Saying that Buddhism is the way to build a more compassionate, joyful way of life is the same as saying that Home Depot is the way to build a house. You will find some useful tools there, some incredible directions, and even people you can ask for help, but eventually all the concepts, teachings, labels, and perceptions of what “it” is have to melt in the presence of who you really are. All alone, yet not alone at all.
Like you, and me, and Home Depot, Buddhism did not always exist, and at some point it will cease to exist. Either because not enough of us practice it, or the human race ends, or everyone practices it so it becomes not a practice but just something you do, like sleeping, eating, or shitting. The body of thought and ritual and practice we call Buddhism is totally impermanent and will end. And that’s part of what makes it special, just like our own inscrutable expiration dates are what make us so special. But here’s why that doesn’t even matter…
It doesn’t matter because the space that this system allows us to access and experience will never disappear. This tiny gap between annihilation (the moment just passed) and anticipation (the moment yet to come). Also frequently referred to as “the present moment”, “now”, “awakening” or the “E”-word, it has nothing to do with Buddhism and everything to do with everything. It’s the real deal of who you are and who you aren’t, and it’s always present and always
slipping away, which works out pretty nicely in the long run. I’m just starting to glimpse that I’m in there also, along with Buddhism, and you and everything else, whether I’m in a good mood or shitty mood, practicing a lot or a little, well-rested or exhausted.
“Buddhism” is simply a convenient term for a relationship between community, teachings, and personal practice and study that has proven the best way to get in touch with the true nature of reality. It’s not a destination or system to “hang out” in, any more than an airplane or car is also where you’re going. But it works. Buddhism is the Honda Civic of religions, if it is a religion. Totally reliable, widely available, populist, highly customizable, and really good at getting you where you need to go. Wasting time not knowing who you really are, especially since finding out the truth makes you more and more available to the rest of the universe, seems really self-indulgent to me now.
What attracted me to the IDP, and continues to intrigue me, is our ability to talk about ancient principles in a way that is totally relevant to 21st century life. There is no dogma, only study, practice and community. The practice speaks for itself. To my friends who took the refuge vows last weekend, a tip of the mudra and a bow to you.
My faith in this practice is unshakable because I have tested it on myself and know the truth. Were someone to challenge the actionable power of daily meditation practice and dharma study and community participation, I would let the arrow of their challenge lay at my feet, or let it travel undeterred through my heart, or grab it from the air and politely hand it back to them to put back in their quiver. They may understand, or they may not.
Were an arrow of hostility to do me harm now, I know that it would have be my choice. I would have to choose to hunker down, pick up that arrow, and plunge it into my own eye or my own flesh for it to pain me.
This articles is written by erry Kolber and is originating from http://blog.beliefnet.com
