Assignment Questions and Answers

School children in years 11 and 12 are often asked to do assignments in Buddhism. This section lists common questions asked by students followed by very brief answers. The authors of the answers are:

For detailed answers they need to make arrangements to visit a Buddhist Centre and consult a suitable person, often a monk or nun. BESS can help them with directions to visit a centre in their area or arrange to meet a consultant working with BESS. You can select a Buddhist centre close to you be browsing through the website of the Queensland Sangha Association www.sanghaqld.org. Left click on Buddhist Centres to see a full list of centres in Queensland. Below each address if there is a Virtual Tour, then click on that to see a full description of the centre so that you can do a more meaningful selection. Please note that not all centres have supplied their virtual tour data for publication.

1          Does Buddhism believe in Almighty God?
No.

2          If you do not believe in God, then how do you have such an ordered world?
Buddhism agrees that the universe has some order. That order is attributed to the operation of a system of laws. The main laws are listed below:

3          How do you explain creation when you do not believe in God?
For a Buddhist what is called original creation is irrelevant. What is important is current and continuous creation. You create your world of tomorrow, pretty much on the basis of what you do today. Look at the six norms. The last two afford you an opportunity to create your world all the time. Perhaps you could do less in relation to the first four norms. Instead, take control of what you are able to control, which are the last two norms above.

4          How do you explain pain and suffering?
All of it is due to the operation of the six norms. At least in part you have to take responsibility, as norms 5 and 6 are under your control.

5          In this world of science what is the relevance of an old religion like Buddhism?
Science deals with matter and energy. Only in the last 100 years it has even tried to deal with the mind. What is more important, the mind or matter? Think.

Even in regard to matter and energy, science is still developing. Quantum science is now challenging the very basis of modern science. Science stands on shaky ground but it is bound to develop.

Without any instruments at all the Buddha was able to see that matter and energy are two forms of the same thing. It was as recently as 1930 that modern science realized the truth of that assertion of the Buddha.

In regard to the mind, Western psychology is still looking for a strong theoretical foundation although its clinical aspects are developed.

All in all, if the Buddha was an epitome of super-knowledge, the scientist is more akin to a crawling baby. But it is growing up. There is simply no comparison.

6          Buddhist by Birth or Buddhist by Choice?
A Buddhist by birth means a person born to Buddhist parents. That does not necessarily mean that such a person is a practising Buddhist. In the same way you can belong to another religion, yet you could be practising teachings of the Buddha. To that extent you will be acknowledged as a Buddhist. The label ‘Buddhist’ is meaningless. What matters is how you think, speak and act. According to Buddhism most labels (such as religion, race, country etc.) are irrelevant for most purposes and they cause more harm than good.

Not so strangely, converting and proselytizing are strange to Buddhism. The ability of a human being to make his own decisions is respected. What right do I have to say that only I am right and that you are definitely wrong? In fact people who make this type of statement are acting extremely foolishly most of the time. Truly wise people do not brag about their wisdom.

In very practical terms, just look at the turmoil in the world today. What is the main cause? Some people think that only they are right and want to impose their views on others. When they fail, hurting and killing is the result. Can that be part of any religion?

7          Are all religions right or is it that only Buddhism is right?
There are useful teachings in all religions. It is disrespect to pass judgment on other religions. Millions of people follow every religion. We need to respect their faith. However, we should be able to discuss matters in a civilized manner.                      

Where Buddhism is concerned, you are invited to consider its teachings. If your experience is that these teachings are useful, then you learn more and practice more. It is as simple as that.

8          How has the Sangha adapted to the contemporary Australian life?
In some cases Sangha haven’t had to adapt particularly when they are well supported by particular ethnic groups such as the Thai, Burmese, Vietnamese, Sri Lankan communities etc. However their impact tends to remain limited to their ethnic community.

In some instances the support is given to monasteries belonging to well-known lineages in the west such as that of Ajanh Chah and it may be given by larger communities that are Theravadin in base or occasionally by communities that may also be Mahayanist. The major support is given by ethnic communities rather than by native-born Australian communities. In the case of the monasteries in Ajanh Chah’s tradition, the monastics are mostly westerners.

There are a few other monasteries supported by overseas wealth and these are usually Chinese or are supported from Taiwan and Singapore . In any instance when monastics are well supported, they can lead a more traditional life, which includes a more traditional relationship to lay people.

For those of us, mostly Westerners but some Asians, who are not well supported or are not supported at all, we are self-funded either from our savings, Centrelink benefits or from work. While this can be a whole lot tougher, it also means we have a lot more contact with the community at large, we are not bound to the religious demands of a particular community and we can find new ways of being alongside people and sharing the Buddha’s teaching with them. In my case I am funded by Centrelink and work in an approved voluntary capacity as a University chaplain. So my adaptation includes intensive involvement with other Australians in non-religious ways (mostly). It also means I have little contact with the wider Buddhist community and no real support. While this is isolating and hard work, I am able to evolve as an Australian monastic.

These latter adaptations, which are not greatly common, may bring greater changes if, for example, monastics ordained in different lineages, doing “their own thing”, decide to live together for mutual support and spiritual companionship. While it hasn’t happened yet, it is an interesting possibility. I think for the whole of the human history of this continent, it has required adaptations by the human population and this is not likely to exempt Buddhist monks and nuns.

9          How has technology threatened the lives that members of the Sangha community lead?
I don’t think it has. Buddhism values self-reliance and adaptability. The late Cha’n master Most Venerable Sheng Yen encapsulates this adaptability in his maxim: “A young person is not yet old; and old person is not yet dead.  Work with what you have and do not resist change.” This means for me, for example, that my favourite mantra is “Plan B”.

As to the adaptability of Buddhist monastics, all of us have email addresses, web sites, downloadable dharma talks, mobile phones and so on and so forth. Indeed the Venerable Pannyavaro Thera is a senior (Australian) monk in the Theravadin tradition and is concurrently abbot of a meditation monastery and webmaster of buddhanet.net, the most extensive Buddhist website in the world. It all happens from an adapted garage in Lismore, NSW.

10        Do you believe that the Sangha community is struggling in the modern day world?
I hope so otherwise it will become flabby and irrelevant.

11        What core beliefs do you think contribute to the faith that members of the Sangha show?

Strong determination, confidence in the Triple Gem (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha), respect for the beliefs of others, compassion towards the community around us, energy (viriya) and adaptability. We are small and young and it is possible that we may not last but I don’t think so. Much will depend on whether Australians grow to appreciate the contemplative life and the value of generosity. But for some human beings the monastic form of contemplative life will always appeal and give expression to our deepest longings as, indeed, it always has.

 [Please send your question to BESS and we could post an answer here after emailing you hopefully for the benefit of others in the future.]