Thư trả lời cho một người ngoại quốc!

Hi Linh!

Thanks again so much for taking part in this. If any of the questions are not applicable are too personal for you, there's absolutely no pressure to answer them.

Kind regards,
Cathy

* What would you say is the core belief of Buddhism?

- Belief is the core issue of all religions. In Buddhism, Buddhists seek to realise the ultimate truth while practicing the goodness to all beings. They believe that there is suffering so there is the end of suffering, which is the main point of Buddhism. Buddhist also believe that all beings, despite our differences in beliefs, have potential to be Buddhas, with perfect compassion and wisdom, who can create perfect worlds (Nirvana) for equally leading all beings towards the blissful liberation of Buddhahood. Buddhists believe that the greatest goal possible is not just to be with a supreme being, but to be supreme beings (Buddha) ourselves.

* How do you think your faith affects your everyday life? Or do you think it has any affect?

- A belief is just a belief. There is no effect to everyday life without any practice. In Buddhism, belief is very important, but it is just a first stage of the spiritual path. The practice would nourish and increase compassion and wisdom as a process of becoming a Buddha.

* What if anything do find difficult with or struggle with in terms of your faith?

- There is no any difficulty with such a belief. But it has struggles when we come to practice the path with circumstances in our daily life.

* Do you see anything see any links between Buddhism and Christianity?

- Buddhism and Christianity are both great religions in the world, with a long history and have a great number of followers. Both are concerned with human conditions in the world and are seeking the way to liberate the people in general even though they are different in some measures.    

* What are your impressions of Christianity?

- Yeah, from my childhood, I have lived with a number of Christians who are my friends and my neighbours, and I find that they are nice and good neighbours. They are also very religious people.

* Are there any female Buddhist monks? why or why not and in general what role do women hold in Buddhism?

- Yes, there are many female Buddhist monks. Men and woman are completely equal when it comes to developing higher states of mind.

* Are there any restrictions on what Buddhists can eat?

- There are some restrictions. A good Buddhist can not eat some particular meats that are strictly restricted. They can not eat meat in some particular days of a month according to their vows. The purpose of non-meat eating is to avoid the killing of all living beings and animals. However, meat-eating and non meat-eating is different from Buddhist traditions.

 
* Has anyone in the last 20 to 30 years attained enlightenment?  

- Indeed, there are many people who attained enlightenment in the last 20 or 30 years. Enlightenment is a highly personal experience. This enlightenment is not like the full enlightenment that the Buddha Gautama did in the last 25 centuries.

* If you believe life is all suffering than how can you believe in being at peace and reaching Nirvana?

- Because there is suffering, hence there must be the end of suffering. That is the peace of Nirvana. That is consistent with the law of dependent origination and the law of cause and effect.

* What do Buddhists think about other religions in general?

- Buddhists think that other religions teach people in getting a good and happy life, and also help people in reaching the other world of paradise; however they do not help people in attaining the full liberation and achieving enlightenment.

* Who is the most important figure in Buddhism besides Siddhartha Guatama?

There are many Buddhas besides the Buddha Gautama in the past, present, and the future.  

* Do you think people who don't believe in Buddhism can reach nirvana?

Buddhism is teaching a path leading to full enlightenment, nirvana. Someone who knows the path can reach Nirvana.

* What is the process for selection of the Dalai Lama?

- There is a committee of Lamas, who are also the incarnations or Rinpoches to decide how to find out the incarnation of the Dalai Lama. This is a relatively complicated process done by them. 

* How do Buddhist believe the world was started if there is no God per se?

Buddhists are human beings, who still have ignorance and lack of wisdom, so to know the origin of the world is far away from their ability. However, the Buddha many times said repeatedly that so long as you go out of ignorance, you will know it clearly. Without trying to get out of ignorance and suffering, but still want to know the origin of everything, it is like a person who was wounded by an arrow, while not trying to treat the wound, but trying to know who has shot him. So he would die before he knows the person who shot the arrow.

* If you are comfortable telling us - how close do you believe you are to enlightenment? Is it possible for people to remember past lives - how so?  

Enlightenment is a highly personal thing. So you don’t have to ask others, “Am I enlightened?” just check your own experiences. However, enlightenment comes in every step of our practices and experience, and it is not far away from us.

Remembering the past lives is another ability of our experiences. Some can remember a little or even the partial parts of their past lives depending on their mental or supernormal powers.

And, below is a reply from Cathy: 


Hi Linh,

Thank you so much for your email. I really appreciate the effort you went to to give me some really great answers. 
It is a truly great religion. I may even be converted ;)

Kind regards,
Cathy Mc Guinness