The beauty of diversity in Buddhism

There is a conversation like this:

– Everyone is talking about meditation and its benefits as a trend in modern times. I want to do meditation.

– Okay, sounds good! What kind of meditation should it be: meditation as a Hindu, a Christian, a Buddhist, a psychologist, or more?

– Ummm… as a Buddhist, I think. Sounds… pretty cool!

– Nice to start! Then, what kind of Buddhist meditation should it be: Eastern, Southern, or Northern meditation tradition?

– Ommm… I match with the East better.

– Good! Then, what kind of Eastern meditation form should it be: “just sitting,” “break-through koan,” or more?

– Really? Something called “just sitting” meditation? Can I experience peace and happiness while “just sitting”?

– For a while, sure! But after a while, the feeling of pain in your legs will destroy you badly as a beginner.

– How about… enlightenment and nirvana?

– What kind of enlightenment or nirvana are you talking about? Enlightenment for “just sitting” meditators is quite different from enlightenment for tantric or vipassana meditators or more.

– Oh no…! Sounds… exhausting! Then which form, which tradition is supposed to be the best, the proper and particular technique directly from the Buddha that I should follow?

– Depending on whom you ask, answers can be different.

– Then, what should I believe? Do people from different traditions or forms “fight” with each other because of their disagreements?

– The answer is yes and no.

– How so?

– Depending on what “fight” means, some of them can “fight” in terms of “arguing” with each other to make their forms more “true.” Some can “fight” in terms of “ignoring and disregarding” other forms. Still, many focus on their form and think nothing about other forms.

– After all, I still can not pick a meditation form for myself and raise doubt about Buddhism. Nothing is certain like a matrix.

– Haaa…! Great to have doubts about Buddhism! That is what it is supposed to be.

– What do you mean?

– Doubt inspires you to find out what is going on. Then you will have your own answer.

– Ummm… It makes sense. But… why not only one form of Buddhism to unify all Buddhists?

– What if everyone on the planet eats the same food every meal, every day?

– Oh no, it never works.

– Yes, likewise, it never works. That is precisely the beauty of Buddhism around the world!

– But… what if viewpoints of different forms are opposite to each other? The truth should be only one.

– Blue cheese is likely very delicious to Westerners but disgusting to Easterners. If you like it, then eat it to feel good and full. If you dislike it, eat something else to feel full and good. The result sounds not different, even though the meanings of “being good” and “being full” are not the same for everyone.

– …

– After all, let’s forget everything I say. They are just conceptual.

– What…?

– Do not ask. Haaaaaaa! Enough for today!

***Image source: Vintage Fit blog                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Feb 3, 2021

                                                                                                                                        Rita Nguyen