by: Bita

Hi Leandro,

Thank you for your article and honest feelings about being unable to settle in the religion you were raised in. The quest for truth is indeed what truly sets us free. Once you learn more about Buddhism, not only will your newly-found peace of mind deepen but also you will gain the teachings’ principles that can help you explain your beliefs to others in a logical and coherent way. Not only will you feel grounded in what you believe in but also you will definitely have a great impact on others’ lives as well as they see Buddhism for the first time in their lives. I think very few people in the West know about the real teachings of Buddhism. I learned Buddhism myself by living in Japan for 7 years. Now I live in Los Angeles and feel happy to be able to talk about the teachings freely in a way that others also can relate to. I’m sure if more people knew Buddhism, we would all be more respectful of each other and together seek on our journey toward lasting happiness. I strong recommend the following books for you to read:

Unlocking Tannisho

Something You Forgot along the Way

by Kentetsu Takamori

If you have any concerns or questions, feel free to contact me. My skype address is:

bitaasakura

by: Dev

There are several schools of thought about “being a Buddhist” or ” Buddhist” in relation to an individual. In my opinion, one does not have to “become” a Buddhist to follow the teachings of Buddhism. Unlike many other religions, whereby one has to “belong” to a Church or Faith, Buddhism does not require a person to have an affiliation to it as a Faith nor place of worship. However, most of us “Buddhists” like to refer to ourselves as Buddhists simply as an identity to our faith or practice, but I have seen many people who, although they do not follow the path of Buddhism or practice its teachings, they naturally have the traits of a “Buddhist” simply by their actions. One such person is my wife – who is from a Christian family background, but gave up practicing that religion because she felt that her family and environment when she was growing up forced her to follow Chriatianity and questioning about the religion was taboo. She now feels much comfortable following the path of Buddhism with me – even though she does not identify herself as a “Buddhist” – but I see the traits of a Buddhist in her because of her loving kindness and compassionate ways. You need not really “convert” to Buddhism to follow its path, but simply practice its teachings.