Composition 401
Mrs. Whoever
Savannah
"Why I Am At Least Sort Of A Buddhist"
Shall we peruse the Four Noble Truths: "Suffering exists. Attachment causes suffering. An end to suffering is possible. The Noble Eightfold Path provides the way to the end of suffering."
That's why.
Also, the following sayings: "If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha," and "Work out your own salvation/enlightenment/cessation with diligence."
Or, to put it another way, "Question, investigate, and think for yourself before you accept any teaching" and "Mind your own spiritual bitness."
So...those would be the reasons why I consider myself a Buddhist.
(Never mind that, as a serious yoga practitioner, I'm actually doing Hindu Tantra.*** My understanding is that that is just fine and nobody's head is going to explode or anything. Since yoga is a path of nondualism and unification of opposites, the question is not "Can I be a Buddhist at the same time," but "Should I become a Gardnerian Wiccan instead, for more apparent contrast and thus a greater triumph over dualistic perception??")
ANY-how....those would be the reasons why I consider myself a Theravadin Buddhist by way of Hindu Tantra.
***NOTE NOTE NOTE: This does not mean that everyone who does yoga is doing Hindu Tantra. Your yoga means what you want it to mean. Personally, I am open to the original context of yoga as a means of tantric exploration within the great Hindu way. If you're not, fine. Your yoga is good with that.
#
I hesitate to say this, because the specter of a 'Buddha Belt' is truly enough to make one go pale. But Buddhism is a perfect spiritual system for Americans. Why? Let's make a list:
1) It's individualistic. You "kill the Buddha" and "work out your own salvation with diligence."
2) It has a work ethic. ("With diligence," etc. Brings to mind pioneers splitting logs.)
3) It's open. You can be other things at the same time. Christian, for example.
4) It has clear steps and instructions. It's extremely bullet-point-friendly. And yes, I realize that everything from quantum mechanics to Proust can be made bullet-point-friendly, but Buddhism is naturally that way.
5) It's flexible. It's actually supposed to change. The Truths are the Truths, but how you live them has to pivot on the axes of time, place and circumstance. It's very relativistic in how it expresses its absolutes. In short, it's tailor made for a land that encompasses everything from palm trees to the tundra.
6) It's patriotic. No fooling. Why? Because it dovetails with the Constitution. Pursuing the end of all suffering is a lot like pursuing happiness, dontcha think? One of the signal Buddhist prayers is, "May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness." What more American statement could there be?
I look forward to someday seeing a documentary called "Buddha Camp," in which kids learn Half-Lotus, sing kirtan, do mantra and mudra, and have big sessions of wishing happiness on all beings.
