Learning from Other Traditions

You've heard me say (or at least might have read) that I have little or no use for institutional religions, and in fact, regret deeply that such divisive man-made conventions exist. And while that is certainly an accurate portrayal of my disgust with institutional religion, it does not mean that I don't find some value in the spiritual traditions out of which so many of those institutions arose.

As a Buddhist monk, I am particularly drawn toward understanding and respecting the people, motivations and underlying principles of spiritual paths, because I recognise that the best these traditions hope for is an alleviation of suffering for its adherents. I also find that many traditions have, at their core, a teaching of compassion, mindfulness and forgiveness, which I believe are the essential building-blocks for a healthier society.

In September, Muslims will observe the month-long fast of Ramadan. During this fast, which is marked by a more austere practice than, for example, Christians' giving up meat or sweets during Lent, or religious Jews going without leavened bread during Pesach, a devout Muslim will fast entirely -- consuming no food or drink all day, and consuming only a very small meal at night (called an iftar).

The object of this exercise is for the Muslim adherent to purify themselves through mindfulness, and to recognise and strengthen their familiar and community bonds, by prayer, meditation, charity and forgiveness.

Now I am not one to necessarily approve of or recommend long fasts, particularly not without consultation with your holistic health practitioner (or for those still inclined to do so, with their allopathic physician). As a follower of the Middle Way, I endorse moderation, rather than such extreme measures. Yet, cutting back on the amount of food we eat for a month, and consuming only one small meal each day, something I choose to do three times each year, including during Ramadan, offers an opportunity for us to be more aware of the plight of the less fortunate.

The more important exercise that we can glean from our Muslim sisters and brothers is the mindful approach toward considering what we can do to strengthen our familial ties, community ties, and global ties... what kinds of charitable acts of compassion could we extend to those in need... and what areas in our lives require our forgiveness (including forgiving ourselves).

Even if your own spiritual exercises is little more than a one or two day fast, if you bring full awareness to the moment, and make the most of that exercise, you could achieve what others might not achieve in a full month of fasting and prayer.

From time to time, I have encountered individuals who imagine themselves to be "free of attachments". One fellow, using a Leonard Nimoy icon, even imagines himself to be an "enlightened tulku" (reincarnated master). Yet it is often these very individuals, once we get to know them, who seem to have more issues than National Geographic magazine.

Some of them will readily tell you that they need to learn to be more compassionate, or more forgiving, more mindful or more at ease. If that is the case, then they are obviously not free from attachments. Others are steeped in a narcissistic delusion, in which they really do imagine themselves to be so spiritually advanced that they have no attachments... and this includes (far too often) monastics, who think that giving up worldly possessions or sex makes them more like to achieve enlightenment. More often than not, their "renunciation" becomes a greater attachment than money and sex could ever become... and what's more, their renunciation actually reinforces their attachment to wealth, possessions and sex, simply because their attachment is to the "not having those things". Attachment is attachment.

Let us not deceive and delude ourselves into believing that we are free of attachments, and have no room for increased compassion in our lives. Let us consider what we can gain from exploring and understanding the religious and spiritual traditions of our neighbours. And in September, let us adopt the tenets of love, forgiveness, reconciliation, renewal and giving that are foundational focuses of both Ramadan and the Jewish observance of Rosh Hoshannah.

Namasté!

gurudas sunyatananda

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Author of "The Dharma of Compassion - One Monk's Reflections
on the Teachings of the Enlightened & Anointed Ones" -- a book
that looks at the parallel teachings of the Buddha and the Christ,
Lama Gurudas Sunyatananda is a Franciscan priest and Buddhist
contemplative monk, who has shared these timeless teachings
throughout the world, for more than 25 years.

Lama Gurudas shares the ways in which anyone can begin to
recognise and understand the nature of suffering, unhappiness
and restlessness in their lives, and employ a series of simple,
uncomplicated meditation strategies, mindfulness exercises and
personal decisions to improve the quality of their own lives, while
doing their part to reduce the experience of suffering in the
lives of others.

Focused on the interdependence of all beings, and the Common
Ground of Compassion, his workshops bring the teachings of
Buddha, Gandhi, Christ and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. into focus,
and empower others to experience dramatic transformation in
their lives. Lama Gurudas is the Spiritual Director of the
Contemplative Order of Compassion -- a grassroots community of
contemporary, Western Buddhists, vowed to living a non-religious,
non-theistic, post-modern expression of the ancient Dharma, and
committed to bringing better health, healing and freedom from hunger,
intolerance, violence and suffering to all sentient beings.

He resides at the Lojong Ladrang in historic Lancaster, Pennsylvania,
with his life-partner and companion, Craig, and their imaginary dog,
an imaginary scarlet macaw, and two imaginary pandas.

"My religion," he explains, inspired by the example of his spiritual father,
His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, "is compassion...
my god is love... my path is service."
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Copyright © 2008 The Office of Lama Gurudas Sunyatananda/Lojong Monastery. (Lojong Media Publications) All rights reserved.