People fail to value some things because we don’t understand it. I take time to learn and take as much as I can because only then can I be aware of the significance. When I started to bother myself with the history of things, I saw world with different, gentler eyes. It’s the same with religion. We went to a Buddhist Temple today. We got to learn their practices firsthand. The monk asked us if we know where we were and the reason why. We were all quiet, both because of shyness and naivety. Of course we knew we were in a temple. Of course we knew we were to learn about Buddhism. We just werent holding a tangible reason as to why. “By knowing other religions, you learn to pay respect to that religion.” It was true in every sense. The world lacked understand and the lack of wisdom separates us.
They made us remove our shoes before entering the temple and we were welcomed by another monk with his back turned to us, doing a ritual/chant the whole time. He didnt seem to be distracted by us. He remained calm. I have yet to achieve that kind of peacefulness when meditating.
We learned about their eating practices inside the temple. It takes so much discipline to not say a single word and be quiet even in your movements. But then again, their religion revolves around self awareness and discipline. Before the tour, I explored around in their shop. I scanned some books and landed on a page containing some principles and precepts, like a general rule. I remember the exact “oh, wow.” feeling I got. It’s funny because when I turned to the next chapter it said, as though answering me:
“When most people first hear about the Buddhist precepts, they may think they are just another set of rules to tell them all the things they cannot do and all the ways they will lose their freedom.”
They had an enormous Buddha on their altar. It reminded me of this golden buddha furniture when I was little which I used to make fun of. There were also times in my younger years where I used "Buddha" in a rather negative way as a joke. I didnt value because my immature heart didnt understand then. Before leaving the temple, they gave us a chance to make a wish and pay respect to their altar by bowing. Each of us got our own Dharma. Here’s mine..
Then they led us to another floor where we were introduced to the Chinese tea ceremony. The effort that goes into every cup astounded me. Our host prepared us green and roasted tea which she let us smell first. Im not the biggest fan of tea, if im honest, but the process had me speechless that it wouldve been the rudest thing to not try it. We tried both (fancyyy). I liked the aftertaste of the green tea but the roasted one made me so calm and light.
After the tea ceremony the monk explained to us the significance of it. I realised then the difference experiencing it firsthand makes. It wouldnt be the same if we were just reading it or listening to our professor's presentation. The monk also showed us an exhibit of different teacups with intricate details and teas of different kinds.
Before going, we wrote our vows and hang it on the Boddhi tree. I promised to always be honest and kinder than I feel. Working on it!! Look at this cute little vow:
#priorities
Ive always believed that one shouldnt just inherit their parents' religion. You should learn it. Choose it. Religion sets our values, beliefs, our way of life and the way we treat others as well as ourselves. It is very essential for us to decide on it instead of just inheriting it but not practicing it wholeheartedly.
My professors address atheism and agnosticism in the same way. As long as you believe in goodness, in love, in kindness, in something higher than you, as long as you are a good person, no one else can tell you your beliefs are wrong. Faith isnt necessary to be of a higher power. One can say they have faith but have no faith in others nor in themselves, then what's the use?
I wouldnt say Ive always had a good relationship with God. I had my set backs too. There was time were fixing myself meant isolation but I was wrong and it got me nowhere. I still have questions, still full of wonder, but it's so beautiful to think that there's someone who knows me, the bad parts and all, and loves me nonetheless. My counselor told me something I always remind myself: that my relationship with God is just like my relationship with other people. It's not always going to be okay and I can take time for myself if that's what I need.
I still feel uneasy whenever im questioned about which religion do i follow/ belong to. Because yes, I have a God. Ive found a church that finally feels like home and a community of people whose love for God inspires me to do better. But I also believe, like what the instructor told us today, that I have a Buddha in me. We all do. I believe in kindness, and being one with the universe, and paying respect to nature like the animists. I believe in the balance of things and going with the flow. In both the good and the bad in all of us and how they balance each other out like the Taoists. I believe in goodness and being selfless to an extent and doing things that will benefit others. I believe that these things are a way for me to worship my God. Why do I have to label myself when from the start, it's always been our faith and not our religion that matters? I meditate. and do yoga like the Hindus. and i believe in karma. in positivity and mantras. Do not put me in a box. Earlier this month I got to learn about the beauty of Islam. Ive witnessed a muslim pray and had one tell me about his journey. He even used Christian references to help me understand it more, breaking the invisible gaps we've built upon ourselves. I really appreciated it. I got to touch their Holy Book and got myself a free hijab. I took some quick photos too..
The more I learn, the more I realise that we have so many things in common and yet we choose to focus on what sets us apart. We have such unhealthy stereotypes on different religions and judge others based on it. There are good Christians and bad ones, just like the muslims. Learn. Liberate yourself. Explore and take all the information that you need. Set yourself free.
ps. I felt like I was legit in China today!! Hurray for no cost travels! Not to mention how cold it gets these days. We were talking about wearing scarves and fur coats to school!! It's SDA anyway wink wink
p.p.s Im really enjoying school lately!! We talk about these religions in my Philosophy class too so I get to look at it in another perspective. I also noticed how many times I credited other people's words in here. Go talk to people!! Read the (healthy) comment sections!! You'll learn alot.
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