Expert: Alex Wilding - 2/28/2009

Question
Hi, my name is Emily Hornsby and I’m a student in an Eastern and Western
Thought class. One of my assignments is to interview someone who is Hindu,
Buddhist, or Taoist. If you don’t mind, I would really appreciate it if you could
take the time to answer any three of the following questions:
•   What role does your religion play in your daily life? How does it shape
decisions you make on a daily basis?
•   Have you ever been face with any discrimination because of your
religion?
•   (If Hindu or Buddhist) Define nirvana in your own words. How do you
think you'll be able to tell if you ever achieve it?
•   Do you consider any part of your religion out-of-date or inapplicable in
today's society?
•   Are there any parts of your religion that you and/or your family chose not
to follow? If so, why?
•   (If Buddhist) Is it challenging to try and detach yourself from
material/worldly things in a society that’s increasingly focused on material
possessions and wealth?  

Answer
Hi Emily,
• What role does your religion play in your daily life? How does it shape decisions you make on a daily basis?
I do formal "sadhana" (ritual meditation) practice every day, usually twice. It encourages me to ask "what is the compassionate, wise, helpful way to deal with difficult situations".


• Have you ever been face with any discrimination because of your
religion?
No

• (If Hindu or Buddhist) Define nirvana in your own words. How do you
think you'll be able to tell if you ever achieve it?
Nirvana is the extinction of ignorance, greed and aversion. If I achieve it, I won't be very concerned about whether I have achieved it or not.

• Do you consider any part of your religion out-of-date or inapplicable in today's society?
Of course. Things change. The basic principles remain though.

• Are there any parts of your religion that you and/or your family chose not to follow? If so, why?
No, not particularly, but then Buddhism is not primarily defined by some one set of simple behavioural rules.

• (If Buddhist) Is it challenging to try and detach yourself from
material/worldly things in a society that’s increasingly focused on material possessions and wealth?
I don't know that we are increasingly focussed on possessions and wealth. Are we? Technology has given the lucky ones of today's world more material posessions - but we humans were always obsessed with having more. Whether I have one old, cracked plate and crave an enamelled one as well, or whether I have a house on millionaires' row but crave a 100' motor yacht as well - the mechanism is very similar.