More thoughts on Buddhism

The words I have written on Buddhism are based on facts not uninformed opinion. Having spent time at Buddhist monasteries in the UK and in Thailand, it became apparent that they have little in common. The most startling confirmation of this was being told by a lay teacher of Buddhism in Thailand that I mustn’t think, a point reiterated by the followers. This assertion is, of course, the very basis of education in Thailand where compliant rote systems are pursued. The first question posed by monks in the UK is, “Do you love yourself?” Meaning do you know yourself and love what you know?

Relating back to the story of how Siddhartha became Buddha, it is clear that he started with self-assessment and deep thought. He wished to be at peace with what he knew about himself and went to great lengths to learn the truth about himself without enhancement. In the modern age this would be called cognitive therapy.

Buddhism is not a “philosophy” or a “doctrine” and certainly not a religion, the facts, principles and beliefs of which can be taught. Buddhism comes from within the individual mind. Understanding Buddhism must start with understanding Siddhartha and the thought process of awareness to which he subjected himself to reach the status of Buddha.

It is quite apparent that superstition and the human need for collective association (club membership) have both embroidered and distorted a very simple training of the human mind. Interestingly, as children in the UK, when we stepped out of line, we were reprimanded with, “Just who do you think you are, sit down and think.” To go to sleep the secret was to learn to concentrate solely on one’s own breathing.

Unfortunately, self-induced mind training of the individual has diametrically digressed into an industry of fairground proportions where money is God. Relating factual differences would not be construed as “arrogance” by a Buddhist mind.

J C Wilcox