Is Buddhism a religion or not?

 Many take on the Western idea of religion in that it must have a creator/overseer being. That, however is only part of the story. If we look legally, a religion is ' a sincere and meaningful belief that occupies in the life of its possessor a place parallel to the place held by God in the lives of other persons. ' (U.S. Supreme court). So therefore, Buddhism, Taoism, Atheism, and similar thoughts/practices are not a religion.

However in legal terms The Buddha takes place of 'God' for reasons of convenience.  A Buddhist group or temple can be a non-profit religious organization in this framework.  

But a great project by Ninian Smart, a pioneer in secular religious studies out of Scotland really nailed down an explanation of religion that does not have a creator nor overseer. He outlined seven dimensions of religion which I found quite interesting. 

They are; 

Ritual- repeated actions, words, like bowing, meditation and offerings. 

Materials- which include statues, places like centers, temples etc, items used in rituals etc

Social- roles of people in the organization, monks, nuns, abbots, ministers and the laity.

Experiential- the personal experience of the processes of ritual and participation along with the common findings of that with others. 

Myth stories- the deities, gods, devas, and demons that are used to explain phenomena and give a metaphorical explanation of spirituality and psychology. 

Ethics- the rules and guidelines of the group, culture and religion.  For example, the Eight Fold Path and the Vinaya rules.

Doctrine-this is the beliefs and meanings placed on all the previous dimensions to give a sense of continuity, tradition and structure.

All of which certainly Buddhism has. All forms of Buddhism that I am aware of have these. If you take the 'God' idea out of it, then you have a great format for understanding of what a religion really offers a community/individual.

It is an argument I have seen over and over in various forums, and even in the center I run. This is a good way to bridge that gap between what is 'spiritual' and what is religious. It also shows a guide for what a religion, cult, or 'way of being' might be. Surely cults can fit here, and of course the definitions of the dimensions are up for debate and I am sure some not so 'pious' people will and have found loopholes around these for personal gain.. Interesting none the less...

My Meditations on death. Isn't that weird?

 Death is a funny thing. 

I think of it far too often, but then again, I am a Buddhist minister, it is part of the job.  

Now, in the pandemic, we have it on our minds more often, and as I get older, it gets seemingly closer. O say 'seemingly' because death is only a breath away for all of us.  We just don't know.  I think as I get older and more and more relative and friends are now 'gone' I reflect more on that.  I used to get very disturbed when I would hear  of someone younger than me died.  It would kind of make me check over my shoulder to see if death stood behind me with that fixed smile... 'Soon, friend, soon...'   I would shudder. 

Now, I see my elderly friends and watch people in the market and have some compassion for them, they don't seem to know what is in store... but then again, do I? 

In Buddhism it is taught in  a few different ways.  One is that the consciousness is everlasting, we are like a crest or trough in the sea, here and gone again and again... The body is just the vehicle, one of the five aggregates that too is impermanent, just like thoughts, perceptions, volition, and consciousness.  

The other way I have heard it taught is like recycling.  Our body goes back to feed the worms and the plants the circle of life if you will.  The mind is the same really.  What ideas you said to someone years ago still gets recycled in their thoughts and those that they related the ideas to, or had it change the way they think and etc...

I often see posts on social media and wonder, when they die... how will I know.  Will I care? Should I care?  It would certainly lead to some depression if that is all I thought each time I say that picture or post and knew, they will not post any more.  Weird, isn't it?  

I know that moments are all that I have.  I take them and really BE with them when I can.  With my dog, he's 14 and I have had him with me almost every day since I got him, with my family I contact when I can make the time.  I am the oldest of my clan now... weird isn't it?

I make sure my girlfriend knows I love her, I try and tell her often and show her in my own way of cooking or what ever it is... I try and be present with my patients and really be there for them, they are as important for my mental health as I would like to be for their physical health. 

Today I called my teacher, Venerable (Bhante) Chao Chu.  He has been my rock for over 20 years now.  I speak with him and one of the common statements we give each other, is 'I am still alive. for now'...  Weird isn't it?

I am alive for now... LOL...

The other part of this is that I often think of my own death.  I have a heart arrhythmia that has been constant for as long as I can remember.  I hear of people I know that pass from it as well... I try and eat better, exercise etc... but when the chime comes, that's it. Isn't it?  Weird... 

The Bardo.  

The Bardo Thodol is a Tibetan version of the process of dying.. It basically means doorways that we pass through.  Like the waking bardo, the dreaming bardo, the pain bardo and the bardo of passing or death the bardo of meditation and the bardo of reality.  All of these are transient, and non substantial.  That basically means not of any real lasting substance, that like a movie, when it is over... that is it, the players go on to different tasks as do we, the observer. 

So what do we DO with any of this thought?  I don't even know if Buddhism really gives and answer other than to know that everything is impermanent, ever changing and that attachment to it is what brings suffering. 

Some forms of Buddhism present offerings for the dead; water for clarity and cleaning, foods that were favorites to the deceased, insence, a candle, a picture, a flower to show impermanence, etc.  What will be on the altar for you?  Do you care?  Weird isn't it?

THe weight of it all.  When a fish I have in the tank dies, I put it in the garden, say my goodbyes and wish it well in the next life, what ever that is.  Apparently the most logical is a flower or weed...  Isn't that weird.?

Om Mani Padme Hum... A chant I have said over thousands of the dead, from spiders, roadkill, dogs and people.  Whether I knew them or not.  Literally THOUSANDS of chants, in the mere feeble hope that somehow it will help THEM.  I guess it is more for me though, as if any of it makes a difference... Isn't that weird.?  

Crazy Wisdom nonsense?

 love the idea, however it too often becomes contrived to get attention (followers) and to get away with what is unethical or at least harmful in the name of 'Crazy Wisdom' it is also used on people that are at the time weakened by fear, hope, tust, or love to be befuddled into doing the 'bidding' of the "guru"... all because of trust that 'my guru/teacher would never do anything to harm me, it is to teach me'. Crazy wisdom is an observable phenomena that happens often without the guru, the guru only points it out. Those that use it (for their benefit) are too often sociopathic narcissists that prey on people that do not yet know any better. They are not weak nor ignorant, they are victimized.