culture are made up of all those individuals. If the masses don't want such Islamic laws being incorporated into their system, then they won't be. But they have just as much right to try and integrate their ways into their new culture as others before them have likewise done and are still doing. By the same token, Islam or any other religion should not and must not be allowed a free pass based upon religion when they break the laws established by the people. Religion is not above reproach. If they kill someone while in a Western country because someone de-converted from Islam then they are punishable by those laws which prohibit such action. Or not being permitted to wear the burka when entering a bank. They do not get a get out of jail free card in the name of religion or shariah. They have their own countries and culture that has evolved with their religion and shariah in mind allowing them to live in accord with it, regardless of what the rest of the world may think of them for it.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
Religion is losing ground among the people not just because of the modern mind being more logical, scientific, and less apt to dispense with critical thought, but also as a result of the religious institutions being either unwilling or too slow to change and adapt to the times. People, at least in the Western world, do not accept discrimination anymore. When a religion is doing something that the people no longer wish or those people have higher moral standards than the religious institution, something is going to give and that is likely going to be the religion getting the boot.
In Buddhism we have a similar situation to the women not being allowed to become priests situation. In the school of Buddhism dominant in southeast Asia, the lineage of nuns died out long ago. It's only been being reinstated in the last ten years. But this is a slow and arduous undertaking. The reigning monks and institutions refuse to recognize these ordinations and officially disassociate themselves from those who do these ordinations. There are questions of legitimacy with regard to the rules and procedures for ordination as to whether it can be done or not. But these have been hashed out over the last decade also. It's been found that there is no reason to deny these ordinations. The reasons those in charge are giving are merely excuses in a feeble attempt to maintain their prejudices against women which stems from their culture. If they wish for their flavor of Buddhism to take root in the West, and they do, then they must find a way of rectifying this issue. Because to the majority of Western people involved or interested in Buddhism, it is an unacceptable situation and all of Buddhism is going to be hindered by this discrimination as long as it persists.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No it doesn't segregate. Though in the Buddhist monastic tradition the nuns are required to sit behind the monks. It's also most common for the monks and nuns to live in separate temples, though some do not. However, they all practice together, so in that sense there is no segregation.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
We all have mental defilements that keep us from experiencing life clearly and fully. It's like being sick, we just aren't functioning efficiently and effectively. Buddhist practice is like receiving a medicine that kills off the bacteria causing the sickness. Therefore, Buddhism does affect your daily life because it's exuding a profound change upon the mind. To say that it influences the way in which a practitioner views the issues of abortion or gay marriage would be hard to say. Out of hand I would say it quite possibly could. But these decisions are still up to the individual, there is no Buddhist doctrine that decrees they must think such and such a way on these issues. As for me, I don't know if it's influenced my thinking on these topics because I've been involved in the practice far before I even had a knowledge of these issues.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I would have no issues with it and have actually experienced this. The only concern is for the child and if the other person's fervor for their religion is going to dominate and cause difficulties in their marriage, which often doesn't become pronounced until after children enter the picture. This potentially volatile situation must be made apparent to the child. But this is a far cry from inflicting my own biases and prejudices upon him, it's simply ensuring he understands all the ramifications of his decision so HE can make an intelligent decision.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No.
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? i.e. who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
Yes, there are those who are purported as being authorities on Buddhism but clearly are not and/or should not be, though I won't give names. This is actually a topic of concern within Buddhism among some people. The issue has become pronounced with the introduction of Buddhism to the West. Western culture places a huge value on people of academia. So what we see are people who are getting a degree in Buddhism from a university and then going out and calling themselves a Buddhist teacher and writing books. Or people who are academically inclined go and become monks for a stint, then quit and become professors at a university as if they were merely conducting field research. These sorts of approaches to Buddhism is causing many issues, especially for those new to Buddhism, because their understanding of the teachings are often shallow and not tempered by serious practice and a sincere approach to introspection. Although none of this means that all of these people are not worthy of teaching.
Traditionally it's the monastic order that is charged with preserving the teachings and conveying those teachings down to the laypeople. By going through the proper channels and observations by masters during the monastic training they're ensured, in theory anyway, that by the time the practitioner becomes a full monk they are not only well rounded in their understanding of the teachings academically as well as the practice and absorption of those teachings, but that they are qualified to teach. However, this also doesn't mean they are any more qualified than the academics who call themselves teachers, especially with the deteriorating way monastics are often being bred in the modern age now.
These are the two factions that many feel needs to be resolved. And it clearly is an issue given the perceived decline in the quality of the monastic community, and the often intellectual-only approach to Buddhism the academics are often accused of. As for me, I agree and disagree with both sides. For the sake of those who are interested in training their minds effectively and efficiently and receiving the proper teachings of the Buddha and his practice, perhaps some sort of a worldwide certification or recognition process needs to be instated. This would ensure a level of integrity with regards to Buddhist teachers. Perhaps it's time for another Buddhist council involving all the three schools of Buddhism and their denominations from around the world to address this issue, as well as that of the ordination of women?
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Yes, I've been physically, though mildly, assaulted as well as being the victim of vandalism as a result of people being ignorant and intolerant of things they don't understand. Although this was quite a long time ago before Buddhism was seen as not so esoteric.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes. It's a training of the mind!
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Buddhism accepts what is commonly called in English, rebirth. This is to distinguish itself from reincarnation, though it doesn't do a very good job of it. Reincarnation is some sort of entity or soul that is transmigrating from one life to the next. Buddhism doesn't recognize any sort of unchanging and impermanent entity.
Whereas rebirth is the process of the idea of a soul, this sense of 'I'. When it arises in your mind "you" are born, and likewise when there is no grasping at this sense of Self, "you" die. It's a mental process that is the crux of the practice. When a practitioner reaches a point where they've seen the fallacy of the Self so the phenomenon no longer arises in the mind, he will have fulfilled perhaps one of the most difficult hurdles to realizing enlightenment.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Peter Clothier
Hello and Happy Saturday Everyone!
I wish to thank Ruby Sara for sharing her journey with us last week. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it! Thank you Ruby!
This week we have a new interview, so please welcome Peter Clothier.
Peter is a Buddhist and I know you will enjoy his post as well!
Here Is Peter Clothier's Introduction:
PETER CLOTHIER is a meditation practitioner who writes chiefly about art and artists in Southern California. His daily writing practice includes two blogs, “The Buddha Diaries” (http://thebuddhadiaries.blogspot.com/) and “Persist: The Blog” (http://pcpersist.blogspot.com/ ); and his latest publication is “Persist: In Praise of the Creative Spirit in a World Gone Mad with Commerce” (Parami Press, 2010.). He has published widely in national magazines, and is the author of DAVID HOCKNEY in the Abbeville Modern Masters series. A former academic, now twenty years in recovery, he is currently a full-time free-lance writer. He has published two novels, two books of poetry and a memoir, “While I Am Not Afraid.”
1) What religion do you practice?
I have a daily meditation practice and I join with a sitting group each Sunday. I follow the teaching of The Buddha but I do not call myself a Buddhist.
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I came to the meditation practice late in life. I was born and raised as an Anglican by my father who was an Anglican minister. I practiced no religion for the greater part of my adult life and found in Buddhism a sane and rational religious teaching which I could follow without resorting to magical thinking.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
I would consider myself a liberal. Perhaps even a Socialist!
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
My concern for social justice and the well being of the human species.
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
Conservatism as it is practiced and preached in our culture today, seems to attract those whose self-interest is the primary goal. To be a moderate in my view is to take others into consideration.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
I have no vision of heaven or paradise. Nor do I believe in either.
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
In my opinion, there is no heaven or paradise to go to. It surprises and disappoints me that those who do believe in heaven or paradise take such a proprietary view and wish to exclude others.
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It’s sane, it’s rational, it’s practical, with an emphasis on the practical. I am a pragmatist at heart.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
I believe that The Buddha would see no day and every day to be a holy day. It’s always a matter of the here and now. Since my wife is Jewish we observe the Jewish festivals, but more as a matter of ritual and tradition than as religion.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Sure.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I do it all the time. See above.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
My gut response is that these are the relics of a medieval way of practicing religion. At this level I find them to be barbaric. My more compassionate self reminds me to be tolerant of the belief of others, but in this case I find that to be hard.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
Again, medieval and barbaric. Have we learned nothing?
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No. My little sangha or sitting group does not segregate. I would not go there if it did.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
I find the teaching of The Buddha to be an indispensible guide to a healthy and compassionate life. I do everything I can to learn from this wisdom and apply it in my daily life and every aspect of my thought. In this light, it certainly affects my opinions on controversial subjects.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
It would not concern me in the least.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
I certainly hope so. Just kidding. What a question.
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
How about the Dalai Lama? I am not a Tibetan Buddhist but in many respects he represents my views especially those on compassion and the search for happiness. There are many populists spokespersons for Buddhism, some tend to water it down or Westernize it in ways I am not entirely comfortable with, but the core message is usually pretty clear; do no harm, have compassion for others, and don’t forget to breathe.
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes.
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
This is a very hard question and one that stands between me and an unreserved embrace of Buddhism. My rational, doubting self finds it impossible to conceive of returning to this life in another form. Perhaps, if it’s no more than a transmutation of energy…
I wish to thank Ruby Sara for sharing her journey with us last week. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it! Thank you Ruby!
This week we have a new interview, so please welcome Peter Clothier.
Peter is a Buddhist and I know you will enjoy his post as well!
Here Is Peter Clothier's Introduction:
PETER CLOTHIER is a meditation practitioner who writes chiefly about art and artists in Southern California. His daily writing practice includes two blogs, “The Buddha Diaries” (http://thebuddhadiaries.blogspot.com/) and “Persist: The Blog” (http://pcpersist.blogspot.com/ ); and his latest publication is “Persist: In Praise of the Creative Spirit in a World Gone Mad with Commerce” (Parami Press, 2010.). He has published widely in national magazines, and is the author of DAVID HOCKNEY in the Abbeville Modern Masters series. A former academic, now twenty years in recovery, he is currently a full-time free-lance writer. He has published two novels, two books of poetry and a memoir, “While I Am Not Afraid.”
1) What religion do you practice?
I have a daily meditation practice and I join with a sitting group each Sunday. I follow the teaching of The Buddha but I do not call myself a Buddhist.
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I came to the meditation practice late in life. I was born and raised as an Anglican by my father who was an Anglican minister. I practiced no religion for the greater part of my adult life and found in Buddhism a sane and rational religious teaching which I could follow without resorting to magical thinking.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
I would consider myself a liberal. Perhaps even a Socialist!
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
My concern for social justice and the well being of the human species.
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
Conservatism as it is practiced and preached in our culture today, seems to attract those whose self-interest is the primary goal. To be a moderate in my view is to take others into consideration.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
I have no vision of heaven or paradise. Nor do I believe in either.
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
In my opinion, there is no heaven or paradise to go to. It surprises and disappoints me that those who do believe in heaven or paradise take such a proprietary view and wish to exclude others.
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It’s sane, it’s rational, it’s practical, with an emphasis on the practical. I am a pragmatist at heart.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
I believe that The Buddha would see no day and every day to be a holy day. It’s always a matter of the here and now. Since my wife is Jewish we observe the Jewish festivals, but more as a matter of ritual and tradition than as religion.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Sure.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I do it all the time. See above.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
My gut response is that these are the relics of a medieval way of practicing religion. At this level I find them to be barbaric. My more compassionate self reminds me to be tolerant of the belief of others, but in this case I find that to be hard.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
Again, medieval and barbaric. Have we learned nothing?
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No. My little sangha or sitting group does not segregate. I would not go there if it did.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
I find the teaching of The Buddha to be an indispensible guide to a healthy and compassionate life. I do everything I can to learn from this wisdom and apply it in my daily life and every aspect of my thought. In this light, it certainly affects my opinions on controversial subjects.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
It would not concern me in the least.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
I certainly hope so. Just kidding. What a question.
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
How about the Dalai Lama? I am not a Tibetan Buddhist but in many respects he represents my views especially those on compassion and the search for happiness. There are many populists spokespersons for Buddhism, some tend to water it down or Westernize it in ways I am not entirely comfortable with, but the core message is usually pretty clear; do no harm, have compassion for others, and don’t forget to breathe.
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes.
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
This is a very hard question and one that stands between me and an unreserved embrace of Buddhism. My rational, doubting self finds it impossible to conceive of returning to this life in another form. Perhaps, if it’s no more than a transmutation of energy…
Saturday, November 6, 2010
AnOceanofJoy
Hello and Happy Saturday!
I wish to thank Rachel for her very interesting interview last week- thank you for sharing your journey with us Rachel!
This week we have a new interview, so please welcome AnOceanofJoy.
AnOceanofJoy is Buddhist and I know you will enjoy his post as well!
Here Is AnOceanofJoy's Introduction:
I am a 28 year old guy living in London. In 2007 I underwent a Near Death Experience and spiritual transformation which has since led to me becoming a Buddhist. I have a Bachelor Degree in International Studies and currently work as a Policy Officer for a Cancer Charity. I am very interested in world religions, in particular Buddhist traditions, and would like to hear from other people who have gone through similar spiritual emergences. email: anoceanofjoy@gmail.com
http://oceanofjoy.blogspot.com/
1) What religion do you practice?
Buddhism
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
For most of my life I was an atheist and shared most, if not all of the views shared by the fellow atheists who have contributed to this blog. I was incredibly anti most religions, I thought the concepts of heaven and hell were utterly ridiculous and subscribed fervently to Shakespeare’s old adage that “Life is a tale told by an idiot full of sounds and fury signifying absolutely nothing.”
Boy was I given a big wake up call.
When I was 27 I went out with a group of friends one night and I ingested a large
amount of the drug ketamine, an anaesthetic known to produce strong disassociation and the collapse of the ego in higher doses. What happened to me was quite simply beyond words, beyond anything I could have even begin to have conceived of in my wildest dreams. Basically I experienced the death of my ego and an enormous spiritual awakening. I have since had the opportunity to do a lot of reading on the power of different entheogens, many of which have been used by tribes, shamans and as part of religious ceremonies throughout history. I was the most ardent disbeliever in anything spiritual before I had this experience. To this day I cannot believe just how powerful what happened to me was. Overnight, my entire perspective on my innner most nature, and the nature of existence was completely and irrevocably changed.
Since that time I have been seeking some kind of explanation - both scientific and spiritual - about what happened to me. I have been in contact with shamans in south America, ketamine researchers in Russia, monks, theologists, quantam physicists and anyone who may be able to help me understand the experience. What really blew me away was my discovery that once you dig below the surfence you start to realise that there are thousands if not millions of people who have been able to break through the human ego and into the spiritual realm through the use of different types of entheogens. I should make a point here that I am not talking about simply getting high on drugs – which I am by no means condoning. Entheogens are not recreational drugs, they are substances often found in nature such as in flowers, cacti and plants, and in my opinion they exist for a reason. Put quite simply, until you have experienced the spirutual state these plants are capable of producing, it is unfortunately impossible to have an opinion on this type of experience. It's completely ineffable. If somebody had of tried to explain it to me before I had this experience I would have told them that they were nuts. In any case a more detailed account of my near death experience is available here.
http://oceanofjoy.blogspot.com/2010/02/what-does-it-feel-like-to-die.html
Since my near death experience I have been using Buddhism as a way of exploring two things I have taken for granted for most of my life – my mind and human consciousness. You don’t necessarily have to formally convert to become a Buddhist, you merely need to start adopting Buddhist practices in your life. Should you feel the need to take part in a ceremony, the ceremony involved is called ‘Taking Refuge’. The refuge ceremony centres on what are referred to the three jewels (or refuges) of Buddhism:
-the Buddha
-the Dharma, his teachings;
-the Sangha, the Buddhist community
In going to refuge you surrender yourself to these three jewels.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
Having only just adopted Buddhism in my life in the past few years I would say that I am still quite new to the practice, and not entirely devoted to it. I have adopted what I find useful from Buddhist philosophy, but happily read the philosophy of other religions such as Hinduism and the Vedas (ancient Indian texts written in Vedic Sanskrit) which form the basis for much eastern thought.)
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
I consider myself to be quite moderate and open because I am not dogmatic about the way in which I use Buddhism in my life, and I certainly don't try to impose the pathway I have chosen on others. I also do not adhere to Buddhism to the exclusion of all other religions and I believe that all religions are ways in which mankind tries to put into words and narratives something that is ultimately ineffable. To use a metaphor, I imagine the religions of the world as camps of men and women standing around an enormous bonfire which we might term ‘god’ or ‘existence’ or the ‘universe’ etc. One group might claim that the fire they see is orange, others from their perspective may say it as red, others yellow. No doubt each group will have its own take on the fire and its characteristics – i.e. its size, its purpose, its meaning etc. But the most important thing we must always keep in mind when we engage in pan-religious dialogues; is that we are all still talking about the same fire… and each of us who has chosen to pursue a spiritual path in life feels it burning deeply inside and knows its existence to be real. Thus we can appreciate how for each of those groups of men and women standing around the fire of creation, that their perspective, their narrative, their way of coming to terms with this enormous phenomenon is true for them, regardless of whether or not it is true from an ontological perspective. The ultimate truth of the universe and of our inner most nature is, in my opinion, not static. It is multifaceted, intertwined, multidimensional, and no doubt quite beyond our ability as humans to comprehend. Even if we were told what the true nature of god was, odds are we would probably we incapable of understanding it . There are many truths regarding god and I believe that the ineffability of the divine is one of the main reasons why we should remain humble and respectful of the diversity of all of the narratives (religions) that have been passed down throughout the eons of human existence.
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
I think these terms are for the most part quite unhelpful since they are used in so many different contexts. 'Conservative' seems to point towards a strict adherence and literal interpretations of the doctrines of the religion, whereas 'moderate' would seem to indicate a more liberal approach. I think before I could judge somebody on their claim to one of these classfications I would have to hear their position in greater detail.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
The Buddhist perspective of paradise is known as ‘nirvana’ or 'enlightenment', although it would be quite reasonable to assert that the narratives expounded by all religions of what this place/state may be like are essentially describing the same thing. Enlightenment, nirvana, heaven, whatever you want to call it, is not a place, it is a spiritual realisation, a level a consciousness reached once we have learnt what we are meant to learn as human beings. In Buddhism this would be qualities such as selflessness, abundant compassion for sentient beings, the separation of ego and self, detachment from emotions etc. We cannot move beyond our earthly existence until we are a truly weary with what Buddhist’s refer to as Samsara (the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth). Release from this cycle is said to occur through deep introspection, meditation and then the ultimate realisation that reality as we know it is created by the ego, which incessantly affirms the notion that we are individuals; fractured shards of a mirror which cannot be placed back together. The mind itself is like a dusty shard of this fractured mirror clouded by thoughts and emotions. But in silence and meditation the mind is capable of becoming like a brightly polished mirror capable of reflecting back on itself and ultimately realising the true nature of human existence.
The philosopher Alan Watts, speaking on the true nature of the divine said:
“God likes to play hide-and-seek, but because there is nothing outside God, he has no one but himself to play with. But he gets over this difficulty by pretending that he is not himself. This is his way of hiding from himself. He pretends that he is you and I and all the people in the world, all the animals, all the plants, all the rocks, and all the stars. In this way he has strange and wonderful adventures, some of which are terrible and frightening. But these are just like bad dreams, for when he wakes up they will disappear.
Now when God plays hide and pretends that he is you and I, he does it so well that it takes him a long time to remember where and how he hid himself. But that's the whole fun of it—just what he wanted to do. He doesn't want to find himself too quickly, for that would spoil the game. That is why it is so difficult for you and me to find out that we are God in disguise, pretending not to be himself. But when the game has gone on long enough, all of us will wake up, stop pretending, and remember that we are all one single Self—the God who is all that there is and who lives for ever and ever.
-- Alan Watts, 'On the taboo of knowing who you are'
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Buddhists would say that the place where your consciousness evolves to depends on your past actions (karma). Since every action, no matter how small, has a resulting reaction, where we end up after this life greatly depends on what the sum of all our actions are. Since Buddhists believe that heaven and hell and spiritual states rather than physical places, it stands to order that we ourselves are the ones who condemn ourselves to lower forms of rebirth through our own ignorance – not understanding our true nature, and clinging to our ego. The notion that heaven is like some sort of club which we either “make it into” or not seems to me an oversimplification of a far more complex process. For example, how could I as a Buddhist, whose primary concern is developing compassion for all sentient beings, be content with achieving a state of nirvana and then leaving all my fellow human beings left to wander through Samsaric existence (the illusion of reality.) All human beings, regardless of whether or not they have lived a good life or a very evil have a right to break free from suffering. I can think of no crime, no action, no deed so evil that it could warrant an eternity of suffering in a place such as hell. I can however conceive of a state of mind where the human being would be forced to come to terms with the affects that his or her actions had. If many evil acts were committed in a lifetime this realisation after death may be a very painful and protracted one which we might describe as a form of hell. It would not be a permanent state of being though since even a large amount of negative karma can eventually be exhausted through wisdom and the realisation of our errors.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
I personally do not celebrate any holy days, although many exist in Buddism.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Because not everyone has the same inclinations and interests, Buddha taught various methods to different people. Citing this example, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said that it is wonderful that so many different religions exist in the world. Just as one food will not appeal to everybody, one religion or one set of beliefs will not satisfy everyone's needs. Therefore, it is extremely beneficial that a variety of different religions are available from which to choose.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I would as I think that all religions are precious and that we can learn something from each and every one of them. Joining in on their holy days would be a very special experience indeed.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
This is definitely quite a topical area for discussion. Personally I am against any form of oppression, such as the idea that women need to cover up to help men avoid physical lust. I understand however that many Muslim women choose to cover up to show their devotion to their religion. I think any form of religious fundamentalism is dangerous. It’s almost as though people get so caught up in the finer details of the religion that they forget the most important tenets, love, respect, compassion, and loving thy neighbour regardless of his or her differences. A person’s spiritual journey should not be imposed on them by another. Spiritual development is a process and we must all be free to develop at our own pace. In the same way that one would not rip apart the petals of a flower had it not yet begun to bloom, one should not force the hand of a person who is not ready to contemplate spiritual matters. This included by imposing cultures, customs, and ways of dressing.
With regards to Shariah Law, I feel it important to note that many people speak of Shariah law without realising that the term describes many different ways of ruling Islamic society. There are in fact many different schools of Shariah Law which include:
Hanbali: This is the most conservative school of Shari'a. It is used in Saudi Arabia and some states in Northern Nigeria.
Hanifi: This is the most liberal school, and is relatively open to modern ideas.
Maliki: This is based on the practices of the people of Medina during Muhammad's lifetime.
Shafi'i: This is a conservative school that emphasizes on the opinions of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad.
From http://www.religioustolerance.org/islsharia.htm
Muslims say the Western world misrepresents Shariah by focusing on beheadings in Saudi Arabia and other gruesome punishments. The equivalent, they say, would be a debate about the history of Western law focused on America's electric chair.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
I believe that men and women are equal and therefore would have no problem with a woman becoming a priest.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No, Buddhism is open to any person regardless of their gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation etc.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
I think the entire point of religion is to give us guidelines, morals, ethics, principles etc by which to live our life. It has been said that Buddhism is more than a religion - it is a philosophy of life, a way of choosing to view human existence. Since the meaning of the word Buddha is “awakened one”, a Buddhist spends most of his or her life trying to achieve this state of spiritual awakening. This means cultivating a very high level of self awareness and learning not to let negative human emotions such as anger and hatred consume oneself.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I do not believe that love and religions are coterminous. All human beings should be free to love the person most dear to them regardless of their religion, gender, race etc.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
I do not believe hell is a place, I believe it is a state we condemn ourselves to through clinging, ignorance and hatred. As I previously mentioned I believe that all religions are narratives – ways of explaining and developing an awareness of something that is, in essence, completely beyond the ability of language to articulate. There is a very good documentary which elaborates on this which can be found here.
http://oceanofjoy.blogspot.com/2010/07/consciousness-drives-universe.html
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
Most Buddhists would agree that the Dalai Lama is the highest authority on Buddhism in the world today. His message of peace, love and tolerance has won him the respect not just of Buddhists but of people from all religions and walks of life across the globe. He is also a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
I don’t think it gives me peace of mind but it gives me the drive to be a better person and to develop the wisdom I believe we all need as humans to evolve to a higher spiritual state of being.
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Reincarnation is one the principal tenets of Buddhism. It centres on the idea of impermanency, and that everything in the universe is cyclical. In recent times scientific enquiry, through quantum physics, had also proven many of the ideas underpinning the Buddhist concept of reincarnation – i.e. that energy can never cease to exist, the uncertainty principle etc.
Here is a quote from a very good article discussing the quantam physics perspective on reincarnation
We, ourselves, consist entirely of quantum stings. Our identities, our names, our personalities, our beliefs, opinions, senses of humor-indeed, what we think of as our minds. We consist of one-dimensional bits of the cosmic total. And we might just as well be different bits--elsewhere--because the "self" is essentially an organizing principle which we have imposed upon this chaos. If you were to stand back far away from us, we would appear to be a no-dimensional point, but as you draw closer, we are revealed to be a great deal more than that.
Therefore, our identities were assembled from this quantum material, or Ether, by the organizing principle of our conception of ourselves. We bring ourselves into being. Our consciousness is the gravitation. We came from whirling nothing, we return to whirling nothing. The dust we came from and the dust to which we return are not really there, but thinking makes it so.
These bits might as comfortably be at the other end of the universe as where they are. Only by the act of regarding them do we hold them together. You assemble your bits, I assemble mine, and when we cease thinking they all fly back into the general pool of Everything, Everywhere. So you and I temporarily consist of ourselves, and someday may well consist of other selves. We will be back, but a precious lot of good it will do us, because we won't know it. So, yes, reincarnation is possible from a rationalist, scientific point of view. We have been and will be reincarnated as part of the vast store of everything there is. We will be suns, moon, stars, rain. Look for us in the weather reports.
I wish to thank Rachel for her very interesting interview last week- thank you for sharing your journey with us Rachel!
This week we have a new interview, so please welcome AnOceanofJoy.
AnOceanofJoy is Buddhist and I know you will enjoy his post as well!
Here Is AnOceanofJoy's Introduction:
I am a 28 year old guy living in London. In 2007 I underwent a Near Death Experience and spiritual transformation which has since led to me becoming a Buddhist. I have a Bachelor Degree in International Studies and currently work as a Policy Officer for a Cancer Charity. I am very interested in world religions, in particular Buddhist traditions, and would like to hear from other people who have gone through similar spiritual emergences. email: anoceanofjoy@gmail.com
http://oceanofjoy.blogspot.com/
1) What religion do you practice?
Buddhism
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
For most of my life I was an atheist and shared most, if not all of the views shared by the fellow atheists who have contributed to this blog. I was incredibly anti most religions, I thought the concepts of heaven and hell were utterly ridiculous and subscribed fervently to Shakespeare’s old adage that “Life is a tale told by an idiot full of sounds and fury signifying absolutely nothing.”
Boy was I given a big wake up call.
When I was 27 I went out with a group of friends one night and I ingested a large
amount of the drug ketamine, an anaesthetic known to produce strong disassociation and the collapse of the ego in higher doses. What happened to me was quite simply beyond words, beyond anything I could have even begin to have conceived of in my wildest dreams. Basically I experienced the death of my ego and an enormous spiritual awakening. I have since had the opportunity to do a lot of reading on the power of different entheogens, many of which have been used by tribes, shamans and as part of religious ceremonies throughout history. I was the most ardent disbeliever in anything spiritual before I had this experience. To this day I cannot believe just how powerful what happened to me was. Overnight, my entire perspective on my innner most nature, and the nature of existence was completely and irrevocably changed.
Since that time I have been seeking some kind of explanation - both scientific and spiritual - about what happened to me. I have been in contact with shamans in south America, ketamine researchers in Russia, monks, theologists, quantam physicists and anyone who may be able to help me understand the experience. What really blew me away was my discovery that once you dig below the surfence you start to realise that there are thousands if not millions of people who have been able to break through the human ego and into the spiritual realm through the use of different types of entheogens. I should make a point here that I am not talking about simply getting high on drugs – which I am by no means condoning. Entheogens are not recreational drugs, they are substances often found in nature such as in flowers, cacti and plants, and in my opinion they exist for a reason. Put quite simply, until you have experienced the spirutual state these plants are capable of producing, it is unfortunately impossible to have an opinion on this type of experience. It's completely ineffable. If somebody had of tried to explain it to me before I had this experience I would have told them that they were nuts. In any case a more detailed account of my near death experience is available here.
http://oceanofjoy.blogspot.com/2010/02/what-does-it-feel-like-to-die.html
Since my near death experience I have been using Buddhism as a way of exploring two things I have taken for granted for most of my life – my mind and human consciousness. You don’t necessarily have to formally convert to become a Buddhist, you merely need to start adopting Buddhist practices in your life. Should you feel the need to take part in a ceremony, the ceremony involved is called ‘Taking Refuge’. The refuge ceremony centres on what are referred to the three jewels (or refuges) of Buddhism:
-the Buddha
-the Dharma, his teachings;
-the Sangha, the Buddhist community
In going to refuge you surrender yourself to these three jewels.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
Having only just adopted Buddhism in my life in the past few years I would say that I am still quite new to the practice, and not entirely devoted to it. I have adopted what I find useful from Buddhist philosophy, but happily read the philosophy of other religions such as Hinduism and the Vedas (ancient Indian texts written in Vedic Sanskrit) which form the basis for much eastern thought.)
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
I consider myself to be quite moderate and open because I am not dogmatic about the way in which I use Buddhism in my life, and I certainly don't try to impose the pathway I have chosen on others. I also do not adhere to Buddhism to the exclusion of all other religions and I believe that all religions are ways in which mankind tries to put into words and narratives something that is ultimately ineffable. To use a metaphor, I imagine the religions of the world as camps of men and women standing around an enormous bonfire which we might term ‘god’ or ‘existence’ or the ‘universe’ etc. One group might claim that the fire they see is orange, others from their perspective may say it as red, others yellow. No doubt each group will have its own take on the fire and its characteristics – i.e. its size, its purpose, its meaning etc. But the most important thing we must always keep in mind when we engage in pan-religious dialogues; is that we are all still talking about the same fire… and each of us who has chosen to pursue a spiritual path in life feels it burning deeply inside and knows its existence to be real. Thus we can appreciate how for each of those groups of men and women standing around the fire of creation, that their perspective, their narrative, their way of coming to terms with this enormous phenomenon is true for them, regardless of whether or not it is true from an ontological perspective. The ultimate truth of the universe and of our inner most nature is, in my opinion, not static. It is multifaceted, intertwined, multidimensional, and no doubt quite beyond our ability as humans to comprehend. Even if we were told what the true nature of god was, odds are we would probably we incapable of understanding it . There are many truths regarding god and I believe that the ineffability of the divine is one of the main reasons why we should remain humble and respectful of the diversity of all of the narratives (religions) that have been passed down throughout the eons of human existence.
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
I think these terms are for the most part quite unhelpful since they are used in so many different contexts. 'Conservative' seems to point towards a strict adherence and literal interpretations of the doctrines of the religion, whereas 'moderate' would seem to indicate a more liberal approach. I think before I could judge somebody on their claim to one of these classfications I would have to hear their position in greater detail.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
The Buddhist perspective of paradise is known as ‘nirvana’ or 'enlightenment', although it would be quite reasonable to assert that the narratives expounded by all religions of what this place/state may be like are essentially describing the same thing. Enlightenment, nirvana, heaven, whatever you want to call it, is not a place, it is a spiritual realisation, a level a consciousness reached once we have learnt what we are meant to learn as human beings. In Buddhism this would be qualities such as selflessness, abundant compassion for sentient beings, the separation of ego and self, detachment from emotions etc. We cannot move beyond our earthly existence until we are a truly weary with what Buddhist’s refer to as Samsara (the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth). Release from this cycle is said to occur through deep introspection, meditation and then the ultimate realisation that reality as we know it is created by the ego, which incessantly affirms the notion that we are individuals; fractured shards of a mirror which cannot be placed back together. The mind itself is like a dusty shard of this fractured mirror clouded by thoughts and emotions. But in silence and meditation the mind is capable of becoming like a brightly polished mirror capable of reflecting back on itself and ultimately realising the true nature of human existence.
The philosopher Alan Watts, speaking on the true nature of the divine said:
“God likes to play hide-and-seek, but because there is nothing outside God, he has no one but himself to play with. But he gets over this difficulty by pretending that he is not himself. This is his way of hiding from himself. He pretends that he is you and I and all the people in the world, all the animals, all the plants, all the rocks, and all the stars. In this way he has strange and wonderful adventures, some of which are terrible and frightening. But these are just like bad dreams, for when he wakes up they will disappear.
Now when God plays hide and pretends that he is you and I, he does it so well that it takes him a long time to remember where and how he hid himself. But that's the whole fun of it—just what he wanted to do. He doesn't want to find himself too quickly, for that would spoil the game. That is why it is so difficult for you and me to find out that we are God in disguise, pretending not to be himself. But when the game has gone on long enough, all of us will wake up, stop pretending, and remember that we are all one single Self—the God who is all that there is and who lives for ever and ever.
-- Alan Watts, 'On the taboo of knowing who you are'
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Buddhists would say that the place where your consciousness evolves to depends on your past actions (karma). Since every action, no matter how small, has a resulting reaction, where we end up after this life greatly depends on what the sum of all our actions are. Since Buddhists believe that heaven and hell and spiritual states rather than physical places, it stands to order that we ourselves are the ones who condemn ourselves to lower forms of rebirth through our own ignorance – not understanding our true nature, and clinging to our ego. The notion that heaven is like some sort of club which we either “make it into” or not seems to me an oversimplification of a far more complex process. For example, how could I as a Buddhist, whose primary concern is developing compassion for all sentient beings, be content with achieving a state of nirvana and then leaving all my fellow human beings left to wander through Samsaric existence (the illusion of reality.) All human beings, regardless of whether or not they have lived a good life or a very evil have a right to break free from suffering. I can think of no crime, no action, no deed so evil that it could warrant an eternity of suffering in a place such as hell. I can however conceive of a state of mind where the human being would be forced to come to terms with the affects that his or her actions had. If many evil acts were committed in a lifetime this realisation after death may be a very painful and protracted one which we might describe as a form of hell. It would not be a permanent state of being though since even a large amount of negative karma can eventually be exhausted through wisdom and the realisation of our errors.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
I personally do not celebrate any holy days, although many exist in Buddism.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Because not everyone has the same inclinations and interests, Buddha taught various methods to different people. Citing this example, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said that it is wonderful that so many different religions exist in the world. Just as one food will not appeal to everybody, one religion or one set of beliefs will not satisfy everyone's needs. Therefore, it is extremely beneficial that a variety of different religions are available from which to choose.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I would as I think that all religions are precious and that we can learn something from each and every one of them. Joining in on their holy days would be a very special experience indeed.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
This is definitely quite a topical area for discussion. Personally I am against any form of oppression, such as the idea that women need to cover up to help men avoid physical lust. I understand however that many Muslim women choose to cover up to show their devotion to their religion. I think any form of religious fundamentalism is dangerous. It’s almost as though people get so caught up in the finer details of the religion that they forget the most important tenets, love, respect, compassion, and loving thy neighbour regardless of his or her differences. A person’s spiritual journey should not be imposed on them by another. Spiritual development is a process and we must all be free to develop at our own pace. In the same way that one would not rip apart the petals of a flower had it not yet begun to bloom, one should not force the hand of a person who is not ready to contemplate spiritual matters. This included by imposing cultures, customs, and ways of dressing.
With regards to Shariah Law, I feel it important to note that many people speak of Shariah law without realising that the term describes many different ways of ruling Islamic society. There are in fact many different schools of Shariah Law which include:
Hanbali: This is the most conservative school of Shari'a. It is used in Saudi Arabia and some states in Northern Nigeria.
Hanifi: This is the most liberal school, and is relatively open to modern ideas.
Maliki: This is based on the practices of the people of Medina during Muhammad's lifetime.
Shafi'i: This is a conservative school that emphasizes on the opinions of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad.
From http://www.religioustolerance.org/islsharia.htm
Muslims say the Western world misrepresents Shariah by focusing on beheadings in Saudi Arabia and other gruesome punishments. The equivalent, they say, would be a debate about the history of Western law focused on America's electric chair.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
I believe that men and women are equal and therefore would have no problem with a woman becoming a priest.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No, Buddhism is open to any person regardless of their gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation etc.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
I think the entire point of religion is to give us guidelines, morals, ethics, principles etc by which to live our life. It has been said that Buddhism is more than a religion - it is a philosophy of life, a way of choosing to view human existence. Since the meaning of the word Buddha is “awakened one”, a Buddhist spends most of his or her life trying to achieve this state of spiritual awakening. This means cultivating a very high level of self awareness and learning not to let negative human emotions such as anger and hatred consume oneself.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I do not believe that love and religions are coterminous. All human beings should be free to love the person most dear to them regardless of their religion, gender, race etc.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
I do not believe hell is a place, I believe it is a state we condemn ourselves to through clinging, ignorance and hatred. As I previously mentioned I believe that all religions are narratives – ways of explaining and developing an awareness of something that is, in essence, completely beyond the ability of language to articulate. There is a very good documentary which elaborates on this which can be found here.
http://oceanofjoy.blogspot.com/2010/07/consciousness-drives-universe.html
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
Most Buddhists would agree that the Dalai Lama is the highest authority on Buddhism in the world today. His message of peace, love and tolerance has won him the respect not just of Buddhists but of people from all religions and walks of life across the globe. He is also a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
I don’t think it gives me peace of mind but it gives me the drive to be a better person and to develop the wisdom I believe we all need as humans to evolve to a higher spiritual state of being.
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Reincarnation is one the principal tenets of Buddhism. It centres on the idea of impermanency, and that everything in the universe is cyclical. In recent times scientific enquiry, through quantum physics, had also proven many of the ideas underpinning the Buddhist concept of reincarnation – i.e. that energy can never cease to exist, the uncertainty principle etc.
Here is a quote from a very good article discussing the quantam physics perspective on reincarnation
We, ourselves, consist entirely of quantum stings. Our identities, our names, our personalities, our beliefs, opinions, senses of humor-indeed, what we think of as our minds. We consist of one-dimensional bits of the cosmic total. And we might just as well be different bits--elsewhere--because the "self" is essentially an organizing principle which we have imposed upon this chaos. If you were to stand back far away from us, we would appear to be a no-dimensional point, but as you draw closer, we are revealed to be a great deal more than that.
Therefore, our identities were assembled from this quantum material, or Ether, by the organizing principle of our conception of ourselves. We bring ourselves into being. Our consciousness is the gravitation. We came from whirling nothing, we return to whirling nothing. The dust we came from and the dust to which we return are not really there, but thinking makes it so.
These bits might as comfortably be at the other end of the universe as where they are. Only by the act of regarding them do we hold them together. You assemble your bits, I assemble mine, and when we cease thinking they all fly back into the general pool of Everything, Everywhere. So you and I temporarily consist of ourselves, and someday may well consist of other selves. We will be back, but a precious lot of good it will do us, because we won't know it. So, yes, reincarnation is possible from a rationalist, scientific point of view. We have been and will be reincarnated as part of the vast store of everything there is. We will be suns, moon, stars, rain. Look for us in the weather reports.
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