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Buddhism article interview
Hi, I'm a media student doing a journalistic piece on Buddhism as it is a subject I'm interested in, however, know little about. I will include a background to Buddhism in the article, however, the main purpose is to get a Buddhists personal perspective. I would be grateful if you could answer the following questions.
Thanks.
Questions:
- What “rules” do you live by?
- What’s your daily routine?
- What material items do you use in your practise?
- Why have you chosen this lifestyle?
- How has Buddhism shaped your life? - What have you gained/ given up?
- How did you get involved in Buddhism?
- How were you brought up? - Buddhists parents?
- Were you always interested in Buddhism?
- Was there a catalytic moment in your life when you decided to become a Buddhist or was there a lead up?
- What has Buddhism given you that other ways of life cant?
- Is there any days when you just can’t be bothered? - Meditation must take a lot of dedication.
- Is there any times when you feel you’re not fulfilled?
- What are people reactions when you tell them you’re a Buddhist?
- Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy?
- What’s meditation all about?
- What’s reincarnation all about?
- What’s enlightenment all about?
- How do you know if someone’s been enlightened?
- What would be a Buddhists perfect world?
- What’s the Buddhist opinion on organised religion?
Thanks.
Questions:
- What “rules” do you live by?
- What’s your daily routine?
- What material items do you use in your practise?
- Why have you chosen this lifestyle?
- How has Buddhism shaped your life? - What have you gained/ given up?
- How did you get involved in Buddhism?
- How were you brought up? - Buddhists parents?
- Were you always interested in Buddhism?
- Was there a catalytic moment in your life when you decided to become a Buddhist or was there a lead up?
- What has Buddhism given you that other ways of life cant?
- Is there any days when you just can’t be bothered? - Meditation must take a lot of dedication.
- Is there any times when you feel you’re not fulfilled?
- What are people reactions when you tell them you’re a Buddhist?
- Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy?
- What’s meditation all about?
- What’s reincarnation all about?
- What’s enlightenment all about?
- How do you know if someone’s been enlightened?
- What would be a Buddhists perfect world?
- What’s the Buddhist opinion on organised religion?
0
Comments
*My "rules" are a combination of the values I was raised with (western ideas about honor, my word is my bond, courtesy, etc.) and my somewhat more recent commitment to Thich Nhat Hanh's 5 Mindfulness Trainings, which are his adaptation of the Buddhist precepts. They encompass the ideas of treating people with kindness, speaking and listening well, not killing, cultivating good health, generosity, etc. These rules are not "commandments", they are guiding principles that help someone along their path.
*I'm assuming you're talking about my routine as it relates to be a practicing Buddhist?
I typically engage in a brief verbal metta (loving-kindness recitation) in the morning, and during the course of the day will meditate 2 or 3 times at 20 minutes each. My primary meditation is samatha/vipassana, but I also regularly engage in shikantaza, which is a form of zazen. I can expound upon those if needed.
*Very few. I have a circular cushion, and sometimes use incense at home to help center on my breath. I do have a small Buddha statue that I keep near the incense burner, for focus. Buddhists don't worship statues, though...it's an expression of gratitude to a great teacher.
*I've chosen this lifestyle in the hopes of being happy and peaceful in my life.
*I seem to have gained a more sturdy psychological foundation. Mindfulness is a wonderful Buddhist practice; it seems to have made me more sure of myself and "okay with the world". I've given up 30-60minutes of TV time a day. Boo hoo.
*I was brought up Protestant. My parents were most assuredly NOT Buddhist.
*I've been interested in Buddhism scholastically for 20 years, as a practice for about the last 1-1/2 years. (I'm 43, for reference)
*It's been a gradual process..I move a little farther down the path each day. No sudden "OMG, I'm a Buddhist!" moment.
*I can't speak for a lot of other ways of life, nor will I criticize other religions. The Buddha himself left the door philosophically open for there to be other paths. This methodology worked for him, and decided to teach it to others.
The variants of modern Christianity that I was involved with were quite dogmatic, and didn't seem to leave a lot of room for personal discovery. I'm about what I can personally experience, not so much about what's "written down through the ages". Many Buddhists are this way, in my experience.
*I'm a husband and father, I get very few days when I "can't be bothered". I have attended (and am about to attend another) 3-4 day retreat in the mountains, where meditation and mindfulness (and quiet, thank goodness) are observed. Worth every cent.
*The human brain is wired to find ways to feel unfulfilled. It's part of the essence of the Four Noble Truths...(you're going to need to read and understand those if you're going to do an honest job on this piece) The essence of Buddhism is to understand this lack of fulfillment, to know what causes it, to understand that there is a fix for it, and then to know what the path is. (The Noble Eight-Fold Path...you need to look that one up, too.
