Chapter 5 Preface is another book introducing Buddhism

Once, on a transatlantic plane, I was sitting in the center of the middle row when the sympathetic gentleman next to me wanted to be friendly.From my shaved head and saffron robe, he guessed I was a Buddhist.When the meals started to be served on the plane, the man offered to help me get a vegetarian meal.He imagined that I was a Buddhist and should not eat meat.This is the beginning of our small talk.The flight was quite long, so we discussed Buddhism to avoid boredom. Over the years, I have come to understand that people often associate Buddhism or Buddhists with peace, meditation and non-violence.In fact, many people seem to think that a yellow or red robe, with a peaceful smile, is all there is to being a Buddhist.As an avid Buddhist, I should be proud of this reputation, especially the non-violent one.Because in today's age of war and violence, especially religious violence, this is very rare.Religion seems to be a source of brutality throughout the history of mankind.Even today, violence by religious extremists fills the news.Yet I should be able to say with confidence that so far we Buddhists have not shamed ourselves and that violence has never played any part in the propagation of Buddhism.However, as a trained Buddhist, I still feel a little dissatisfied when Buddhism is only associated with vegetarianism, non-violence, peace, meditation, etc.Prince Siddhartha, forsaking all the comforts and luxuries of court life, must have been looking for more than negativity and the undergrowth when he set out in search of enlightenment.

Although Buddhism is simple in essence, it is not easy to explain it in a simple way.It is almost unimaginably complex, vast, and deep.While it's neither religious nor theological, it's hard to make it sound non-theoretical or non-religious.Buddhism has spread to all parts of the world and is influenced by various cultural customs, making it even more complicated and difficult to decipher.Religious ornaments such as incense, bells, and colored hat crowns can certainly attract people's interest, but they can also be a hindrance. Sometimes, out of frustration at the fact that Siddhartha's teachings didn't catch on as I'd hoped, or sometimes out of my own ambition, I imagined some idea of ​​reforming Buddhism, trying to make it simpler and more spiritual. Straightforward and more puritanical.Think of it as fallacious (as I sometimes do), and reduce Buddhism to qualitative and quantitative practices, such as sitting in meditation three times a day, insisting on wearing certain clothes, and firmly believing in certain ideological beliefs, such as "the world's Everyone should convert to Buddhism."If we could promise immediate, tangible results from this practice, I think there would be more Buddhists in the world.However, when I wake up from this fantasy (which rarely happens to me), my sober mind warns me that a world full of professing Buddhists is not necessarily a better world.

Many people mistakenly believe that Buddha is the "God" of Buddhism, and even in generally considered Buddhist countries, such as Korea, Japan, Bhutan, etc., there is such a deified view of Buddha and Buddhism.No wonder outsiders think that a Buddhist is one who follows this external being called Buddha.Yet the Buddha himself said that we should not worship an individual, but the wisdom taught by that person.Similarly, many people are also preconceived, thinking that reincarnation and karma are the most important beliefs in Buddhism.There are many other gross misconceptions of this kind.For example, Tibetan Buddhism is sometimes referred to as "Lamaism," and Zen is not even considered Buddhism in some cases.Some people who know a little, but are still misguided, use words like "emptiness" or "Nirvana" without understanding their true meaning.

Like my cabin seatmate, non-Buddhists may inadvertently ask, "What is it to be a Buddhist?" when the conversation is open, which is the most difficult question to answer.If the asker is genuinely interested, a full answer cannot be made in a small dinner chat, and an answer that is too general can lead to misunderstanding.Assuming you were to give them the correct answer, the answer would go straight to the foundation of the 2,500-year-old tradition of Buddhism: A person is a Buddhist if he accepts the following four truths: All combined things are impermanent (All things are impermanent)

