Expert: Stuart Resnick - 10/14/2009

Question
Hi, I know different schools of Buddhism have different ideas.  But a creator god is not generally accepted in most thoughts (although Devas are).  Christians believe in a creator God because this gives Christianity meaning in that God tells them to love and forgive thy neighbor and accept grace.  This is meaning.  Jews belief God is good and therefore we should be good to all his creations (man, animal, even the earth).  THe believe is God is important to the meaning.  In Buddhism, with no believe in a creator God, what is the meaning of Buddhism?  We are to abate suffering, we are to have compassion.  But what is the meaning?  I hope the question makes sense.  THank you

Answer
The meaning of Buddhism is to understand yourself and help other beings.

How do you understand yourself? Strongly and sincerely ask, "What am I?" Something will then appear that you can see for yourself. What appears is: "Don't know." Our BODIES have different names, like Marc or Stuart or John or whatever. But our True Name is "Don't know."

Next, how to help other beings? You already understand. If you're hungry, you eat, so if someone else is hungry, give them food. If someone is thirsty, give them water. And so on.

What more do you want? Be careful... if you cultivate an "I want something" mind, that's the root of suffering. So don't cling to the thought "I want." Instead, just clearly perceive this moment (the sky is blue, the grass is green, sugar is sweet, etc), and respond to the moment with compassion (if someone is suffering, help them).