What’s the hardest thing about being a Buddhist?
(By Tsem Rinpoche)
I recently watched a YouTube video entitled ‘Hardest thing about being Buddhist‘. I find it entertaining as to how others think being a Buddhist is hard. In my life, I never once had that thought. In fact, I am very proud to tell everyone… I AM A BUDDHIST!
In the video, Jayadevi, a school teacher in Manchester is proud about being a Buddhist, but says that behaving well and staying true to our Buddhist ethics is the hardest thing for her as a Buddhist. Working in an environment where there aren’t any other Buddhists around, she believes that she can never react or behave negatively. In other words, she has to behave as a Buddhist all the time. Why? Because if she’s the only Buddhist around, those who surround her associate Buddhism as her. If she behaves badly, they may have a negative impression about Buddhism…
How wonderful… Jayadevi behaves well all the time as she does not want other people to dispute her religion. She’s a great example to practicing the Dharma 24/7.
Watch the video and think about why being a Buddhist is hard for you. Or is it even hard at all? Leave a comment in the comment section below… I would love to know.
Tsem Rinpoche
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/Hardest-thing-about-being-Buddhist.mp4
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Well said by Jayadevi that as a Buddhist we need to behave well setting a good example to all. Behaving well to practice the Dharma and will inspire more people to practice. We create beauty with our attitude, our behaviour, our actions, will inspire people. Living in a place where we are the only one who practice Buddhism is far more important with our behaviour to gain respect and trust.
Being a Buddhist is not that hard as long we have a proper teacher guiding us , learning and putting in actions in a correct manner . Following our teacher advice and for most to have our mind transform. We are fortunate to learn, practice Dharma from Rinpoche.
Thank you Rinpoche with folded hands,
The hardest thing about being Buddhist is we have to do things differently from the norm. Like what this person says in the video, usually when people say or do bad things about us, we will react immediately to prove them right. But as a Buddhist, we should not react to encourage more conflicts. We have to give the victory to others.
The secular environment we are is not a conducive environment for us to do our spiritual practice. It is very easy for us to slip away from our spiritual practice with all the temptation. We have to have a very strong mind to keep up with our practice.
Therefore, it is very important to join a community because we can get the support that we want. It will keep us on the right track.
I do agree with Jayadevi that as a Buddhist we need to behave well we do not want other people to discourse our religion. She is one great example to practice the Dharma and will inspire more people to practice. Being a Buddhist, we behave one and its not that hard as long as we are on the correct spiritual path as taught by our Guru. To me the hardest things in life is letting go. Whether it’s guilt, anger, love, loss or betrayal. Change is never easy. We fight to hold on and we fight to let go. Everything we know has to do with ourselves. As I am fortunate to have learn and practice Dharma knowledge from Rinpoche that have changed my life and letting go is much easier. Thank you Rinpoche for your guidance, teachings and sharing of this post.
Dear Rinpoche,
I absolutely agree to what what she has shared, we really need to behave well to represent the Buddha and His teachings as a whole in a non-Buddhist place. I certainly do not want other to look down on Buddhist teaching. Our behaviour can tarnish the teaching in the mind of others in just a matter of few seconds. Here in Malaysia, although there are many Buddhists but many aren’t so ‘Buddhist’ at all especially when bad situation arises where you are forced to make decision to follow the norm or go against it. Take my case for example, although I may know the vows and things to do, but often due to lack of awareness, I will forget such as gossip, divisive talk and chit chatting. This includes messaging in WhatsApp and Wechat. Why? So that I will be ‘in the group’ and to maintain relationship with others who couldn’t understand why we should try to keep our mouth shut or not getting into ‘small talk’. We will be seen as the potential spy. When cleaning the house, it’s either I’ll chase the insects and put more repellent or just ‘rid’ it off? although cleaning is a must. When I am posting online for my products, it takes me a lot of time for me to search for info to create a creative cache. Lord Atisha has mentioned that samsaric activities has no end and we should limit it. I understand the reason why because previously my mind can be more open and much time spend in Dharma but now, I need to constantly thinking how to achieve sales target or finding methods to achieve it. It divert my attention to others meaningless works. Besides, when I do not get the things that I’ve desired, most often than not, I will lash out anger to loved ones as I dared not offend co-worker or others.
Constantly have to remind myself that merits are important and so as purification. I am thankful for having this blog. I can somehow follow Rinpoche’ s teaching and also as treat it as part of my Dharma commitment. Thank you Rinpoche.