This isn't fandom-related, but I'm very interested in the fact that you're a Buddhist. It's all very interesting to me, but also confusing. I know this might be a rather vague question, but could you explain the most basic points, for example, Buddhism's attitude toward the world and people, their path. Its attitude toward life and its meaning.
Thank you!
An absolutely wonderful question, and I don’t think it’s vague at all! Be advised that as a Theravada Buddhist there are some aspects of my faith and how I practice it that are significantly different from pop culture portrayals, which usually rely on Zen Buddhism and other such East Asian variations.
Before we start, I’d like to issue a content warning for brief mentions of sexual misconduct and/or sexual violence, which as a victim myself I understand can be very triggering. These mentions are exclusively in the context of the rules provided about such things in the precepts of my religion.
The most basic aspect of my faith in regards to its path and the world at large are the Five Precepts (pañca-sīla), which are the rules that apply to all practitioners including laypeople (meaning non-monastics, so anyone who’s not either a monk or a nun). They’re as follows:
1. Abstain from taking life (Pānātipātā veramaṇī): Refrain from killing human beings or animals.
2. Abstain from taking what is not given (Adinnādānā veramaṇī): Refrain from stealing or being dishonest in matters of property.
3. Abstain from sexual misconduct (Kāmesumicchācārā veramaṇī): Refrain from irresponsible sexual acts that harm others.
4. Abstain from false speech (Musāvādā veramaṇī): Refrain from lying, speaking harshly, gossiping, or speaking divisively.
5. Abstain from intoxicants (Surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇī): Refrain from alcohol and drugs that cause heedlessness and reduce mindfulness.
These precepts, rather than being strict and absolute commandments, are training steps (sikkhāpada) designed to create personal harmony and overall peace in society. The fifth is especially important because it is the belief of the faith (and of myself) that intoxicants are a breeding ground for violation of all of the other precepts. Note that not only are the pañca-sīla vital to be followed by laypeople but they are vital to be followed by all classes of Buddhist, monastics included.
The attitude toward the world that the Buddha prescribed for his adherents to have was one of great openness and compassion. For example, love in my faith is not an emotion but rather a state of mind that is both selfless and unattached (metta) and holds, most importantly, a desire for the happiness of all beings. Love, by design, is worldly for us.
However, it is also very important to note that within Theravada, the world is not necessarily a place. Rather, it is an impermanent process defined by the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara) which Buddhists must escape through the application of disciplined personal effort. This effort, above all, is one to understand the ephemeral nature of all things, and to understand that reality is of three qualities: impermanent, full of suffering, and of the non-self (anattā).
Additionally, the anattā is a very important aspect of the faith’s view on human beings. No individual possesses a true “soul”, that being an unchanging and permanent essence. Rather, each individual is composed of five aggregates (skandhas) that are ever-changing, those being form, feeing, perception, fabrication, and consciousness.
The ultimate insight here is that, much like the world, the “self” is not a permanent entity, but an ever-moving process to be understood. You most certainly exist, but there is no such thing as a “you” in terms of a singular, solid self. There is no independent or permanent “you” because it is the nature of human beings to change.
In all this, the ultimate meaning of life (the universe, and everything /ref) is to achieve nirvana and cease one’s participation in the cycle of birth and rebirth. When you come to understand that permanence as a concept is not one that exists, or at least that it does not and cannot apply to material reality, you come to understand life itself. Your purpose is not to find yourself but rather to understand that the very idea of “yourself” is ever-changing and immaterial. You must be kind and mindful. You must be wise and ethical. You must make the conscious effort to understand or else you will never find what the real meaning of it all is. Nirvana can look different for every person, but its absolutely true meaning and only real criteria is understanding of immaterialism of the universe as a whole.
Thank you so much for the question! I love discussing my faith with people and being trusted enough with its meanings to be asked to explain is a great honor. If you have any clarifying questions or you just want to learn more about a particular concept, please feel free to ask!
