Expert: Justin Choo - 3/10/2011

Question
First off, let me thank you sincerely for hearing my questions! I am interested to learn about your religion. I know this is very short notice on my part, I hope I don’t take up too much of your time with these questions.

If you can answer these questions in a reply to this email, starting with the number of the question so I know which question you’re answering. You can answer the questions how ever you want. Also, I’ll have sub questions that only apply if the answer to the main question is yes. Don’t worry if you can’t answer one. And please don’t take offence to any questions; they aren’t based on any prior knowledge of your faith.

1)   Your name:
2)   Your age:
a.   (If you do not want this personal information shared, either do not answer, or ask I keep it personal)
3)   Your affiliation with the religion:
4)   Where were you born and raised?
Have you lived in your current location all your life?
5)   What does practicing your faith entail?
6)   Do you believe in an ultimate being?
a.   Do you pray to this being?
i.   How often do you pray?
b.   Do you worship this being?
7)   How do you proclaim your faith do others?
8)   Do you accept converts into your faith?
9)   How long has your faith been in practice?
10)   Do you believe other religions to be lesser than you?
11)   Does your faith embrace science?
a.   Technology?
b.   How are these incorporated in your faith?
12)   How many members actively practice your faith?
13)   Are there any radicals of your faith?
a.   What is so radical about them?
14)   Have you been a part of this faith all your life?
a.   If not, how were you introduced? And when?
15)   Do you have a family?
a.   If not, why not?
b.   If so, do they share your faith?
i.   Have you converted any of them?
c.   Do you have any friends outside your faith?
16)   Are you happy, personally? Spiritually?
a.   Are you happy with the world?
17)   What do you spend your time doing?
18)   Have you ever felt like following your religion?
19)   Do you believe in the Catholic description of God?
20)   Have you had any sort of want for a kind of personal relationship with a person?

Thank you very much for your time! I greatly appreciate your understanding and enthusiasm to help me.

Answer
Hi David,

You have lots of questions, but some are close to the ridiculous.  Sorry.  Nevermind, I shall answer all of them very briefly.  Hope I don't sound rude in some of my answers.  They are just the ways I answer them, when the questions are off the mark.  
Here we go:

1) Your name:
2) Your age:61
a. (If you do not want this personal information shared, either do not answer, or ask I keep it personal)
3) Your affiliation with the religion:I don't know what you mean.  I am a Buddhist, practising the teachings of the Buddha. That's all.
4) Where were you born and raised?Malaysia
Have you lived in your current location all your life?No
5) What does practicing your faith entail? Reduce greed, hatred and delusion of life.
6) Do you believe in an ultimate being?No
a. Do you pray to this being?No
i. How often do you pray?No
b. Do you worship this being?No
7) How do you proclaim your faith do others?I don't have to proclaim to others.
8) Do you accept converts into your faith? Buddhism has no convert.  Anyone can just practise the teachings of the Buddha.
9) How long has your faith been in practice?You mean Buddhism or my association with Buddhism.  For the former, more than 2500 years. The latter, all my life.
10) Do you believe other religions to be lesser than you? I don't have to harbor this silly idea.
11) Does your faith embrace science? Science embraces Buddhism.
a. Technology?
b. How are these incorporated in your faith?
12) How many members actively practice your faith? This is just a figure. How would you be sure that the figure is correct, if I provide you with this figure?    
13) Are there any radicals of your faith? I don't call them radicals; maybe rascals.  All over the world people have been mis-using religion.  Buddhism is no exception.  Of course we can always deny that these people are Buddhists, and rightly so.
a. What is so radical about them? You use the term "radical", and you should be the one explaining the term.
14) Have you been a part of this faith all your life? Yes
a. If not, how were you introduced? And when?
15) Do you have a family? Strange question. Yes
a. If not, why not? (My question to your question)Why not?
b. If so, do they share your faith? My family is a Buddhist family.
i. Have you converted any of them? You know the answer by now.
c. Do you have any friends outside your faith? Do you have any friends outside your faith? Your answer is as good as mind.  I think this is not a very good question.
16) Are you happy, personally? Spiritually? Do you think anyone can be happy or unhappy all the time?
a. Are you happy with the world? The world is what it is.  If you set your standard and expectations, then you are in trouble.  Buddhists try to stay in equanimity at best they can, because they understand the true nature of this world, which is impermanent, unpredictable and unsatisfactory.
17) What do you spend your time doing? Answering questions like yours, writing articles in Hubpages : like this one @  http://hubpages.com/hub/A-Buddhist-does-not-believe
18) Have you ever felt like following your religion?No
19) Do you believe in the Catholic description of God?No
20) Have you had any sort of want for a kind of personal relationship with a person? I am a married person.  You mean adultery? NO

Take care.

Justin Choo