Today I was talking with a friend who is interested in the finer details of Buddhism, and I noted that he was entertaining thoughts of committing fully into Buddhism, but held back from the intention to take refuge. I assured him that it was not necessary to take refuge. If he has higher priorities than allying with a religious cause, he should relax and step back, take a few deep breaths, and see where he stands. Because a religious commitment is the biggest commitment one can make in life. Why?
There are two kinds of decisions. One is temporal decisions. You decide to accept a job offer. You decide to get a Masters Degree. You decide to get married. These start in your life, and end after your death. They are temporal decisions. Chances are most people put much higher priorities on these decisions. I think they should lower that priority just a little bit.
Committing to a religion, however, means that the convert has his sights set on the ‘horizon of eternity’. In other words, suppose one takes the Bodhisattva Vows, he swears to lead all sentients in all time and space to Enlightenment, no matter how many lifetimes it takes. This is, in other words, the most difficult and most trying commitment one can ever make. A Christian might see it differently – the renewal of life in baptism and a life of serving God becomes her greatest commitment. But for both believers, they see their commitment to their religion as an eternal commitment, one that will not be bound by the end of their life. In other words, a religious commitment extends beyond this life and into the afterlife (or afterlives).
Now for something unrelated. Someone has referred to a post on my blog. It is a happy fact that cyber activism can get you, and your work, noticed. For one, I am proud to have been able to let more people, no matter how few, know about the All Burma Monks’ Alliance and the 88 Generation Students. I sincerely believe not enough people know that the United Nations has been a failure and hope that you will take a look at that letter (available both on my blog and on the Buddhist Channel). You can see the reference to my post here.
