Buddhists Aren't Weird...

21 Feb 2015

It never ceases to amaze me, the kinds of looks I get from folks who ask me what religion I practice.  When I tell them my personal choice is Buddhism they either say one of two things: 1) Me too! What lineage do you follow? or 2) Oh, so you are an atheist.  (Number 2 is not a question but usually more of a statement because they have already made up their mind that I simply cannot based upon the requirements of Buddhism of which they have little if any knowledge.

I have yet to find anything in Buddhist doctrine indicating Buddhists cannot believe in a deity, supreme being or simply put, God.  Whether I do or do not is not a matter of discussion or debate.  I respect everyone else's religion and demand they do the same with mine.

Our first Buddha never denied the existence of God but when asked merely refused to answer the question.  The idea being he was not in the God business but rather the enlightenment business and thought it best to leave questions regarding God to those who were more qualified, who studied the subject intensely.

When I was a Protestant (first 18 years of my life) I was happy with my faith.  When I became a Roman Catholic (next 31 years of my life) I found I was believing in the very same God as when I was a Protestant.  When I grew weary of all the unnecessary rules the Catholic Church forced upon me I checked back in with the Protestants only to find that they were as bigoted as the Catholics.  Hmmm.

How can there be only one God who cherishes only one denomination when both worship the same?  Sounds like a matter of different interpretations to me.  Was there an answer?  A faith that could satisfy my curiosity and help me to become a better person at the same time without feeling a need to condemn a mainstream Western Religion?  Yes....Buddhism.

Some days Buddhists spend a great deal of this philosophizing while others we just live.  We are content to just be.  After all we are "human beings" not "human doings"  Give that one some thought.

Today is one of those "just being" days.  Simply enjoying my morning coffee, my family and my own little world here in AZ.  Isn't life grand?

If you have questions about Buddhism here is a place you can go to help you find some answers regardless of whether or not you want to practice Buddhism:  www.awaminstitute.org

Emaho!