*I don't volunteer it to people, nor do I hide it. I feel no need to advertise it; it's my path. Most people that have found out have been pretty understanding about it, at least to my face. But then most of my friends are in their 40's or older, and have enough maturity to understand when someone else may be trying to make sense of things.
*Buddhism is a thing to do.
*Meditation is exploration. It's mindfulness. It's awareness. It can be about becoming absorbed in particular mind states. It can be about looking for vibrations. About watching your thoughts. This is a loaded question...meditation is a very general term, even with the context of Buddhism.
*Reincarnation is a hotly debated topic, even in this forum. I'm personally not a believer. I do POSSIBLY believe in "rebirth", which is a bit different. Within the context of rebirth, one could simply be talking about the fact that as a human being you are being "reborn" every single moment. You are not the same person that began reading all of my lame answers. You have changed; are impermanent. It could also be talking about the energy/matter that is left over from your body/mind/consciousness when you die. Some people believe it may go somewhere...Laws of Conservation could be in effect? I am not completely resolved on these issues...and that's okay.
*Enlightenment is another can of worms. Run away!
To some Theravada Buddhists, you are fully "enlightened" after completing 4 paths, ending with being an Arhant.
To some Zen practitioners, you are enlightened even as you sit in zazen meditation.
Etc..this is not a static definition in the Buddhist world. You need to understand that it is a 2500 year old religion that has moved in many directions. The basics that the Buddha taught seem to be intact within all, thankfully.
*I would maintain that you have no way to know if another person is enlightened. That's in them. They aren't going to glow gold or anything.
*I don't believe in perfect worlds.
*Buddhists have differing opinions about religion, just as everyone else does. I'm not sure if there is a concrete "Buddhist view" to give on this.
Bear in mind that these are my answers, right now. I make no guarantee that they are the right answers, or even that I'll feel the same way in a month. This Buddhist stuff is called a "path" for a reason.
Gained - incredible contentment. Given up? Nothing important. My mother sent me a book, and my Life changed from that day. Devoted Roman Catholicism.
No Yes, when my mother gave me that book.... satisfaction, contentment and total fulfilment. I never meditate, or hardly ever... Nope. if there are days like that, it's not the Buddhism that's lacking. It's me.... usually, very interested. It's both. Stilling the Mind and bringing it home. I have no idea, I don't ascribe to reincarnation, I ascribe to re-birth. I don't know, I'm not enlightened. I don't. One where suffering had been understood, and eliminated. I'm fine with it, providing the message is an equanimous one.
- What “rules” do you live by?
Remember that ''god '' / life force / chi exists in all things and that because of this we are all one. Because we are all one all life should be respected as equally important to each other.
- What’s your daily routine?
Get up before sunrise. Wash. Watch the morning puja and class on my temple web cam. Get the train to work , chant mantras on beads on my way. Get to work. Take 5 - 10 mins to pray before i start work. work pretty much takes up the rest of my day - interspersed with chanting rounds of mantras on beads on my lunch and tea breaks etc. I also try to get outside and appreciate nature and meditate at least once during my working day.
- What material items do you use in your practise?
Japa / meditation beads. religious books. Pictures of my deities. My PC
- Why have you chosen this lifestyle?
its the one that makes the most sense to me and fits in with how I have come to understand god and the world and our reason for existing
- How has Buddhism shaped your life? - What have you gained/ given up?
Gained- a deeper understanding of my own faith. The need to control our emotions, clarity of thought and a better understanding of how the mind works. Practical ways to remain peacefull and happy in my everyday life.
Given up - the desire to fill my life with material stuff. Im still working on letting go of my attachment to my self , my ego , my belongings. My hope one day is to give up everything
- How did you get involved in Buddhism?
I explored a lot of faiths when i was in my teens. I learned about Buddhism first from the Kung fu serious with david carradine - then through martial arts, and various movies. I only really explored it more deeply when i converted to hinduism
- How were you brought up? - Buddhists parents?
Raised christian, with a VERY mixed ethnic heritage ( im half english, half hungarian. part jewish, ethnic hungarian and distant mongol on that side. part gypsy, irish , scots and english on the other ) converted to judaism in my early 20's after heavily exploring just about every other faith i could read about - then converted to hinduism about 2 years ago.
- Were you always interested in Buddhism?
Not in that sense. I was always naturally spiritual though. Always wanted to hang out in churches, or dance around fires or commune with nature.
- Was there a catalytic moment in your life when you decided to become a Buddhist or was there a lead up?
There was definatly a lead up. A kind of searching - like there was a bit of me missing and i was looking for the right piece to fit.
