The Accidental Buddhist

Article commissioned by Medytacja magazine (Poland), issue 1 2013. 

In his public talks and writings the Dalai Lama often expresses the view that people should stay within their own tradition. If you are someone who is exploring different traditions and practices then you may be surprised and perhaps disappointed by this advice – why shouldn’t you change tradition if that is what you decide to do? As is often the case, considering this seemingly simple advice opens up many interesting and deep matters and gives cause to consider our own motivations.

I am not speaking for the Dalai Lama, and I have not discussed this with him, so this article shares my personal reflections on the matter.

Buddhists deeply respect all beings which includes all other people including practitioners of other religions. Everyone is trying to do their best within their own limitations and circumstances, and for most people their tradition is one of their key guides. Buddhists do not disrespect these endeavours whether they are within Buddhism or another tradition. Buddhists are very willing to share the Dharma (the Buddha’s teachings) but the attitude is more one of being willing to share if asked than of promoting it over other religions. To take on a Buddhist practice one needs a sincere and clear motivation and this cannot be ‘sold’.

Fundamental to Buddhist practice is the aim to open the heart and mind, to be clear-minded and fully compassionate. Most Buddhist practices make no reference to any doctrine or dogma, they are simply practical methods offered for you to try out to see if you too can train your own mind to be free from selfishness and suffering. There is no conflict here with other traditions, and so no need to give up another tradition or to become ‘Buddhist’ in order to cultivate these qualities. Most Buddhist organisations welcome non-Buddhists to join them for their retreats and other activities without seeking to convert anyone.

In the 13th Century, Zen Master Dogen said that there is no need to travel to faraway countries, you can practice right where you are now. He might have added that there is also no need to change your tradition in order to be able to train your mind, no need to agonise over leaving and joining and taking ceremonies, just wake up here and now.

If you are considering changing tradition, are you clear about your motivation? If your interest in Buddhism is based on attraction to the foreign and exotic, then it is likely that you do not really understand what it means to be Buddhist. And negative motivations such as turning away from past difficulties do not make for a positive choice. A Buddhist practitioner does not deny the past, they are very aware of their habit tendencies arising from the past, and they confront their resulting karmic attitudes and behaviours in order to deepen their understanding and release these habits.

But maybe your motivation to become more deeply involved in Buddhism is more positive. Maybe you feel that you ‘fit’ with Buddhism better than you fit with your historical or family tradition. Maybe it seems to make more sense to say that Buddhism is your tradition, the one with which you feel the strongest affinity, than to feel restricted by some accident of family or cultural history. If you feel this way I would say that you are expressing that Buddhism is already your own tradition and so it is appropriate for you to stay with Buddhism rather than something from the past which no longer feels it is right for you.

This is how it happened for me. When I first started investigating and exploring Buddhist practices I had no intention or expectation of becoming Buddhist. Indeed it seemed weird to me that any Westerner might call himself a Buddhist. But after several years I noticed that my experience of the fruits of Buddhist practices was as described by Buddhists - these Buddhist teachers seemed to know what they were talking about! And mostly my reading of Buddhist literature also made sense to me. Though there were still some Buddhist theories and doctrines that I didn’t accept or understand, I had gradually aligned my views with Buddhist concepts and it no longer made any sense to say I wasn’t Buddhist - I realised that I had already become Buddhist!

I commonly hear it said that all religions are really the same, they are all pointing in the same direction, and so it doesn’t matter which one you follow. There is some truth in this: all religions promote wisdom, generosity, ethical behaviour, love and compassion. But I think there are important differences too.

Most religions place requirements on their adherents, such as specific beliefs. Buddhism does not do this. There is a well-known quotation from an occasion when the Buddha was asked by the Kalama people how they could know which teachers to follow.  The Buddha made it clear that he offered his teachings but left it to the individual to investigate whether or not in their own experience they found them to be true and beneficial for themselves. If you are someone who doesn’t feel comfortable with some of the doctrines or requirements of your tradition, or do not find the practices of that tradition to be effective for you, then it might be appropriate to change tradition if you find other teachings which for you seem more truthful and helpful. But first check your motivation – are you looking for the Truth, or just hoping for something easier or more comforting?

For me an important feature of Buddhism is that it is underpinned by a rational philosophy which is complemented by a comprehensive range of practices which enable you to train your mind. You don’t need to give up your own tradition to engage in these practices, but if you consistently find them effective, and understand the philosophy that lies behind them, then it could be that as happened to me you are already accidentally becoming Buddhist!