In Search Of The American Buddha (Or Someone Like Him)

This Misconception Of My Own Concepts

Hey there, Cyber-Surfers! Glad you could stop by the ol' blogocile for a visit (and a Page View!) Today I'm going to prattle on about things that I have no real authority to expound upon. This is a limitation I've refused to be hampered by in the past, so why worry about it now?

When people find out that I'm interested in Buddhism (the Zen school in particular) they seem somewhat taken aback, but curious. I've discovered that Americans, steeped as we are in the Judaic-Christian traditions, have some basic misunderstandings about Buddhism. Just simple things that are foreign to our western thought processes. They were hurdles I had to overcome in attempting to gain an understanding of these ancient teachings. Let's take them one by one.

On learning of your Buddhist tendencies, well-meaning friends may ask, "Why do you worship a statue of Buddha?" The answer is, quite simply, I don't.

In the Buddhist tradition there are no "gods" or deities. The historic "Buddha" was a mortal man who achieved "enlightenment" and shared his method of gaining this insight with others. The term "Buddha" means, "The Awakened One." We're all potential "Buddhas" in that sense.

Personally, in my Buddhism, I don't "worship" anything or anybody, per se. Gratitude is expressed for the "dharma" (teachings) but worship isn't necessary. You will see in some Buddhist traditions offerings of incense, flowers or other things at an altar, but these are meant as symbolic gestures of thanks. Personally, I don't subscribe to such traditions but I have no real opinion of them, either. It's OK to do it and it's OK not to do it. I'm easy.

"So, you don't believe in God?"
Well, in my understanding, God doesn't really enter into it. Believing in God is neither "here" nor "there." The Buddha never really addressed the subject. When asked, he would slap the ground with his hand and say nothing. What does it further? I know of many practicing Buddhists who also consider themselves Christians or Jews, it's up to you.

I think it would be safe to say that "karmic law" stands-in for "God" in Buddhism. Without a supernatural being sitting in judgment of them, Buddhists contend with the idea that their actions and behaviors result in creating either good or bad karma. You reap what you sew. For every action there is an equal and positive reaction. Same deal. It's better to do good than to be bad.

One of the hardest things for me to contend with is the concept of "the soul." In Buddhism there is no "separate, abiding" soul. The idea is that we are not "apart" from anything. We're mixed in the giant stew. We are the stew and the stew is us. No difference. This is contrary to our perceptions. We think we "exist" in this body and that we observe only through the physical nature of the world. We lose sight of the fact that we are interdependent on the world. "I" don't exist without my ancestors. "You" don't exist without yours. How much of "me" is wholly and completely me? Something to ponder, anyway.

We'll discuss the subject further a little later, right now I have to go to work. See you in the funny papers!

To Be Continued