Buddhism Religion

David Stirbu

World Religions

The religion I am going to show and express myself to you is the religion of Buddhism. I don't believe going to church makes you a catholic, and I don’t believe learning different languages and memorizing passages and quotes makes you a Buddhist. Since a child, I never bought into the traditional Christian values I was raised with from Europe. When I moved here to America, I wanted to become a better person. I was psychologically scarred from my family life, and felt I needed a new direction, but I didn't think that I had to believe in an oppressive, demanding God. I wanted to become a good person without having the oppressive laws. I found that in Buddhism. It's never been a religion to me, more of a guideline for having a good life. That's how I’ll start this. I am currently a catholic, following Jesus, and making my decisions as close to his guidance as possible. Although I follow Christianity I also believe I follow a very Buddhist way of life. I never fight, and I do not harm myself, I am sober of all drugs and alcohol except in celebration, in that case I only celebrate with alcohol. Though I may scream and rant and let these thoughts cloud my mind every day, I try my hardest to keep happy. I never judge anyone but myself unless I am giving constructive criticism. So am I a Buddhist? No, I am not asking you, I am asking myself. Here is a little bit of my religion to you.

2500 years ago Buddha was born, his mother had a dream of a beautiful white elephant that gave a woman a lotus, a white flower symbolizing that she was going to give birth to a ruler or a holy man. Buddha was born from her mother’s side. Seven days later Buddha’s mother the queen died. Buddha’s responsibility when he was born was to show the path. The allegories and the stories of Buddha were written 500 years after his death. Buddha said “he who sees the teachings sees me”. Buddha was the son of the king, he was born in a palace; he was a prince among a clan of warriors. Buddha was a spoiled child; his father gave him the finest things in life. The king wanted to shield his son from pain and suffering. When Buddha was sixteen he married his cousin, he fell in love with her on his ten year honeymoon. Buddha indulged himself in the pleasures of the world for twenty nine years. Buddha had a revelation one day visiting the town. Buddha goes through the town four times; on his first visit Buddha sees old age and change. On Buddha’s second visit he sees sickness, death, and suffering, and the last trip he saw a spiritual seeker. Buddha after seeing all this left the palace to find the meaning of suffering. Buddha left his wife and his son feder behind. On his way out of the city Buddha was stopped by Bhara the God of desire. Bhara told Buddha to go back and to rule the nation. Buddha lived by the principle that to gain everything