Full Buddha

As I write this, I'm sitting in day two of Chenrezig, the Buddhist teaching of compassion. Ah, it's good. Many I have met who are not attending the class often look at me with a suspicious eye when I tell them about it. Like they're looking at a man with something to hide. I'm not here to be converted to Buddhism, it's just a case of if I'm gonna know anything about it, why not get it from the horse's mouth. As it were.

What is refreshing about Buddhism is that there is no pressure. No one says "dude, you have to sign up to this shit OR ELSE rot in hell." It's more like, "Psst, hey man, do you want to know a secret? Well, pop in we'll have a chai."

The guy teaching is FULL BUDDHA. Oh yes indeed. He is a Tibetan Monk (naturally) and is in close quarters with Mr Dalai Lama 14 himself. So you know, I'm not pissing about here. Full breed.

The general feeling seems to be to find ways to improve yourself, and therefore others around you. If you are a kind, generous and non-violent person in all walks of life then you will have good karma. I can dig it. Fairly basic stuff. If you aren't a twat, you might inspire others also not to be one (a twat). What I don't believe is that karma is fully pervading. I don't believe that if you have good karma, you won't (for example) not be a bit clumsy or not miss the bus. I don't think it affects EVERYTHING. But I can see the truth in being good to people, then people are good back to you. Hmm.

Lesson one explained the different levels of Buddhism. The main point, I think, being that once you have started to road to Enlightenment, you are Buddha. Well, you're not, but being on the road you will eventually achieved Buddhahood (I.e. Mr Enlightened - Buddhist Daddy). So basically, you've got to be in it to win it.