Being a Buddha Rather Than a Buddhist


I grew up as a Unitarian, so I suppose you could say I’m somewhat spiritually promiscuous. Over the past three decades, I’ve studied Buddhist philosophy with intensity and devotion.  

I believe everyone can benefit from exploring Buddhist psychology. Still, I doubt the religion itself will ever become extremely popular—because most people don’t want to look directly at the sources of their suffering.  

For me, becoming a Buddha—rather than simply identifying as a Buddhist—has eased my anxiety. Meditation and my reverence for being outdoors have been essential to my mental wellness. Accepting the suffering of others as also my own freed me from self‑pity.  

For years, I struggled to relax and savor the moment. Part of that came from self‑medicating. Since my teenage years, I have smoked marijuana. Later, as it became more potent, I began drinking. I didn’t drown my troubles—I merely irrigated them. My anxiety only grew the more I obsessed over my shortcomings. I’ve come to believe that much of our mental distress is tied to overthinking and the stimulation of narcissistic tendencies.  

My well‑being improved when I began cultivating virtue and uniting myself with my surroundings. Living in greater harmony came through following the Eightfold Path. Taking refuge in the teachings has brought me genuine happiness.  

Buddhism reminds us that all things are mind‑created. Becoming less identified with my thoughts gave me a sense of liberation. This “mind‑training” has helped me embrace my own mindlessness with less judgment—and even with humor.  

At the heart of it all is cultivating no‑self. Self‑aversion is one of our greatest challenges. To move beyond it, we must release self‑cherishing and instead nurture a mind concerned with unity, peace, and love. A happiness mindset is far more important than self‑hatred. Self‑obsession leads to self‑harm, while egoic acts of self‑cherishing neglect our true well‑being.  

Dis‑ease arises when we refuse to accept the transitory and unsatisfactory nature of existence. Otherwise, we perpetuate our karma, circling endlessly on the wheel of samsara, caught in suffering.  

The cause of my suffering diminishes when I choose to become a Buddha, not merely a Buddhist. Embodying the teachings is about practice, not theory. This is my “Middle Way.” As the Buddha once taught: Don’t believe anything because I say. What is your experience?



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