Some Random Thoughts on Buddhism

Gee, we haven't talked about religion here for a while. Let me spark the debate with some thoughts on Buddhism.

In Buddhism, the main idea is to let go of desire which in turn ends suffering. You do this through meditation, and following the "Eight-fold Path," which basically tells you to be a good person. While following the path, you meditate, which eventually leads to an awakening where you realize that everything is one and that reality itself is impermanent.

The Buddha himself said he was no god and shouldn't be worshiped. In fact, if you worship the Buddha, you are attached to, or you are desiring the Buddha. Desire, or attachment, is the whole thing you are trying to get rid of.

So why then, is Buddhism, as it is practiced in most parts of the world today, so full of attachment to tradition and dogma?

Take, for example, Tibetan Buddhism. This form is probably the most popular form of Buddhism in the United States, along with Zen Buddhism from China and Japan. Americans practicing Tibetan Buddhism often cling to various cultural aspects of Tibetan Buddhism or Asian Buddhism.

The hardcore types might go buy Asian robes, Buddha statues, prayer flags and other paraphernalia.

The picture above is a stupa, which is a Buddhist monument. This particular stupa is in the Tibetan style. You might assume that it is in Tibet but in fact, this Tibetan monument is in Colorado. It even has a Sanskrit name, the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya. It's located at a mountain retreat that caters to Americans who want to be "Buddhist."

First, I think that clinging to cultural relics of Tibet does not make you Buddhist nor does it help you think like or become Buddhist. In fact, it is exactly the opposite message that the Buddha was trying to send. The Buddha wouldn't have wanted you to adapt or mimic the culture of another civilization just to get closer to Buddhahood.

The Buddha wanted you to find enlightenment on your own. You can't do this by clinging to the cultural trappings of the Buddhist "religion" in another country.

Secondly, I would like to attack Tibetan Buddhism specifically but the idea applies to all other sects of Buddhism.

In Tibetan Buddhism, there seems to be more attachment to religious dogma, or a formal doctrine established by the religion. They have prayer wheels, prayer flags, the stupas, the search for and identification of reincarnated lamas, etc. All of this represents some form of attachment.

Take the stupa for example. The stupa can be found in many sects of Buddism but the Tibetans have them as well. Inside each stupa is supposed to be a relic of some sort, often the remains of a lama.

This is attachment pure and simple. It is a form of idolatry. It is completely contradictory to Buddhism.

To be a good Buddhist, to become awakened or enlightened, I think the best approach is to read and understand the Buddha's teachings and steer away from the cultural aspects which create additional attachment.

Buddhism is a way of thinking that leads to a realization that everything is one. It is not a religion. The Buddha would be appalled if he saw Buddhism today.