Expert: Joe McSorley - 2/23/2006

Question
Hello,

My name is Tiffany Thomas and I am part of an Eastern and Western Philosophy class on www.govhs.com.
I do apologize if this may seem obtrusive in any way, but I would like to ask you three questions for my Interview an Expert assignment.

1. Do you think one can successfully incorporate an Eastern religion/philosophy, such as Taoism, into everyday Western living?

2. In the history of Buddhism, has there ever been a war over it, like today's large conflict between Christians and Muslims?

3. Christians have the Ten Commandments, Do Buddhists have a set of rules the must follow? Is it already assumed that one should not harm others? How is the code of ethics decided?

Thank you for your cooperation,

Tiffany Thomas

Answer
Hi Tiffany,
  Here goes:
1. Do you think one can successfully incorporate an Eastern religion/philosophy, such as Taoism, into everyday Western living?


 Yes, absolutely, it's about becoming aware or yourself and your environment and reaching a place of harmony within it.  We go about our lives totally unaware the effect that everyday life has upon us mentally and physically.  If we practice awareness in every moment we become more attuned to what we really need.




2. In the history of Buddhism, has there ever been a war over it, like today's large conflict between Christians and Muslims?

 No.  This is because Buddhism is the religions of self-awakening and there is no conversion here.  Many religions are based on what you believe and not on who you are.  You can force someone to say they believe anything but you cannot force someone to become self-aware.  Buddhism does not divide humans by belief or any other mental construct.


3. Christians have the Ten Commandments, Do Buddhists have a set of rules the must follow? Is it already assumed that one should not harm others? How is the code of ethics decided?
 There are different precepts in Buddhism to follow and here are the basic ones:
Not to do any evil,
To cultivate good,
To purify one's mind,
This is the teaching of the Buddhas.
Some of these are expounded in other ways but this is the basic foundation.  If self is other and other is self , as Buddhism teaches, then we would not do that which harms either.
  Take care,
         Joe