Expert: Laurie McLauglin - 5/27/2009

Question
Dear Laurie,

I am currently studying at the University of Brighton on a Religious Studies teacher training course.  One of our assessments is a subject knowledge essay on a religion we were weak in at the beginning of the course.  The title for my essay is 'Is Buddhism a Religion?’  As part of this essay I was hoping to get some responses from different Buddhist traditions rather than just looking purely at research material.  I think that personal experience and perspectives will be far more valuable to my own understanding especially given the course I am doing.  I was wondering whether you would be able to spare a couple of minutes to send a brief reply regarding this question.  Do you think of Buddhism as a religion or as something else?  Is this even a question you think is worth asking?  How would you reply to the question of what exactly Buddhism is?  I would greatly appreciate any response that you are willing to make.

Thank you for your time,

Christopher May.


Answer
Thank you for letting me answer your questions.

From your question it seems that you want people’s personal beliefs.  So, my answers will be more from my personal thoughts than a strictly factual account. So, I have been a practicing Mahayana Buddhist from the Gelugpa tradition for the past eight years.

I believe, myself that Buddhism is a religion.  However, it is not necessary for someone to believe that in order to get benefit out of the study of Buddhism.  From my side, I believe it is a religion because I use it to further my spiritual progress and help me reach enlightenment as well as to be able to be of the greatest benefit to other sentient beings. From my side, it provides a very clear roadmap on how to be the best person I can be and how to reach the highest spiritual attainments.

I think it is a valid question.  Many people ask it, I think because it is different enough from the Christian religions and because we do not believe in a God, per se.

What exactly is Buddhism? I guess I would answer it is whatever you need it to be.  It does not need to be labeled as a religion to be of benefit to people.

The Buddha, himself likened himself to a doctor and his teachings as medicine to heal. He taught 84 thousand teachings and tailored each teaching to the needs of his listeners.  Just as you would not give the same medicine to every patient, the Buddha said, likewise, he did not give the same lesson to everyone he encountered.

For example, if someone is looking for how to generally become a happier and more compassionate person, one can use Buddha’s basic teaching on non attachment and compassion.  If one wants to calm and train one’s mind, one can learn many Buddhist meditation techniques ranging from simple breathing meditation to meditation on how our perceptions are different from how things truly exist and how to correct that. If someone is looking for a spiritual path or religion that teaches compassion and uses wisdom and logic to help the practitioner gain enlightenment, then one would read the great books from the great masters and listen to the teachings from teachers teaching things that they can trace back in an unbroken lineage all the way back to Buddha Shakyamuni, himself.  There are also many other ways Buddhism can be of benefit to people.  So, as I said, it can be anything it needs to be in order to bring benefit to sentient beings.

I hope these brief answers help you in your research.

If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to ask.  I wish you much success with your paper.