Expert: Laurie McLauglin - 3/26/2011

Question
Hello Laurie McLauglin,
I have read some of your answers to another student and I really liked how you answered her questions. I am doing a paper for school and I would really like to know about Buddhism and I was wondering if you could answer a few questions for me as well. I would enjoy reading your personal answers on these for it would be the most interesting. I thank you ahead of time and hope that you enjoy this as much as I will. Thank.

1. How has Buddhism shaped your life and thoughts on life?

2.What kind of traditions do you have?

3.Do you have any favorite traditions that you follow in your own personal life?

4. What was it that inspired you into becoming a part of the Buddhism religion? How long have you been a part of this religion?

5. Is there a part of Buddhism that really does not set with you? Is there something that you do not care for?

6. What is the most important thing that you have learned about being Buddhism?

7. Do you have any important holidays that you follow?

8. How many people, friends, and/or family do you know that follow Buddhism as well?

9. If you could change one thing about Buddhism; what would that be? If any.

10. What is the most interesting fact you could tell me about Buddhism that you have learned?

These are the questions I have thought of. I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

Answer
Hello Sally -

Thank you so much for letting me answer your questions.

1 - Buddhism has shaped my life by teaching me to let go of me ego, to put others first and embrace Bodhichitta, to learn to see the world as it is not as I want it to be. Those are the three main ways that Buddhism has shaped my life and my thoughts.

2 - As a practitioner of Western Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism, we have a great number of traditions such as guru devotion; for example prostrations, making water bowl offerings and mandala offerings, meditation on a regular basis (both single pointed and analytical meditation, purification practices like Nyung Nays, Ngondros, and Vajrasattva practice, mantra recitation, empowerments, doing daily sadhanas, doing regular pujas and tsogs and taking teachings from great lineage holding teachers. I am giving you a lot of Tibetan words but you should be able to look them up.  Plus there are four main Buddhist Tibetan holidays we celebrate such as the birth of Buddha, the passing away of Buddha into Parinirvana and The Day of Miracles. These are many of our traditions.

3 - I am fond of making mandala offerings, prostrations, very fond of empowerments and doing certain pujas such as Lama Chopa and Medicine Buddha and doing the sadhana of my yidam, Akshobhya.

4 - I got inspired to join the Buddhist religion after reading books by Lama Yeshe, such as "The Essence of Tibetan Buddhism" and "Becoming Your Own Therapist" and realizing the Buddhist teachings had the road map I was looking for to help me become a good person. Plus I liked that the gurus and lamas for the most part did not seem to take themselves too seriously and most of the gurus, monks and nuns seemed happy most of the time.  I wanted what they were having.  I took refuge and became a Buddhist in 2001.

5 - The only part of Buddhism that does not work for me is that where I practice, we do a lot of our prayers and pujas in Tibetan and I do not resonate with the Tibetan language.  Not all Tibetan Buddhist centers do so much of their liturgy in Tibetan but I just happen to be at one that does a great amount in Tibetan. But as far as the Buddhism itself and the teachings of Buddha, I have to say no there is nothing that does not set with me.  Everything resonates with me.  

6 - The most important thing I have learned about being Buddhist is to learn to let go of my ego and instead let me be ruled by compassion and wisdom.

7 - As I mentioned, we have 4 major holidays plus Tibetan Buddhist New Year as well as Saka Dawa, which is Buddhas birthday celebration, in February we have Parinirvana Day, the day of Buddhas Enlightenment day and Lhabab Duchen, the time when Buddha came back from Heaven where he was teaching his mother and came back to earth plus we also celebrate the birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

8 - I know about 50 people that follow Buddhism

9 - If I could change one thing about Buddhism I would bring all various Buddhists groups together and have harmony between them all.

10 - The most interesting fact about Buddhism was that Buddha was illiterate.  He did not write and the tradition and teachings have passed down intact in an oral tradition in an unbroken lineage from Buddha himself to today.

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to let me know.  And I wish you much success on your paper.

Namaste - Laurie