Expert: Justin Choo - 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,

Thank you for asking me.

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

Answer:  It is only possible if the person is willing to accept "new" ideas and concepts.  If one is stereotyped and narrow-minded, then it is clearly impossible.  Buddhism is about universal truths which transcend race, nationality, culture, tradition, and even time and space.  Truth is truth.  There is no boundary.  The universal law of cause and effect holds supreme.  In simple language, bad actions will produce bad consequences; and good actions will produce good results.  It is just that simple.  In fact we do not need anyone to tell us that.  We have our human intelligence, commonsense, and conscience to know what is good and what is bad.  If one can respect good values, one has no difficulty to practise Buddhism in any society.


Qn2. In the history of Buddhism, has there ever been a war over it, like today's large conflict between Christians and Muslims?

Answer:  The basic tenet of Buddhism is compassion and non-violence.  Buddhists will never kill in the name of the Buddha.  There has never been bloodshed in the name of Buddhism.  The essence of the Buddha is harmlessness.  Hatred and revenge are the twin evils of mankind.  No problem or conflict will ever be solved through revenge.  It is a lose-lose situation.  If you lose, you lose.  If you win, you also lose because the enemy will take revenge in future.  Buddhism was completely wiped out in India because Buddhists refused to go to war against the northern invaders who destroyed the earliest Buddhist university in Nalanda and all the Buddhist temples, and slaughtered thousands of monks and lay Buddhists.  In recent time, the Talibans in Afghanistan blew up 2 huge Buddha statues.  The Buddhists were rudely insulted, but with Buddhist wisdom they did not start a war.  Such is the beauty of Buddhism.


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

Answer:  Buddhists are advised to follow the 5 precepts which are universal moral values.  The 5 precepts are to refrain from killing, from stealing, from committing sexual misconduct, from lying, and from taking intoxicating substances.  There is no compulsion.  The advice is that if we follow the 5 precepts we will avoid a lot of problems, and our lives will be a happier one.  If we chose to act otherwise, then be prepared to face troubles and problems.  It's that simple.

Smile from justinchoo :-)