- What has Buddhism given you that other ways of life cant?
Practical steps to controlling my emotions, being peacefull, and appreciating my life. real things i can do that will work - rather than just putting my faith in a deity i cant see - and a book that came from a part of the world and a culture i cant really relate to.
- Is there any days when you just can’t be bothered? - Meditation must take a lot of dedication.
All the time
And Ill play a game of noticing small things that i wouldnt always see.. like birds, or the color of leaves, or the way the sun turns the water into a sea of jewels.. or ill take just 8 or 10 deep breaths and be still just for tthat time. .. but i find now even with bad days its easier to keep to a routine - because the effect it has on me is so benefitial.
- Is there any times when you feel you’re not fulfilled?
All the time - we are always living in a contradiction. Wanting to reject maya / illusion / material things - but at the same time having to live and work in the material world so we can do spiritual things. Its a wierd situation - and the days when we could just up sticks and go meditate on a mountain with nothing more than the bare essentials are long gone. I often feel that i want to be more spiritual but that i cant because i need a roof over my head and cloths on my back. Its frustrating.
- What are people reactions when you tell them you’re a Buddhist?
I tend to say hindu rather than buddhist. Suprise then interest is usually the reaction. A lot of people have preconcieved ideas about all hindus being indian and all buddhists being chinese or something .. some people just think i converted just to play dress up - but most poeple are already interested in eastern religions - and a lot of them just dont know wherer to start - so once the surprise is over and done with - i usually get a lot of questions.
- Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy?
Id say both - because its a complete way of life - not just a belief.
- What’s meditation all about?
Calming your mind, opening your mind, controlling your mind. Being peacefull and aware - so that you can benefit all other living things.
- What’s reincarnation all about?
Learning lessons. Doing things over until you learn your lessons and get things right. Ultimatly its something that is good for you- because when you are free from it - you will be happy for ever ( im putting it in simpe terms here )
- What’s enlightenment all about?
Being free from suffering of all kinds. Helping others to be free as well
- How do you know if someone’s been enlightened?
i have no idea. Being enlightened means being free from life and death.. beyond it - if someone was englightened - they would have let go of their body - so i really dont know.
- What would be a Buddhists perfect world?
a world free from suffering and pain, where all living things are treated with love and respect.
- What’s the Buddhist opinion on organised religion?
MY opinion - we are all unique - so its logical that there should be many paths to enlightenment. Organised religion is a valid path as much as buddhism is ... we should embrace our differances and not seek to impose one truth on all beings
I haven't formally set them down. I try to help people. I try to not hurt them. I try to tame my mind.
- What’s your daily routine?
I am disabled so I do not work. I wake and drink coffee and shower. I meditate sometimes immediately and sometimes after those two. I play a game to consume some time. Often I do a chore. Often I do a relaxing activity. Then eat dinner. Then I either continue with a game or go to bed if I am feeling terrible.
- What material items do you use in your practise?
Some course materials that I read and inspirational books.
- Why have you chosen this lifestyle?
To help people. To not hurt them. And to tame my mind.
- How has Buddhism shaped your life? - What have you gained/ given up?
It has taught me to disturb my negative states of mind less. To let them be. This has been very valuable. In psychology and in parallel my therapist says that reacting to negative states of mind strengthens them while letting them be weakens them.
- How did you get involved in Buddhism?
I started reading.
- How were you brought up? - Buddhists parents?
Sort of vaguely believing christian family. My dad is quite not a christian however. My mom believes in God as long as her dog gets to go to heaven too.
- Were you always interested in Buddhism?
No. When I was younger it was football and sports.
- Was there a catalytic moment in your life when you decided to become a Buddhist or was there a lead up?
I think just a general progression. There were moments when I really saw the teachings were progressing. Like when I saw I was more sane and more open to my experience. More willing to work with it. Less afraid.
- What has Buddhism given you that other ways of life cant?
A sense of what life is beyond birth and death. Beyond anything I can possess. In essence what I already had but was looking everywhere else. Just my own experience. My clarity, openness, and sensitivity.
- Is there any days when you just can’t be bothered? - Meditation must take a lot of dedication.
Sometimes I give it up for awhile. In a lighthearted way rather than a heavy way. Sometimes meditation needs to be purged so that you can come back to it with a purer motivation.
- Is there any times when you feel you’re not fulfilled?
Yes.
- What are people reactions when you tell them you’re a Buddhist?
I don't know I don't tell people too often.
- Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy?
both
- What’s meditation all about?
meditate and you'll find out. it is nothing secret. maybe you'll find out more than me. What is your experience? What are you doing when your not busy with 'it all' and you step back and see what your mind does. So can you see it is about seeing what you are already doing. Self honesty. Coupled with a friendliness of letting it be.
