Being Jewish (or any other religion) and Buddhist?

 

Being Jewish (or any other religion) and Buddhist?

How can I feel like I am Buddhist… and not just Jewish?

I’ve been extremely interested in Buddhism for a little while now. When I saw exactly what the teachings (of the Buddha are). I am currently being raised in a Jewish home, and had a Bar Mitzvah. I really don’t know that much about Judaism, and don’t want to be born into a religion that I don’t have interest in. I also want to become more spiritual and peaceful (as opposed to being nervous/anxious). How can I feel like I am Buddhist… and not just Jewish?

Thanks!

My answer

Hello and thank you for your question.
If you report to my Convert To Buddhism page, you’ll see what I think is becoming Buddhist.

I’ll repeat it here in other words:

Being Buddhist is not being part of a group, a sect or a cult. Being Buddhist starts in your heart, continues in your head and shows in your actions.

What I mean by that, is the you must first understand what are the principles of Buddhism. Then you must educate yourself on the subject..

Finally, live it. Be the change that you want in the world as Gandhi said.
Meditate, practice compassion toward others AND yourself, and respect the precepts of Buddhism.

That is all you need to do.

I don’t know much about Judaism but except for passages in the Bible where God says that you should kill sinners, (2 Kings 10:18-27 ) I doubt that Buddhism goes against the principles of Judaism so you can be both.

Chances are that it will make you a better Jew and if not, it will make you a better human being.

Just to inform you, you would not be the first JuBu:
Here is a list of famous Jewish-Buddhists:

Leonard Cohen
Lama Surya Das
Robert Downey, Jr.
Doug Fieger
Allen Ginsberg
Bernard Tetsugen Glassman
Goldie Hawn
Kate Hudson
Jack Kornfield
Jeremy Piven
Steven Seagal
Garry Shandling
Adam Yauch
Thubten Chodron

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