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I guess there's 2 types of people belonging to religions. Cultural followers who are born into the religion and people who actually
practice the teachings. Culteral followers are basically follows of myth, old wives tales and politics, woven in with basic stories
from that religion. For instance, there's loads of people in this country who are christian, but appart from celebrating Christmas
(which is well established as being the pagan winter solstice rebranded whilst converting pagans to christianity) and easter, they
don't follow the core 10 commandments or teachings of the religion itself. Those who actively choose Christianity are the proper
Christians.
The same goes for Buddhism, Buddhism in Buddhist countries is just as screwed up and politically warped as Christianity is in this
country, but has for the past century been going through a revival in the west.
If the definition of a religion is something with a god, with promises that can't be proved, endless doctrine etc, then Christianity
is a religion.
But on the same tip, Buddhism isn't a religion. There's no god, no endless doctrine, no promises which can't be proven.
Buddhism encourages its
followers to be completely sceptical, to test out things for themselves. If they come to the same conclusion as Buddhism having done
so and continue, then they are Buddhist.
I'm a scientist. I work on logic and don't beleive anything which isn't proven. Christianity just has, well, too much bollocks. I'm
not content with being told to just blindly follow this book which has been rewritten so many times over the years that the original
no longer exists. Buddhism fits in with me perfectly.
What's even better, is that Buddhism encourages many of the phylosphies which I've already worked out for myself. Veganism for
example, is one of the 10 Buddhist precepts.
One of the main practices of the Western Buddhist Order (WBO) is meditation, which followers are encouraged to do everyday. Personally
I don't have the disipline to do this (hmmm, get up 30 mins earlier and meditate, or sleep in.....), but I do attend at least 2
meditation classes a week, and notice the positive effects on this in my day to day life. Meditation and Buddhism teaches followers
to become forever mindful of their lives. It's like a state of constantly observing yourself and being aware of what is happening around
you, and being able to make logical decisions instead of natural reactions. I shouldn't have to say that living in this state is highly
useful, you learn to become much more grounded, peaceful and happy. As humans we naturally change mood states constantly, we have lows
and highs. Mindfulness isn't a cure for this, but it does allow you to monitor and watch mood changes, and over time to be aware of
them at all times and either gently bring yourself back to normal or admit defeat and chill out for a while.
The goal of most buddhists is enlightenment, a natural brain state of complete understanding and bliss. I'm off cause a sceptic,
I beleive such a state exists, but whether or not it's braindamage caused by years of sitting in silence meditating etc is anyone's guess.
Certainly I wouldn't say no to eternal bliss, but I practice Buddhism for the enrichment it brings to my life right here right now as
I experience it, which according to Buddhism is all that exists anyway.
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