Religion: I am a Buddhist

Posted Mon Feb. 28, 13:56:23 PST 2005

By Beatrice Shen of Verde Magazine
 
The last bell of the day rings, releasing the swarms of Palo
Alto high school students who scuffle and rush through the halls
eager to get out of class. Meandering through the chaos, junior
Orin Yue makes it home before 5 p.m., enters his private shrine
and basks in the tranquility. Incense glows in the dark as the
sweet, exotic aroma perfumes the room. He crosses his legs and
breathes in deeply. Sitting in peaceful silence, he focuses
his concentration on the statue of Buddha in front of him,
his eyes gently close. Bringing his palms together, he settles
them on his chest, and begins to murmur silently to clear his
mind after a stressful day of school. He engages in meditation,
a common practice in Buddhism.

Yue discovered his faith in Buddhism one summer in middle
school during a visit to a Buddhist temple in China. While
openly complaining to his parents about his boredom and how
they could be spending their time more wisely, a monk who lived
in the temple overheard his qualms. The monk reminded Yue to
respect the other people who were also in the temple at the
time. This suggestion sparked a prolonged argument between
the young Yue and the old monk. "I basically insulted him,"
Yue says. "Back then I still had a stubborn view on life
and how you had to have a good job, money and such to lead a
happy life." The monk questioned Yue's materialistic ideals,
forcing Yue to reexamine his belief that riches would bring him
happiness. "I thought Buddhism was this distant mystical thing,"
Yue says. "I thought it was just monks who did martial arts or
prayed all day." The monk told Yue that if he could not accept
his life as it was and continued to complain, then he would never
be truly fulfilled. The monk then offered to teach Yue about
Buddhist principles. "Sure enough, I stopped complaining," Yue
says. "My teacher helped me see how insignificant being rich is
in the long run. Working yourself to death to achieve a 'great'
life will never be satisfying because you will always want more."


Growing up in a family with two devout Daoist parents made
his transition to Buddhism a very independent and significant
decision. "Before, I was really close-minded, but I've now been
able to see things in a whole new perspective," Yue says. "I
always thought that what I wanted to impress everybody with new
cell phones, a lot of CD's, and other possessions. When I was
introduced to Buddhism, I learned to accept everything. I could
accept that I don't need everything, which is nice." Buddhism
teaches its followers to lead a scrupulous life, to be mindful
of their thoughts and conduct, and to acquire a deeper wisdom
and comprehension of the world.


Many Buddhist followers believe that Buddhism is more than just
a religion, and that it should be categorized as a philosophy or
lifestyle. Buddhism elucidates the purpose of life; it provides
ways to cope with the inequity and sadness so that one can reach
true satisfaction. "It's just a simple faith," Yue says. "Basic
teaching of Buddhism tells me to accept everything. To accept
death, to accept life, to accept things you don't like, and to
accept things you will like. Once you learn to accept things, you
should be able to end your cycle of reincarnation." According
to the Buddha Dharma Education Association and BuddhaNet
(http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/reincarnation.htm),
reincarnation is the concept that spiritual and moral energy is
never lost and rather it is transformed from one life to another.

"It makes me feel better to know this is not my last chance,"
Yue says. "I have developed respect for all people and
knowledge." Being a Buddhist in high school helps to ease Yue's
daily stress. Receiving a bad grade for an assessment causes
many students to feel discouraged and upset, but when Yue gets
a test back with a less then perfect score, he is able to see
past the grade. "The great thing about Buddhism it that is has
taught me to see things from both sides," Yue says. "I can see
how a bad grade can lead to a good life, and how a good grade
may lead to a bad life."

Yue believes a truly wise individual must have knowledge that
goes beyond book smarts and that is discovered through an active
life. "If you lock yourself up in a room and read books all day
you cannot be knowledgeable," Yue says. "You have to experience
life to truly be enlightened and educated." Although this belief
may seem to undermine the principle of a high school education,
Yue still maintains an above average GPA. Yue admits that his
diligence in schoolwork is more out of respect for his mother
rather than for his religion. "School isn't really connected
to my religion," Yue says. "Buddhism has taught me to respect
all people especially elders who are wiser. My mom is older,
so I respect her wish for me to excel in school."


In accordance to the ideals of acceptance and respect, Yue sees
no barriers due to different religions when making friends. "I
don't have a problem with other religions," Yue says. "I have
friends who believe in all sorts of religions. I have Christian
friends, and I have Hindu friends; my religion does not affect
how I choose who I hang out with." Yue takes his friends'
differences in religions as a chance for him to exchange his
own ideas with ideas derived from other beliefs. In a recent
discussion about war he argued that war is necessary in order
to keep the balance between good and evil. "Without wrong there
would be no right," Yue says. "I think that the idea of giving
up all self and everything you hold is necessary in order to
enter heaven and become whole."

There is no 'God' in Buddhism, rather practitioners pay their
respect to the figure of Siddhartha Gotama (the man who created
the faith back in 563 BC) not to ask for blessings but rather
to remind themselves to strive to develop peace and love within
whilst showing gratitude to Buddhist teachings. "I like to take
refuge in my shrine every Sunday kind of like how other people
who go to church every Sunday morning," Yue says. "Instead of
going to temples I just meditate, read Buddhist text, and reflect
on what I read all in the comfort of my own home." According to
Yue, meditation is a form of listening to your environment while
trying to comprehend nothing. "It sounds weird, like something
out of a fortune cookie," Yue says. "But its still true, its just
sitting there and reflecting on life. It is really relaxing."

Many of the Buddhist principles may seem unrealistic in the
'more equals better' world of teenagers and Yue is fully aware
of this reality. "I'm not going to say I am totally free of
my materials," Yue says. "I like my electronics. I want them
and I am going to keep them." Buddhism aids Yue in keeping his
adolescent aggressions in check and helps to ease the angst
that may come with everyday life. "I'm still a normal teenager,
I mean I can get frustrated a lot," Yue says. "When I do get
pissy about something my [Buddhist] scriptures has taught me to
see both sides to a situation. I can see how something negative
can be a good thing and it makes me cope better."

This story originally appeared in Verde Magazine on February
14, 2005.

Source: http://voice.paly.net/view_story.php?id=2664