Buddhism
So I went to the Lotus Lantern Festival in Seoul this weekend, a festival to get ready for Buddha's birthday on May 5. (Hello, holiday weekend!) Anyway, I went on my own, which I was a little worried about, but it ended up being a great experience. I saw a lot of traditional Korean dancing/singing/drumming/acrobatic performances, and I learned a little more about Buddhism.
At the street festival, there were a lot of booths set up with various activities and information, and one of them was for foreigners. When I walked by, I was like, whoa, English! They were teaching about meditation, so I joined in. Let me tell you, meditation is fucking hard! Sitting cross-legged without moving for five minutes is hard enough, and then you just have to not think about anything on top of it?! It was the longest five minutes of my life. Anyway, I did that and then they gave me some more info about Buddhism, which I read, because I happen to be interested in Buddhism. It's very different and new agey and I really want to like it. However, I just can't understand it. I don't know why anyone would be interested in my thoughts on Buddhism, but I'm posting them below nevertheless.
My problems with Buddhism:
1. Buddhists believe in constantly living in the moment. To quote the speaker I heard, "When you're walking, just walk. When you're eating, just eat. When you're driving, just drive." Now, maybe moments of revelation can come to you when you are living in the moment like this, but can we say BORING?! You expect me to drive my car for 30+ minutes and JUST DRIVE?! Not gonna happen. Don't want it to happen. Perhaps I'm not being open-minded enough, but that just isn't gonna work for me.
2. When you follow the Buddha's teachings, it leads to "englightenment", which, "points directly to the mind to realize truth without dependence on texts or words for meaning." Again, I'm sure my mind isn't open enough, but I can't understand how there can be meaning without words. I find it frustrating when I can't articulate my feelings with words, so for me, I think it would be hard to realize "truth" with no words. I don't know. On this point, I can kind of see the Buddhists' side, but I don't think I could achieve this, or be content with this as my ultimate goal.
3. Ok. So if you should rely on your own mind to find meaning, why do Buddhists worship Buddha? True, Buddha achieved enlightenment and set an exapmle, so can see why they pay their respects to him; however, they also bow to Buddha to ask him for things. This really baffles me. If you should be finding truth within your own mind, why are you asking Buddha? Shouldn't you be your own Buddha? Plus, when I see that bright gold Buddha, even though I don't identify myself as a Christian, the Catholic school girl in me screams, "Idolatrous heathens!"
So, while I really do find Buddhism interesting, I don't think I will be converting anytime soon. I'll have to seek spirituality down another path.
Thanks for reading my post about Buddhism! I hope I don't sound like you-know-who at any point during this post. But I have to say, it kind of feels good to think again, lol. My brain has been flipped to "basic english" for too long.
At the street festival, there were a lot of booths set up with various activities and information, and one of them was for foreigners. When I walked by, I was like, whoa, English! They were teaching about meditation, so I joined in. Let me tell you, meditation is fucking hard! Sitting cross-legged without moving for five minutes is hard enough, and then you just have to not think about anything on top of it?! It was the longest five minutes of my life. Anyway, I did that and then they gave me some more info about Buddhism, which I read, because I happen to be interested in Buddhism. It's very different and new agey and I really want to like it. However, I just can't understand it. I don't know why anyone would be interested in my thoughts on Buddhism, but I'm posting them below nevertheless.
My problems with Buddhism:
1. Buddhists believe in constantly living in the moment. To quote the speaker I heard, "When you're walking, just walk. When you're eating, just eat. When you're driving, just drive." Now, maybe moments of revelation can come to you when you are living in the moment like this, but can we say BORING?! You expect me to drive my car for 30+ minutes and JUST DRIVE?! Not gonna happen. Don't want it to happen. Perhaps I'm not being open-minded enough, but that just isn't gonna work for me.
2. When you follow the Buddha's teachings, it leads to "englightenment", which, "points directly to the mind to realize truth without dependence on texts or words for meaning." Again, I'm sure my mind isn't open enough, but I can't understand how there can be meaning without words. I find it frustrating when I can't articulate my feelings with words, so for me, I think it would be hard to realize "truth" with no words. I don't know. On this point, I can kind of see the Buddhists' side, but I don't think I could achieve this, or be content with this as my ultimate goal.
3. Ok. So if you should rely on your own mind to find meaning, why do Buddhists worship Buddha? True, Buddha achieved enlightenment and set an exapmle, so can see why they pay their respects to him; however, they also bow to Buddha to ask him for things. This really baffles me. If you should be finding truth within your own mind, why are you asking Buddha? Shouldn't you be your own Buddha? Plus, when I see that bright gold Buddha, even though I don't identify myself as a Christian, the Catholic school girl in me screams, "Idolatrous heathens!"
So, while I really do find Buddhism interesting, I don't think I will be converting anytime soon. I'll have to seek spirituality down another path.
Thanks for reading my post about Buddhism! I hope I don't sound like you-know-who at any point during this post. But I have to say, it kind of feels good to think again, lol. My brain has been flipped to "basic english" for too long.