All emotions are suffering (all leaks are suffering) All things have no self-nature (all dharmas have no self) Nirvana Beyond Concepts (Nirvana Silence) These four words that the Buddha preached are called "Four Dharma Seals". "Seal" here means a seal that confirms authenticity.Although it is generally believed that these four seals contain everything about Buddhism, in the vast majority of cases, this kind of answer will usually dilute the interest and fail to arouse more interest.The topic also changed, and ended the topic. The purpose of the four seals is originally to be understood directly, not metaphorically or mysteriously.It shouldn't be like a note in an after-dinner fortune cookie, just look it up.Yet the seal is not a decree or a holy commandment.On reflection, it may be seen that there is nothing moral or ritual in it, nor is there any reference to good or evil actions.They are secular (non-religious) truths based on wisdom, and it is wisdom that Buddhists are most concerned with.Morality and ethics are secondary, and the occasional puff or two or a little flair doesn't mean you can't be a Buddhist.But that doesn't mean we're allowed to do evil or immoral things.

Broadly speaking, wisdom comes from what Buddhists call a "right view" mind.But one doesn't even need to consider oneself a Buddhist to have right view.Ultimately, it is this "seeing" that determines our motivation and behavior.That is to see, to guide us on the path of Buddhism.If we can develop good deeds on top of the four seals, it will make us better Buddhists.But what makes you not a Buddhist? If you think that not all compounded or created things are impermanent, but that there are certain basic elements or concepts that are permanent, then you are not a Buddhist.

If you cannot accept that all emotions are painful, if you believe that there are some emotions that are purely pleasurable, then you are not a Buddhist. If you cannot accept that all phenomena are illusory and empty, if you believe that there are certain things that actually exist in their own nature, then you are not a Buddhist. If you think that enlightenment exists within the field of time, space and ability, then you are not a Buddhist. So, what makes you a Buddhist?You may not have grown up in a Buddhist country, or been born into a Buddhist family, you may not wear robes or shave your head, you may eat meat and worship rapper Eminem or sexy supermodel Paris Hilton, that doesn’t mean you can’t be Buddhist .To be a Buddhist, you must accept that all phenomena are impermanent, that all emotions are suffering, that all things have no intrinsic nature, and that enlightenment is beyond concepts.

Of course you don't need to focus on these four truths all the time, all the time.But they should always be in your heart.It's like you don't need to remember your name everywhere, but when someone asks you, you remember it immediately, without hesitation at all.Anyone who accepts these four seals, even if he has not received the Buddha's teachings, or even heard the name of Shakyamuni Buddha, can walk with the Buddha. However, as I was trying to explain all of this to my neighbor on the plane, I started hearing a slight snoring sound, and it turned out he was sound asleep.Evidently our conversation did not entertain him.

My purpose in writing this book is not to persuade everyone to follow Shakyamuni Buddha, become Buddhists, and practice Dharma; I have deliberately not talked about meditation techniques, practices, or mantras.My main purpose is to point out the unique aspects of Buddhism that differ from other views.What did this Indian prince say that earned him such respect and admiration from the world, even from modern skeptical scientists like Einstein?What did he say that moved thousands of pilgrims to bow down all the way from Tibet to Bodhgaya?How is Buddhism different from other religions in the world?I believe the four seals provide the essence of the answer, and here I am trying to put these difficult concepts into the simplest language I know.

Siddhartha's emphasis was on getting to the root of the problem.Buddhism is not limited by culture.Its interests are not limited to a particular society, and it has nothing to do with government or politics at all.Siddhartha was not interested in academic discourses and scientific demonstrations, nor did he care whether the earth was round or flat.He is concerned with another kind of practicality, and he wants to go straight to the source of pain.I hope that everyone can understand that his teachings are not philosophical tomes for you to read and put back on the shelf, but practical and reasonable views that everyone can practice.For this purpose, I have tried to illustrate from the perspective of various people, from falling in love to the birth of civilization.Although these examples are different from those used by Siddhartha, the message is the same, because everything Siddhartha said still stands today.

Yet Siddhartha also said, don't believe his words without analyzing them.Therefore, an ordinary person like me needs to be examined more carefully.I invite you to analyze and contemplate what you are about to read. Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche