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Ignorance and Buddhism....
This is just a story that happened to me yesterday that goes to show how ignorant some people are when it comes to religion.
Yesterday afternoon I was on my way to “Change your mind day” in the park. A gathering held to introduce the general public to Buddhism, for those who aren’t familiar with it here’s the link http://www.tricycle.com/foundation/change.html.
Anyhow, I ended up at the wrong place and decided to ask a women working there for help. After asking her, she thought for a moment and then replied “ Oh, that voodoo convention, it’s right down the road.” It took me a second to realize that we were talking about the same thing. Voodoo??? But, instead of getting into it with her I simply corrected her and said thank you.
In reality I was appalled that she had the audacity to make such an assumption. Just because it’s a religion other than Christianity or Judaism it can be grouped in the same category as voodoo. Now thinking back I wish I would have explained to her the tremendous differences between the two. But then again, I wonder if it’s even worth the time and effort trying to explain something to such an ignorant person? :banghead: I don’t know.
Yesterday afternoon I was on my way to “Change your mind day” in the park. A gathering held to introduce the general public to Buddhism, for those who aren’t familiar with it here’s the link http://www.tricycle.com/foundation/change.html.
Anyhow, I ended up at the wrong place and decided to ask a women working there for help. After asking her, she thought for a moment and then replied “ Oh, that voodoo convention, it’s right down the road.” It took me a second to realize that we were talking about the same thing. Voodoo??? But, instead of getting into it with her I simply corrected her and said thank you.
In reality I was appalled that she had the audacity to make such an assumption. Just because it’s a religion other than Christianity or Judaism it can be grouped in the same category as voodoo. Now thinking back I wish I would have explained to her the tremendous differences between the two. But then again, I wonder if it’s even worth the time and effort trying to explain something to such an ignorant person? :banghead: I don’t know.
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Comments
One of the greatest gifts is the gift of the Dharma - with that in mind maybe a good response would have been to carefully ask the woman where she heard such things about Buddhism and then give her your opinions on the two religions.
If you don't have the time to explain things to ignorant people who are you going to explain them to?
My favorite in recent memory:
"You're a Christian, aren't you?"
"No, I'm Buddhist."
"Really?" than a pause... "But you still worship Jesus, don't you?"
There have been a lot of really dumb ones like, "That's one of them Communist religions, ain't it?"
reply: "No, it's one practiced mostly by intellectuals."
I tell myself that tolerating even the questions that are intended to be hurtful is another step towards Enlightenment. (If that doesn't count, please don't disillusion me!)
Maybe you should accept the comments and not tolerate them.
Yes, you are correct, but accepting with an open mind and filing away for consideration takes more practice than I have had. Tolerating with a smile after quick evaluation and not filing them in the "to be considered" drawer is the best I can manage at present.