As I filled numerous forms over the years, one section always seem to bother me is the religion section and the race column. Does it even matter? I guess the surveyors are just doing their job breaking people into categories. Anyway, this brings me to my topic of the day. Religion!!!
What is your religion? When I was younger I would say that I was a Buddhist then later I was corrected when I was 13, with people telling me that I am Taoist because my family worships numerous gods and goddesses. Then at 14, a teacher told me that both were the same. Oh the confusion!
Ok, it is not that I do not know what religion I am. It is just that I do not know its proper term in English or Malay. In Hokkien, we call it ‘Pai Ang Kong’ roughly translated it means praying to gods and goddesses. That is what my family practices, we pray to the Lord Buddha as do we pay respect to Lord Muruga at a Hindu temple and Saint Anne in church. We pay respect and believe in the supernatural. But at home, we have a prayer room, with the Goddess Kwan Yin, Tua Pek Kong, Na Cha, the Ground god (I hope that is the proper translation) and a family shrine. Then we have the Jade Emperor at the balcony and of course the Kitchen God. I am also the God Child of Kwan Yin, many of my friends are too.
So with so many religious influences, what am I? I consider myself Buddhist, using the Kalama Sutta as my guide because it is my choice. I have finally made up my mind as soon as I read this Sutta. It was beautiful and realistic but most important of all; it really reached out to me. I know there will be people who will try to convert me. This has practically happen ever since I was born. But since I have found my abode, let me be, for I am only human. If I were to change my religion, the time will come. For now I am happy as I am.
In case you are wondering what is the Kalama Sutta, here it is.
Kalama Sutta
Do not believe in anything (simply)
because you have heard it.
Do not believe in traditions because they
have been handed down for many generations.
Do not believe in anything because it is
spoken and rumoured by many.
Do not believe in anything (simply) because
it is found written in your religious books.
Do not believe in anything merely on the authority
of your teachers and elders.
But after observation and analysis
when you find that anything agrees with reason
and is conductive to the good and benefit of one and all
then accept it and live up to it.
Buddha
(Anguttara Nikaya Vol. 1, 188-193 P.T.S. Ed.)
Religion is a personal choice. You may be born a Buddhist but I see nothing wrong if halfway through life, you would want to I see there is no right or wrong way of practicing religion as long as you do not go overboard. Religious fanatics go from being annoying to scary. It is good to be religious, I am not condemning it. However, there is always a middle path. Doing something to the extreme does not bring anything good in the end. Religion is always beautiful and full of meaning but the abuse of religion is just wrong.
For example, Islam is a very peaceful religion, it is just that fanatical practitioners have abused religion to support terrorism. These acts have given Islam a very bad name. I have many Muslims friends and they are not like that. In fact they do not approve of terrorist actions against anyone. However after September 11, 2001, the tolerance towards religion has reached its mark. People start to typecast and stereotype every Muslim to be potential terrorist. My professor at university was once held by customs officers at an airport in the West just because he had a full beard and carry the first name Mohammed. That name happens to be the most used first name in the whole world. Terrorists carry no religion. They have no particular shape, size or looks. So do not use religion as an excuse for hate crimes. I believe most religions advice their followers to be good caring human beings.
My view is as long we practice everything in moderation, we will be alright. Want to know why I did not say practice all good and moral values everyday? Human are basically just well.. human, we have an innate nature to be bad at times. When faced with such dilemmas, it is always good to choose the lesser evil.
Remember whatever you do, there is always karma. May peace be with you!