How do I practice the Dhamma in an environment where it's not supported?
score:1
Firstly, I assume that you reside in a jurisdiction where converting from your original religion to Buddhism and the practice of Buddhism are not illegal.
I suggest that you can explain the following to your parents, assuming that it is possible to reason with them:
I understand and respect your beliefs and your practice of religion X. This religion X teaches one to have morality, respect, kindness and compassion for your fellow man. The founder of this religion also displayed these values. (cite examples here)
I would like to announce to you that I do not belong to religion X any more, although I still greatly respect it and its founder. I have now accepted Buddhism, as my religion and my way of life, by taking refuge in the Buddha, his teachings and his community of disciples, as well as by undertaking the training of the Five Precepts of Buddhism.
The Buddha also displayed the same values of morality, respect, kindness and compassion, that the founder of religion X did, and he taught his followers to practise these values. (Cite examples from the Buddha's life that parallel the life of the founder of religion X)
The Five Precepts of Buddhism are not very different from the Ten Commandments (or some other equivalent teaching of religion X). It teaches me not to kill, not to steal, not to commit adultery, not to speak the untruth, and not to consume intoxicating substances. The Buddha is not God and Buddhists are not required to make idols of the Buddha, or worship him. Taking refuge in the Buddha simply means that one accepts the Buddha as his teacher, and has faith in his teachings.
The Buddha was a normal man, who became an enlightened teacher, who guided his followers away from living an immoral life that leads to suffering, just as the founder of religion X did.
The Buddha also taught his followers to respect and cherish their parents. He taught that it's very difficult for children to repay the love and kindness shown by parents towards their children.
I want you to understand that your insulting and belittling of Buddhism or the Buddha will not change my mind. I am now and for the foreseeable future, a committed practising Buddhist.
The founder of religion X did not prevent or hinder people from following other religions. The Buddha too did not prevent or hinder people from following other religions.The founder of religion X did not force others to practise the religion that he brought. The Buddha too did not force others to practise his teachings.
Similarly, I will not force you to practise my religion, and I ask you not to force me to practice your religion. I will not insult or belittle your religion, and I ask you not to insult or belittle Buddhism.
Even if you insult or belittle my religion, the Buddha taught me to show metta (loving kindness) towards you. By metta, I mean I would always wish you to be happy and free from suffering. (Cite similar examples from the life of the founder of religion X, if possible)
Upvote:1
If we understand the non secterian Dhamma, we can use judeo-Christian language, or or find simple common ground with them. Dhamma is virtue, morality is Dhamma. Non secterian, even set aside Pali language, who will have issue with not killing, not using intoxicants, not stealing, not undertaking sexual misconduct, not over indulging in sleep and comfort?
Many monastaries and meditation centers don't follow the precept of no having ornaments, decorations, etc. This precept might be important to keep purity of Dhamma in a non sectarian way. Not putting up these walls, barriers attatchments will be good for one and all beings. Don't take my word for it, question it. Find out with your own faculty of dicernment. Fancy Pagoda tops, and decorations and even statues of sidartha gotoma the body are not in alignment with the Dhamma. These jewelery, and chanting outloud, in front of them are better left undone. Meditation in secluded area, in a room preferably clean or empty, or in a park at the base of a tree.
Who will take issue if you simply state I am trying to take time to develop concentration. Lengthen my attention span. It may help me to improve studying, reduce stress, enjoy a richer fuller life. A calm mind might appreciate the song of a bird, the beauty of sunset, etc. Develop wisdom and insight into the nature of reality.
Have compassion for living beings, I try to develop compassion for living beings, know that People and animals are all subject to sickness, death, impermenance. I don't want to unnecessarily cause I creased harm. But it takes practice... Who will take issue?
Better not to argue with them but try taking deep breaths and o serve how you feel when this is happening. If you react as soon as you can realize it come to your senses and try to not respond verbally. If you react 15 min. Before you realize I am reacting, arguing, etc. Know it is a huge improvement from 16 min.
Upvote:2
The Buddhism as a religion which can be seen practiced nowadays is often and in many ways quite different to the practices in the texts. Therefore your group is right to worry about you imo. There are several sects even within the Theravada and a variety of disagreements, chances are they already got you:)
Perhaps try approaching the whole Buddhisms more like an academic pursuit and experiment with meditation, shouldn't be a big deal if someone wants to explore those things. The problem arises when you come of as a lunatic and they are unable to communicate because they are not trained in that system of language (dhamma).
