Q. I was born and raised Catholic and although I’m not practising, I will always believe in Jesus. However, since I started meditating and learning about Buddhism I find it to be more comforting than Catholicism. I find this confusing. What should I do?
A. The confusion you are facing now results from not knowing what religion is. Religion is not an end but a means. In other words, your life is not lived for the sake of Catholicism, but Catholicism is just a means you chose in order to make your life happy. If a Westerner feels more comforted and healthier when eating Korean food than when having Western food, should he find it confusing? Should he feel guilty about eating Korean food instead of Western food? He never lives for the sake of eating Western food but eats Western food as a means to live a healthy life. Whatever religion you may choose, religion is only a means to attain happiness, just as food is simply a means to keep your body healthy, no matter which country’s food you may choose to eat.
You don’t have to be converted to Buddhism, if you like the mood of Catholicism, just as you need not change your nationality for the purpose of eating Korean food. Learn and practise what you like, where you like, in your own favourite way.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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