Expert: Justin Choo - 10/1/2004

Question
I am taking an Eastern and Western thought class and one of out assignments involves looking into Buddhism from a practitioner's point of view. I've read about Buddhism a little on my own but there is much I have yet to understand and I was hoping you could help me with a few questions.

1.) Do you feel that a Buddhist can be involved in such a materialistic culture as that of America and still be true to beliefs such as the eight-fold path and the four noble truths?

2.) What exactly is the role of vegetarianism in Buddhism? I myself am a vegetarian but most people I know are not, would Buddhists view those who aren't vegetarian different than someone who is (in a spiritual sense)?

3.) I understand the Buddhists do not believe in a god but I think this lead me to misunderstanding the idea of enlightenment. When Buddhists are enlightened and obtain moksha I always thought that they became "part" of the supreme force (god). If there is no god what happens when enlightenment is achieved?

Thanks so much!

Ashley  

Answer
Hi Ashley,
Thank you for asking me.

Your question:
1.) Do you feel that a Buddhist can be involved in such a materialistic culture as that of America and still be true to beliefs such as the eight-fold path and the four noble truths?

My answer:
A direct answer is "yes".  However, we need a change in our mindset in order to enjoy the abundance that your country is offering.  Otherwise, you will be the very victim of this abundance.  An ordinary person, without any spiritual values, is one who is the slave of its own self, because he will succumb to the whims and fancies of his senses.  When he gets the good things in life, he is happy.  When he is happy he will seek further happiness by wanting more.  And he will never be satisfied.  On the other hand, when bad things happen to him, he will be very sad.  And if he cannot resolve this state of sadness, he will hate the situation, hate others, and also hate himself. This is actually a very elementary lesson in human psychology.  
In our lives, we are slaves to "I want"..."I don't want", and we suffer because of "I don't know" how to handle the situation.  The answer to this problem is "contentment" and realization that this world is not perfect.  

Once we can be contented with what we have at this point in time, we can be happy and enjoy that much that we possess, right now.  Once we realize and accept that the world is not perfect, then we can bear the rough edges in our lives.  We live in the present; period.  This does not mean that we cannot improve on what we have, or to make effort to resolve our problems.  We should continue to make effort to further improve ourselves in all aspects and to resolve any problems that we encounter, but at the same time to be thankful for the good things that we have right now, and  be contented, happy and at peace with ourselves. The problem with people is that they want more of happiness,
always; and they demand that bad things must not go to them, ever.  With this fixed mindset, we can never be happy now.  We can be happy only when we have more.  Also, we cannot be happy because we have problems right now.  Only when we have no problem at all, then we will be happy.  We impose conditions for our happiness.

The Buddha's advice is to have peace in oneself, by understanding, realizing, and accepting the realities in life and the unsatisfactory nature of this world.   Happiness is a bonus.  Once there is peace in oneself, one can really enjoy the riches of one's country. With this understanding, you can live a materialistic life in America in peace and happiness.  


Your question:
2.) What exactly is the role of vegetarianism in Buddhism? I myself am a vegetarian but most people I know are not, would Buddhists view those who aren't vegetarian different than someone who is (in a spiritual sense)?


My answer:
Congratulations, Ashley.  For sure, you will be a very healthy person, in body.  To the Chef, he will swear that you are what you eat.  To the Buddha, you are what you THINK.

A little bit of information on the Buddha's time will help to clarify this "controversy of vegetarianism".  During the Buddha's time, most people were poor especially in remote villages, more so at the fringes of forests and jungles.  It is still a fact in remote places in Thailand and Myanmar today.  The tradition of all ascetics during those days in India was that they depended on the generosity of the householders to provide sustenance for them.  The Buddha being very sensitive to the hardship of the people, would accept anything that was given to the Buddha for his daily alms, with only a few exceptions.  He would not accept meat that he specifically  knew, came from animals that were killed specially for his consumption.  There were certain meats that he would avoid taking, eg., dogs, elephants, horses, and snakes.  So the Buddha was never a vegetarian.  The Mahayana school advocated strict vegetarianism on the premise that eating meat was unwholesome, and to some extent setting a bad example, as far as practicing compassion was concerned.  As I said it is  a controversial topic.  As far as the Buddha was concerned, killing is unwholesome.  Eating meat is not killing.  A very important point to note is that the Buddha never prevented anyone from being a strict vegetarian.

In the spiritual sense, it is what we think, speak, and do, that is of the greatest importance.


You wrote:
3.) I understand the Buddhists do not believe in a god but I think this lead me to misunderstanding the idea of enlightenment. When Buddhists are enlightened and obtain moksha I always thought that they became "part" of the supreme force (god). If there is no god what happens when enlightenment is achieved?

My answer:
The concepts of moksha and union with god are Hindu concepts, not Buddhist concepts.
Buddhists do not subscribe to the existence of a supreme being who is all powerful and who controls us at his whims and fancies.  There are lesser gods (for lack of a better term)  and spirits that exist in other planes of existence, but they are no better than us.

The Buddhist ultimate mission is to free the mind from all negative and evil pollutions, so that it is absolutely pure and bright.  A mind without any trace of greed, hatred, and delusion, will be free from the dirt and defilements of this world.  It will then exist in a state that is not subject to the unsatisfactoriness of this world .  Where is this place?  The answer is to put a question back to you¡...."Where is fire?"


Hope you are satisfied  with my answers.  If you have further clarifications, please ask again, and I will be too happy to try my best to answer.

Smile from justinchoo, :-))