Expert: Judy - 12/9/2009

Question
Hello,

I am a college student and I am currently taking HUM/130, which is Religions of the World. I have a finale project due at the end of the term and the topic or religion I chose is Buddhism. We are to conduct a personal interview on the subject and get a personal view of what one that practices, lives, and or teaches the religion we chose. I live in a small town in PA and do not have the resources available to conduct an interview in person. When researching the nearest area where I may find one of the Buddhist religion the closest I could find is like fours from my home. I am able to conduct the search on line through chat, e-mails, blogs, and web sites. I found this site which led me to a few choices and have started with you as way for me to get well informed answers to my questions about your practice in religion and life. If you can help me in any way I would be very grateful, Thanks, Jenifer

1. Have you always been Buddhist? If not what lead you to this religion?

2. What is one aspect of your religion that you believe would be beneficial to all religions?

3. What do you believe to be the most recognized aspect to Buddhism by those outside the religion?

4. Is there something about the religion that others misinterpret?

5. If there was one part of your religion that you could give to another religion in their teachings what would it be and why?

6. Do you find it difficult to respect others religion when they pass judgment on your own?

7. Believing that children are too young to truly understand the concepts of religion how do Buddhist ensure the proper teaching to the very young?

8. Can you tell me what the views or beliefs are when it comes to same sex marriage or relationships, abortion, and mixed races?

9. Do you believe that your religion could benefit all humans if it were too practiced by all?

10. What is the most difficult part of reaching enlightenment? Did you have to change your social setting to accomplish this?


Answer
1.  Yes, I have always been a Buddhist.
2.  Mindfulness (awareness)
3.  Compassion
4.  Helpless, because we don't believe an external being or higher power to save us.
5.  Full awareness
6.  No, Buddhism believes that all human beings judge others because of "self-ego."  Everybody in the world is the same.  Everybody has the right to choose and think.  All Buddhists respect others and other religions.  In addition to self-ego, people judge others because they don't understand them.  There is no need not to respect other religions or others when they pass judgment on my own.
7.  Buddhism is not only a religion, but also it is life education.  We live is not because of religions; we live because we live.  Everything we encounter has to be life-experience-related.  There is no point just to recite the doctrine or teachings without practices in life.  We use examples in day-to-day life to teach our young children.  For example, teaching young children that planting seeds results in different outcomes of plants by using different quality and quantity of the required elements.
8.  Buddhists believe that nature is the best way.  Since homosexuality is not normal, it is considered not the natural way.  However, abnormality is by no means wrong.  I truly believe that in Buddhism, there is nothing right or wrong that we can judge, because everyone has different perspective.  If one is biologically homosexual, it is, in my own opinion, still considered natural. However, homosexuality and homosexual relationship has evolved.  It can either be biological or emotional nowadays; in some cases, it becomes a choice.  In this aspect, I believe that one should conduct natural way of sexuality and avoid homosexual relationship.

   Although in Buddhism, we are pro life, it is not either right or wrong to have abortion.  It all has to depend on conditions.  For example, if a girl is raped, she needs to have the right to choose whether or not to abort the child.  If a married, pregnant woman does not want to have a child, it is better not to abort.

   Mixed races is not an issue at all for Buddhists.  All human beings are the same.
9.  Yes, definitely.  However, there is no need to disturb the people with other religions.  As long as people with other religions feel happy and fulfilled, it is fine.

10. Unawareness.  No, we don't need to change any social setting to accomplish enlightenment.  As a matter of fact, enlightenment has nothing to do with social setting.  Anyone could reach enlightenment, no matter how low or how high the social setting is.