More post
- 📝 How did Buddha deal with people that were sexually attracted to him?
- 📝 Ways to strengthen the perception of the breath
- 📝 Is there any place for Omens in Buddhism?
- 📝 Why did the Buddha touch the earth at his enlightenment?
- 📝 How to experience Karma?
- 📝 I have some metta problem
- 📝 Meditation - hot and expectant in the morning
- 📝 How is liberation achieved?
- 📝 What effect does mindfulness have on dependent origination?
- 📝 Can Stoicism be seen as something close to Buddhism in some aspects?
- 📝 Is nirvana just the end of a causal series?
- 📝 Physical Lethargy
- 📝 Different types of vipassana meditation?
- 📝 Can Buddhists see into the future?
- 📝 Why Mind is Fickle?
- 📝 Does an Arahant or Buddha still like music they liked as a lay person?
- 📝 Conditions to break a precept
- 📝 Is moderate drinking acceptable in Buddhism?
- 📝 How this quote by Mahathma Ghandi is compatable with non-violence teaching of Buddhism?
- 📝 Compulsive desire to correct others
- 📝 Reincarnation of a Sotapanna person (Stream Enterer)
- 📝 How do you decide when to stick up for yourself and when to let things go?
- 📝 Soul that transmigrates?
- 📝 What's the sutta/source for Devadatta's attempt to kill the Buddha with the drunken war elephant Nalagiri?
- 📝 Is ignorance a form of superstition?
- 📝 Form in the formless realms
- 📝 Tikapatthana in English
- 📝 How can evil doers be 'reborn' as 'human'?
- 📝 Is it moral to trade goods?
- 📝 What does samudaya mean?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 How do I practice the Dhamma in an environment where it's not supported?
- 📝 Where is the Buddha quoted as saying do not believe anything I say until you can prove it by yourself?
- 📝 How not to kill the mouse in my house?
- 📝 How are 'conceit' and 'identity-view' not the same?
- 📝 How to find the right Dhamma teacher
- 📝 How are Buddhist Sacred Texts used in practice and historically, given the questioned authenticity of some of them
- 📝 How does one practice Buddhism when experience is limited by the 6 senses?
- 📝 How does the force of ones karma determine where the mind stream goes?
- 📝 How should one teach the Dhamma to others?
- 📝 There is a text where Buddha says that the Dharma he teaches is not a secret doctrine so why are there sects which maintain secrecy?
- 📝 How can the Buddha (after he was enlightened) reflect that he was not at ease and then became at ease in seclusion?
- 📝 Where are the Eight Worldly Winds and how to deal with them described?
- 📝 How does the Dhamma reconcile slavery?
- 📝 Vipassana sharpens my ability to feel the feelings of others, but I'm not yet sure how best to use that?
- 📝 What is the practice people call "shamata practice". Where did this idea come from?
- 📝 How do I practice Buddhism to attain peace of mind and know the inner self?
- 📝 How does the practice of Buddhism look at preconceived ideas, assumptions or notions?
- 📝 What is The eighth jhana and how can i practice it?
- 📝 How do you properly practice the more abstract precepts?
- 📝 How is craving the practice that leads to the origin of feeling?
- 📝 The Practice of Giving: How to Practice Giving "Thusly"?
- 📝 How we can go to the pari-nirvana if not by being a bodhisattva?
- 📝 How to practice “In the seen will be merely what is seen”
- 📝 How not to feel helpless against the fact dukkha is everywhere?
- 📝 Is it right, according to the Vinaya, to charge for Dhamma classes? (I'm not talking about donations, but a fixed amount per class one has to pay)
- 📝 How to not let the attachment to a self and its preferences influence the choice of a particular tradition in buddhism?
- 📝 How to practice ignoring identification with the body?
- 📝 How does Theravada practice to obtain the direct knowledge of anatta?
- 📝 How can we make compatible the 'ehipassiko' aspect of the Dhamma with the faith aspects of it?
- 📝 How can I practice mindfulness meditation with sound, not breathing?