On being an adult and wanting to be a "Buddhist"
shadowleaver
Veteran
Yesterday I was at a Dharma talk in my favorite Zen Center. I asked the Teacher a question along the lines of : "you just said X but why does Buddhism seem to teach Y, the opposite of X?". His answer started with "I don't really care about what Buddhism teaches". He often says that and when he does, my mind goes "whaaaat?" and a period of intense reflection follows.
The thing is, a part of me really likes calling self a "Buddhist". It gets all cozy when exposed to Buddhist terminology and iconography, and gets quite upset when Buddhism as actually practiced is not to its liking. It craves for a quasi-family in the form of other Buddhists and for an anchor in the turbulent waters of the world in the form of Buddhism. Above all, it believes that The Answer to all that upsets and confuses me exists out there and comes from people in foreign looking robes.
Yet the moments of most openness and clarity come precisely when that teenager in me who wants to be told by someone else what the world is and how to be in it is bitterly disappointed. The adult in me knows that all humans, including those considered wise, even the Buddha himself, are struggling, often confused, self-contradictory and fragile creatures, just like me. Each and every human, including all spiritual teachers, get cranky when ill, horny when exposed to sexual stimuli, are subject to the draw of money, like some people and dislike other people etc etc. That is so obviously true and it is the acceptance of that truth that is necessary for me to feel like a mature person.
And what of "spirituality"? Since a very young age I strongly intuited that I am a part of a magnificent whole. That the only way to be happy is to trust that Magnificent Whole and to let it guide me. That the less I am focused on "me" and the more on it, the better for everyone. I knew that when walking my dog in a big forest, when listening to Beethoven or when receiving love from my elders. God (or was that Buddha Nature?) is as simple as it is necessary, like air. When my teenage need to attach some label to myself and for others to give me answers is not met, only God remains to fall on. And I feel like I have finally grown up.
As you can see, I am really unsure of this whole idea of being a "Buddhist" and holding too tight to any words "Buddhism" teaches, be it Karma, Nirvana, Emptiness or Dharma. I guess there is usefulness to framing one's mind in a consistent way and focusing one's effort. And I do think that of all major attempts of Humanity at teaching Wisdom, Buddhism has the least amount of extra stuff in it. Yet how easily that too can become a prison! My Zen Teacher with his "I want to teach you to be you" message really keeps me out of that prison, even despite the immature parts of me wanting to be in it.
And how about you? What is your relationship to "Biddhist" and "Buddhism"?
Comments
All labels confine. If we are not the same from one breath to the next. If we are constantly in the flux of impermanence. What’s the use in clinging to labels for who we are at one moment. We cannot even confine the world to labels never mind our selves.
Being is the teacher, doesn’t matter what it comes through. (For me anyway)
Strip it all down
In my day to day life I really don't give it much thought...but when necessary I do use the label for conventional convenience, it gives people a rough idea of where I'm coming from when they hear the label/word Buddhist or Buddhism...
I’m not a great fan of labels, I’m always reluctant to say “I’m a ...” because it’s pigeon-holing, it creates a certain expectation, whereas I’m a unique human being and can be quite original. It’s tricky, sometimes I’m tempted to let the label do the talking for me when I’m in a quiet mood.
I like what Osho once said, which was to learn from the Buddha but not to be a Buddhist. I don’t so much feel the need to belong, but I am always looking for tools to further illuminate the inner world.
I aim to be 100% Buddhist of 100% Buddhism.
Labels only confine when you make them confine.
I am a Buddhist. Buddhism is a very big umbrella. basically, whichever school or teaching you espouse, follow and/or practice, they all trace back to and claim a foundation from the Historic Buddha (Sakyamuny aka Sidhartha..). Our specific traditions and core sutra(s) differ. The Tantric Buddhists hail through Tibet and Nepal. The Thervadic lineage went primarily through the route of Indo-China. The various Mahayana hail through China to Korea and Japan.
I apply oneness of person and environment, unity of mind and body, karma is not fixed but mutable, the source of enlightenment is within each of us..Unlike Zen and others, my meditation is with a "mantra" (Nam Myoho Renge Kyo) and my practice is interactive and proactive with the world around me.
Time and temperment dictate I conclude at this point, so...
Peace to you
Me too. 😌🦞💗
Me too.
I believe in authenticity. If you find value in the teachings you receive from Buddhism try to internalize them and incorporate them into your being rather than hold them as ideas or labels to build a personality with. IOW let Buddhism, or any wisdom teaching, shape your character rather than your personality.
I really like that, @person . That is quite helpful, even though initially I didn't get what you were saying. Thank you.
I am a Buddhist. It is a label that fits me better than some others I've had.
Yes I like the word authentic.
Part of that is owning your emotional being ...
https://tinybuddha.com/blog/the-negative-impact-of-not-feeling-your-feelings/
The original post mentions this idea of not being labeled by a small part of our identity.
So we can be a continuum, mostly Buddhist, mostly stable, mostly fruitcake, or mostly not any of these laboured constrictions ...
Humans are complicated. Ain't that right Björk ...
I think I only half agree with that blog. She talks about feeling shame and badness about feeling her feelings and I agree that that sort of attitude is harmful to our being. She also talks about freely expressing her feelings and that it is on others for how those emotions make them feel and that life is meant to be soaked up and experienced in full. I think in meditation we are not supposed to suppress our feelings, we need to experience them and be aware, but we're also not supposed to follow their orders and do whatever they say, we should be mindful of how our feelings impact others. The instructions I generally hear are something along the lines of notice and acknowledge them, then let them go. I don't think the aim of Buddhism is to gain peak life experiences or relish in the happinesses that come from not just material things but relationships as well. Certainly we can pursue whatever life goals we want, I just think Buddhism believes the negative emotions are to be transcended.
So I agree that owning your emotional being is important and understanding what it is saying is an important life skill, but I think it is often biased and misled and that there is a greater form of spiritual happiness to be had.
A traditional emotional enhancement practice is metta bhavna ...
https://www.lionsroar.com/loving-many-sides/
Life is tough. We need all the help available ... I bid the three jewels ...
https://www.lionsroar.com/life-is-tough-six-ways-to-deal-with-it-march-2013/