- What’s reincarnation all about?
Reincarnation means that the clarity openness and sensitivity keeps continuing on. From place to place. I'm not sure how the karma and so forth gets connected from one time to another. My teacher says that the person must not be localized to space and time. At least that is her meditative experience she has seen.
- What’s enlightenment all about?
Deliverance of the heart
- How do you know if someone’s been enlightened?
Well they'll introduce themselves. Such as "my name is Sonia and I am enlightened".. Just kidding
- What would be a Buddhists perfect world?
How about we see what this world is rather than try to think about a perfect world?
- What’s the Buddhist opinion on organised religion?
I think theres vows in buddhism at some point to vow not to uproot someones faith in their own religion whatever that is. Part of the vows against harming.
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I don't live by any rules.
- What’s your daily routine?
Life is different now, but I was recently a monk for several years. My schedule then followed as:
4am: Wake up
4am - 7am: Chant sutras
7am: Eat breakfast
7am - 9am: Chores
9am - 10am: Japanese Tea Ceremony
10am - 12pm: Sitting & Walking Meditation
12pm: Lunch
12pm - 4pm: Chores
4pm - 7pm: Meditation/Chanting
7pm: Sleep
I did this Monday through Saturday, we got Sunday off.
- What material items do you use in your practise?
I use a zafu which is a small pillow that goes under your butt and I also use a zabuton which is a large mat that you sit on. Those are the essentials.
- Why have you chosen this lifestyle?
I had an experience on LSD which I tried to understand by researching various religions and philosophies and Buddhism seemed to mirror exactly what I had experienced.
- How has Buddhism shaped your life? - What have you gained/ given up?
I had to give up beer when I was a monk which sucked, but it wasn't the end of the world.
- How did you get involved in Buddhism?
I kind of answered this in the "Why have you chosen this lifestyle?" question.
- How were you brought up? - Buddhists parents?
I was raised as a Christian. Broke away from Christianity when I was around 14.
- Were you always interested in Buddhism?
Not until I was a teen.
- Was there a catalytic moment in your life when you decided to become a Buddhist or was there a lead up?
Everything about Buddhism has been a "lead up" for me. From studying Buddhism to eventually making the choice of becoming a monk.
- What has Buddhism given you that other ways of life cant?
It's given me greater peace.
- Is there any days when you just can’t be bothered? - Meditation must take a lot of dedication.
Meditation doesn't take a lot of dedication, anyone can do it.
- Is there any times when you feel you’re not fulfilled?
Of course, there were definitely times when I was a younger when I had a definite sense that I was lacking or "not getting" life.
- What are people reactions when you tell them you’re a Buddhist?
Even though I am a Buddhist, I don't consider myself one. The truths of Buddhism are universal and don't need the label of Buddhist to be expressed.
- Is Buddhism a religion or a philosophy?
How do you define a religion? Nietzsche is considered a philosopher, but if people began congregating to discuss his philosophies and called themselves Nietzscheans, would that then become a religious order?
I would consider Buddhism a philosophy more so anything if you had to label it.
- What’s meditation all about?
Meditation is called Zazen in Zen Buddhism and Zazen literally translates as sitting. Meditation is about sitting and nothing else. No mystical states or experiences are sought after, one simply sits and stares at the wall.
- What’s reincarnation all about?
You'll get different answers to this question. When Buddhism first emerged, many of the people in India believed in reincarnation and karma at the time. To help explain his ideas better to these people the Buddha would incorporate these concepts into his talks.
Many Buddhists do not believe in reincarnation, I am one of those.
- What’s enlightenment all about?
It's the state of mind one experiences when their ego dies. Read about ego death if you are interested in understanding enlightenment better.
http://www.egodeath.com/virtualego.htm
- How do you know if someone’s been enlightened?
Everyone is already enlightened, most people are just not aware of it.
Pretend that a dog was raised amongst a bunch of wolves, the dog would probably go his whole life thinking he was a wolf because he could not see himself. One day another dog comes along and says, "Why are you acting like a wolf? Look at your reflection in the lake, you look nothing like the wolves."
Most people are like the dog who thinks he is a wolf. That is the best analogy I can come up with as to why people believe they are not enlightened.
- What would be a Buddhists perfect world?
The world already is perfect, there is nothing I would change. Maybe fewer starbucks though, we got too damn many of them.
- What’s the Buddhist opinion on organised religion?
How do you define organized religion?
Being told how to live one's life is something we are against, in that sense we are opposed to the traditional idea of organized religion.
Seriously, dude, which monastery was this?
Thanks again.