Expert: Bodhicitta - 3/11/2005

Question

Hi Bodicitta.
         I had to chuckle when I recieved your reply as obviously you're in jolly old GB yourself!
I'm in North Devon. A lovely place but very mad in the summer and unfortunately, as beautiful as it is, I don't often get to see the wonderful sights nature displays (apart from the roadside bushes!) due to the volume of visitors.

It is indeed a shame when an evening walk along the costal path displays mans lack of respect for nature in the form of cans, bottles and crisp packets strewn everywhere. Yes I am the person that picks up litter if I see someone drop it!

I'd love to go to Tibet but my incredibly huge fear of flying keeps me pretty much grounded. It's nice to have it brought to you on the television but nothing beats the real thing.

So how long have you been practising? What inspired you along the path? How does the butter not seperate from the tea?!

Kindest Regards
Sarah
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Followup To
Question -
Hello Bodhicitta.
         Thankyou for your prompt reply. I'm in England, UK. Western ideas leave much to be desired, I'm afraid!   :0)

Kindest Regards
Sarah




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Followup To
Question -
Hello Bodhicitta.
         I have always been interested in the traditions and ways of the Far East (especially the delicious cooking!) and curiously very much drawn to it.

I've taken a recent interest in Buddhism and feel that it may just be the path I have needed for so long. I yearn for spiritual growth and learn very well.

I have briefly read through a few books on the subject which I purchased from the chairty shop yet they all have conflicting information and I do feel somewhat confused.
Do you have any suggestions of a good book which will help me towards making a well-educated choice?

I also have a few strange questions which may make you chuckle, but what role do women play? You see the monks so often on television but no sign of laides. Do they have womens colonies as well?
Also, what is butter tea? (now I feel silly, especially if I heard it wrong!)

Thankyou very much for your time.
Sarah
Answer -
Hi Sarah
thanks for your good questions...

may i ask which country you are in before answering ?

Kind regards
Bodhicitta
Answer -
Hi Sarah
Thanks for your prompt reply.

All the best people are in Britain! (joke) But I do now get questions from all round the world it often changes slightly what i might say.

Im pleased you are feeling inspired to look into Buddhism.
I agree that it can be very confusing and somewhat conflicting to just pick up some random books on buddhism and try and work out what is going on.

There are a few things you should know about Buddhism.
- Buddhism is 2500 old and has spread very effectively from country to country over this time and from teacher to teacher.
- The message of Buddhism is quite simple- Buddha means awake. Buddhism is a system of training to awaken to the true nature of reality.
- Buddhism doesnt list or give a description of reality but instead is a set of methods by which you might find outby yourself. Namely meditation.
- There are many different methods for different types of people.
- You cant learn meditation without a teacher and access to a living tradition of people who are practising it.
- Good news! Buddhism is alive and well and there are many
teachers and and practioners in England.
- We are at a unique point in Buddhist and spiritual history. Through the power of communication and technology in the 21st century we have more access to traditions than has ever been in history.
- This is good and bad. Good there is a good chance you can find something that will suit you. Bad in that we can become overwhelmed by conflicting information. It is described in one book as the spiritual supermarket.
(Cutting through spiritual materialism. Chogyam Trungpa)

So you need to find practioners in england and speak to them and learn meditation from a teacher. They will guide you through the miriad of information. it might even be bad to just read too much - you might get indigestion!
when you have some basic grounding go back and do selective reading from a more informed standing point.

Well there are a number of things to say about Buddhism and Women. In Buddhism all beings are included - not just men and women , but animals, ghosts and other beings throughout space on other worlds. so its inclusive. Every being has Buddha nature and can awake.

In some traditional countries there has been a male dominance in the culture which is carried over into the hierarchies of spiritual society. In the west women seem to pay a key role in Buddhism.

In India and Tibet there are great women yoginis who have practiced and achieved enlightenment and have taught many people including men! So I wouldnt worry.

Butter tea is a drink made from butter, tea, salt. its traditionally drunk in the himalaya countries. i have made it for visiting tibetan lamas and have quite enjoyed it. but most english people say its horrible!

Good luck with your search Sarah
stay in touch
Bodhicitta
ps. Where in england are you?  

Answer
Hi Sarah
North devon huh.

Im in Bristol so I know the south-west quite well.

Reading your reply I realize I should have been clearer
in my reply in one respect.

There is I believe no need to fly to tibet or drink butter tea to practise buddhism. In fact in my experience it might be a gross distraction.  Over the last hundred years or so
different Buddhist traditions including "Tibetan Buddhism" have been seeping into Britain and other Western countries.
This is a slow and difficult process. There is the question
of translation from asian languages. There is also the difficult process of cultural translation.

Buddhism is a science of the mind and has a specialised vocabularly and outlook. It is very subtle. So it requires extrordinary people to help move it from culture to culture. It also takes a certain period of time and trial and error.

We can see this process at work through the history of Buddhism. It moved from India to Tibet, from India to China. From India to SOuth-East asia etc. It is now
effectively moved from Tibet to Britain and other western countries.My advice to you is to realize you are not alone
in having this interest and consider that maybe the most effective way of finding out about buddhism is to start at home and study the traditions that are here in Britain.

In answer to your specific questions:
- how long: well 25 years or so ...but its difficult to know when it began!
- what inspired me? difficult to say. i read a book when i was a boy about tibet and it  excited me greatly.
- why doesnt the butter separate from the tea. i think your
in an area outside my expertise . i do have a recipe somewhere - but i cant put my hands on it right now. stick to pg tips that my advice:-)

Take care
Bodhicitta