A Shot of Buddhism, No Chaser
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The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend a personal God and avoid dogma and theology. Covering both the natural and the spiritual, it should be based on a religious sense arising from the experience of all things natural and spiritual as a meaningful unity. Buddhism answers this description. If there is any religion that could cope with modern scientific needs it would be Buddhism. -Albert Einstein
After some interesting experiences, of the altered state variety, when I was a youth, I became energetically compelled to traipse off down a path in search of meaning. I grew bored with our Lord, Jesus Christ, and demanded something more profound than accepting that a guy died on a cross for our sins. My native faith left me with a bad case of cotton mouth.
Don’t get me wrong. This is not an anti-Christian screed. Christianity serves its purpose and should be commended for its proffering of the Golden Rule. Most every great religion, including Islam and Judaism, has, in so many words, suggested the ego transcending ethos of treating others the way you would like to be treated. To date, too few Christians, Muslims and Jews get it. That’s not religion’s fault. That’s the fault of some people that call themselves religious.
At seventeen I needed something more robust and profound to spark my imagination than Abraham’s bi-polar God, who by all accounts was prone to unspeakable violence and irrationality. I needed something that could explain to me in a way that agreed with my experience of reality, what this crap is really all about and how do I make myself a better human being.
I found Western Philosophy, Hinduism, Taoism and Buddhism and flirted with each. Each I found intellectually and spiritually rich, profound and provoking, but after twenty-seven years since I first developed an engrossed curiosity to know the ineffable, I keep coming back to the chubster sitting under a tree some 2,500 years ago.
Buddhism starts with one basic premise: Suffering exists. That’s it. Nothing more or less; no requirement to believe in a one, true God, or the magical exploits of the offspring of an anthropomorphic, and irascible divine being. Buddhism simply begins with the acknowledgement that existence is fraught with pain, physical and psychological.
From that premise Buddhism extrapolates that suffering is caused by attachment to desires, and craving for permanence. Nothing in our experience gives any indication that there is anything permanent about the world we live in. The only permanence we experience as humans is impermanence. Everything born (whether an actual living being or an idea) lives, changes and dies. Change is the only constant, and Buddhism says get used to it–you might actually learn to like it.
The third proposition is that by relinquishing an over reliance on finding salvation in the allusive pursuit to manifest, obtain and possess our wants and needs, suffering can be overcome. Even a passionate desire for the cessation of suffering is a craving that induces suffering. Essentially, the only way to peace and lasting contentment is to cultivate a delight in being and becoming. If X happens in my life then I can finally be happy is a formula that insures discontent. Buddhism teaches that if X does or does not happen, so be it, because X doesn’t really matter and will never last anyway–so just be happy, damn it.
The rest of Buddhism is a psychotherapeutic and philosophical methodology for overcoming the neurosis of attachment, and transcending the many insatiable voices of the ego. It’s all about corralling our inner psychos, so that the loonies are not running the asylum.
I concede, Buddhism is not for everyone. It is not a reasonable expectation that your pro-life, Fox-News-watching, liberal-hating, God-fearing, ultra-conservative aunt is going to suddenly wonder, “What did the Buddha mean when he said the ultimate nature of reality is emptiness, and can I sit in a chair when practicing No-Mind, zazen meditation?”
Buddhism is more of a philosophical, humanistic inquiry and psychological practice for those who have run up against the wall of modernity’s limitations, and want more quality out of life than physical delights and dogma can offer.
For me, Buddhism hits the spot.
He who binds to himself a Joy,
Does the winged life destroy,
He who kisses the Joy as it flies,
Live’s in Eternity’s sunrise.
-William Blake
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I agree (really?) much, with Morgan. (Well, except for the huffing thing… ) But ya know, I’ve run into several misogynist buddhists. From the physics of it, the “golden rule” has always been to me a very self preserving rule. A good one. For every action there is an equal and responsive action…no? I do my best to demonstrate it, too. “and harm none, do what cha gonna” or like that. It’s a really good post Mr. Lawyer!
All of this spirit talk makes me want to lock myself in a closet, eat hummus and huff my own farts. In my enlightened state I thought:
Seriously. I think Buddhism’s greatest gift is moderation, and to look within for clues to honest being. Transcending (and avoidance of) suffering is the most peaceful path for the soul.
Ask yourself if the spiritual path you have chosen will inflict suffering on others. If yes, it is not a true path.
To me, Buddhism seems most able to answer questions concerning the suffering of mankind and helping you find the answers within yourself. No looking for some “forgiveness” or blessing by a deity. I too loved this post, Lawyer Man.
“Buddhism is a combination of both speculative and scientific philosophy. It advocates the scientific method and pursues that to a finality that may be called Rationalistic. In it are to be found answers to such questions of interest as: ‘What is mind and matter? Of them, which is of greater importance? Is the universe moving towards a goal? What is man’s position? Is there living that is noble?’ It takes up where science cannot lead because of the limitations of the latter’s instruments. Its conquests are those of the mind.” Bertrand Russell
Great quote.
And you even ended this great post with William Blake, what a guy.
Thankya, thankya vury much.
You sounded just a little like Elvis for a minute?
This posting was a welcome “shot,” no chaser needed, so thank you. 🙂 It reminded me of, and made me a bit nostalgic for, my own past search-for-meaning traipses into Buddhism. Luckily, not yet having transformed into a god-fearing, Fox-watching anything, there may still be hope for me to reflect on these deep questions of permanence, suffering, and emptiness.
Not only a Lawyer…you’re a fuckin mind reader!! Bravo!! I love this post!!