I wonder what a person needs to do to be considered a Buddhist?
I am not trying to be offensive but you can tell a Christian -- often enough -- by sight alone. If I were a MI5 agent I would have no trouble identifying a Christian though posing as one would be challenging. Christians tend to wear a type of clothing I don't own. I am not even certain of where to purchase such items. Christians also have grooming styles/habits that involve arcane rituals that completely mystify me. I do not know how to apply makeup in that way and my hair always tends toward entropy. I assume Christians must always be conscious of their appearance and must do regular maintenance checks throughout the day. Otherwise I am at a loss to explain their seeming perfection -- unless of course divine intervention is at play.
I think that regularity comes from a characteristic Christians tend to share. I think that communities are terribly important for Christians and I think individual members expend a lot of effort making sure they fit in. They also put effort into making the group collectively strong. And I think that is probably -- mostly -- (though not entirely) a healthy practice.
I am thinking mostly of families I knew as I was growing up. They were just ordinary decent people who wanted to make the world a better place. They participated in social action projects, took care of their families and tried to build character. I think of them as dog people who in another universe would run in packs.
I respect their point of view but for me the ideas of Buddhism are a better fit. I think Buddha was absolutely correct in thinking that everyone has known (or will know) suffering. I think his ideas about how suffering develops really explain the problems people have had throughout the ages. I also like his ideas about how to alleviate suffering.
But am I a Buddhist? Christians get baptized and confirmed. There is a social network to witness one's membership. Are all Buddhists a bit like cats -- just kind of doing their own thing? How does one claim Buddhist membership? Meditation and reflection is ultimately a solitary act. I wonder if there is a fellowship that comes with Buddhism outside of a monastery.
I think that regularity comes from a characteristic Christians tend to share. I think that communities are terribly important for Christians and I think individual members expend a lot of effort making sure they fit in. They also put effort into making the group collectively strong. And I think that is probably -- mostly -- (though not entirely) a healthy practice.
I am thinking mostly of families I knew as I was growing up. They were just ordinary decent people who wanted to make the world a better place. They participated in social action projects, took care of their families and tried to build character. I think of them as dog people who in another universe would run in packs.
I respect their point of view but for me the ideas of Buddhism are a better fit. I think Buddha was absolutely correct in thinking that everyone has known (or will know) suffering. I think his ideas about how suffering develops really explain the problems people have had throughout the ages. I also like his ideas about how to alleviate suffering.
But am I a Buddhist? Christians get baptized and confirmed. There is a social network to witness one's membership. Are all Buddhists a bit like cats -- just kind of doing their own thing? How does one claim Buddhist membership? Meditation and reflection is ultimately a solitary act. I wonder if there is a fellowship that comes with Buddhism outside of a monastery.