Q: We have learnt that Buddhism is not a religion; it is like a set of philosophy. How could you adapt for those who are worshiping to the image of the Buddha like a God if the Buddha is not a God?
A: Well, first of all, I openly want to say that my interest is not just Buddhism. My interest goes beyond Buddhism because my interest is Vipassanā meditation that can help how to adapt everything and everyone wherever you are. If I have to talk too long about worshiping, bowing down, and about all they have done in the different temples, churches, and mosques and so on, I get bored so easily.
However, I do respect them and the way they are doing according to their respective faith and religion as they believe in. As a spiritually grown up Buddhist monk like me who gets used to living alone in forest to practice deep meditation for 8 months a year, and who has been experienced with this meditation practice for more than two decades, talking too much and too long about devotional practices, rites and rituals keep me feel bored and dry. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with society in such devotional services as long as they do not hurt, harm, hate and kill each other in the name of their respective religion.
However, as I have understood my people in Burma and even myself, we do not worship to the image of the Buddha but we express our gratitude to the Buddha by bowing down to His feet in temples because we know the value of His Teaching and how much we are happy by following His Teaching in a practical approach. In my experience, the Burmese are quite nice people though they are physically quite poor. They believe that they are happy by the Buddha’s Teaching they have followed as much as they can.
Of course, they offered food, fruits, robes, flowers, candle lights, incense sticks to the image of the Buddha because they feel their Buddha is still alive remembering his wonderful teachings. It is something similar to what I’m used to doing expression of my gratitude to my late mother. She had already died since I was young but I have still remembered her goodness, her wonderful admonition, her love and kindness so I always pay respect or homage to the image of my late mother whenever I remember her. It is also a kind of expression of gratitude to my mother. My mother is still alive in my mind though she died of course.
However, when you are spiritually fully grown up, you know what you should do more and what will bring benefits to you. For example, now in my age, instead of paying homage to my late mother by burning incense sticks and candle lights, offering cakes and fruits and bowing down to her feet right before her, I try to follow her admonition and advice to fulfill her wishes upon me to do.
My mother wanted me to open my heart and mind to everyone who wants to come along with the path I’m walking on. She wanted me to do for the benefits of the many, for the happiness of the many and out of compassion for world. I feel I’m doing now for the humanity by traveling to those who invite me to come and teach them the way of life or meditation or whatever not only in the country but also in abroad.
I’m sure that my people, Burmese are not worshiping to the image of the Buddha as you thought but they try to pay homage to their Buddha thinking that the Buddha is still alive because they can feel His Teaching called Dhamma is truly alive. If you start practicing it, it will keep you truly happy, calm, peaceful and harmonious. Then, you can adapt everything and everyone you experience with at the moment. I hop you get it.
Thank you, sir your wonderful explanation. Your English is excellent and it makes us clear now.
