How Donald Trump Stops Me Becoming A Buddhist
I’ve dabbled with Buddhism for over a decade now.
I read a book here, a book there, meditate almost every day, have attended a couple of Buddhist retreats and taken a handful of online courses.
Even though the Buddhist philosophy/religion aligns more closely than any other religion with not just my beliefs and values, but those of science too, I’ve stopped short of calling myself a Buddhist for various reasons.
Firstly, I eat meat and although that doesn’t mean you cannot be a Buddhist, in fact, the Buddha himself would sometimes eat meat if it were served to him, it still seems slightly antithetical to Buddhist best practice.
Secondly, and although I’ve quit drinking at the moment, I do enjoy a nice glass of wine. Again, this isn’t prohibited, but I think using any substance that reduces the ability to think clearly isn’t quite in keeping with a Buddhist lifestyle.
Whereas the above reasons are important, there is another more insidious reason that stops me from saying, ‘I’m a Buddhist’ and that’s Donald Trump.
I am very friendly with the guy who does my grass care.
He’s possibly the happiest, chattiest person I know. He’s always smiling and forever willing to go the extra mile to help me – sometimes even without me asking.
He’s a devout Christian, attends Church regularly and studies the Bible. Much of his demeanor makes you think, ‘Yes! If religion makes people this happy, then I want some of that’.
He left a very well paid job in New York City to move to Florida with his family and set up as a lawn guy who does odd jobs.
He slashed his income by 75% overnight and says that it was one of the best decisions he’s ever made.
He works when he wants (sometimes to my consternation when he doesn’t turn up because the Yankees are on TV) and says his life is almost completely free of negative stress.
There’s a lot to admire about that.
But one thing niggles me, and he knows it as we have had a great many conversations.
He’s a Republican and Trump supporter. And before you jump to conclusions, that isn’t what bothers me. Well, not entirely.
And Then The Election Happened
Prior to the election in 2016, we were friends on Facebook and he kept sharing a constant stream of bullshit stories from Fox News and other right-wing media sites.
He didn’t appear to be questioning anything that fitted with his Trumpist view and he shared more than the occasional link to sources and stories that had been thoroughly debunked.
It got tiresome.
But, it was after the election that I felt the need to minimize our interactions to face-to-face conversations when he moved into a full-on gloating mode.
Meme’s of democratic supporters crying, mocking Clinton and depicting Trump as some sort of political genius were a tad too much, so I unfriended him.
The next time I saw him I explained why.
He was cool, as I knew he would be, but when I questioned him on his Faith and asked something like, ‘How Christian is it to be mocking people you have defeated. Would Christ do that?’
His response surprised me because he said, ‘But that was Jesus, I cannot hope to be like him’
‘But isn’t the point to try? Isn’t being Christlike the whole point of being a Christian? If you know you are not following his teachings, shouldn’t you at least attempt to change your approach’
I never got an answer that made any sense to me.
I’m sure you’re familiar with the expression that knowledge is power.
It’s utter nonsense.
It’s the application of knowledge that is power. Knowing something intellectually is meaningless this side of a trivia quiz. You have to implement that knowledge.
My guy clearly has a lot of knowledge about the Bible and even Christian values and he is indeed applying some of it.
But there seems to be a line over which he cannot shift that knowledge into action.
And that is the reason I would feel like a hypocrite calling myself a Buddhist.
The 8-Fold Path
The Buddha taught the 8-fold path that consisted of:
- Right View
- Right Resolve
- Right Speech
- Right Conduct
- Right Livelihood
- Right Effort
- Right Mindfulness
- Right Concentration (meditation)
Buddhists should strive to attain all of those things. In fact, if you can nail all 8, then you supposedly get nirvana as an added bonus. Sweet!
I try to adopt all of them as often as I can, but I have to be honest, there are times when I just don’t want to.
There’s a Buddhist meditation called Metta Bhavana or lovingkindness in which you send love in the form of a mantra. They tend to vary from teacher to teacher, but roughly speaking it goes like this:
May you be well
May you be happy
May you be safe
First, you give it to yourself, by saying ‘may I be well, may I be happy, may I be safe’.
Then you offer it to a close friend. ‘may you be well, may you be happy, may you be safe’
Then a person who you vaguely know but have no opinion on.
That’s followed by an enemy or somebody you have difficulty with.
And finally, you offer it to all those people and yourself at once and then expand to all sentient beings.
For a while now I have chosen Donald Trump of the recipient of my difficult person. For the most part, I find it really hard to hold grudges or dislike people for more than a fleeting moment.
Not Trump though, he’s the one constant.
However, I can send him lovingkindness without much of a problem because I genuinely believe he needs all the compassion that the world can drum up.
Trump Is Not A Happy Bunny
One of the things that I think most people don’t realize with Trump. He’s deeply unhappy.
He’s going through his own private hell every day with his constant need for external validation.
Sadly, he’s taking hundreds of millions of people along for the ride and the collateral damage is enormous and depressing.
And that is where it all falls down for me.
A bit like my Christian friend not really wanting to be Christlike if it messes with some values, and/or beliefs, that aren’t in alignment with his religion, I just don’t want to offer Trump ‘right speech’.
I want to rant about his latest misdeeds, his constant barefaced lying, and his moronic ramblings. I want people to know that I despise him and everything he stands for.
But that is the antithesis of being a good Buddhist.
There is no ‘happy ending’ to this post in which I tell you about my enlightenment, but there is a point.
There’s so much finger pointing and blaming going on in this country at the moment that I think we all have a duty to step back and reflect. Not on other people’s behavior, but on our own.
We’re all responsible for our own actions and for how we feel.
Trump doesn’t make you angry and upset (or even happy if you are the lone Trumpist who made it this far down the post), you make yourself that way with how you interpret what’s happening.
I was having fun with the headline, I know no matter what he does, it’s not Donald Trump’s fault I’m not prepared to call myself a Buddhist.
It’s 100% on me not wanting to shift some of the knowledge I possess into action.
But at least I know it’s on me and surely that’s a start?
I’d love to hear your take in the comments below.
Great insightful article, Tim…but I myself am a Buddhist practitioner, but not of the ‘school of Buddhism’ that you refer to n the article. I practice a Nichiren type of Buddhism thru the Soka Gakkai International. it encourages members to maintain their current & past lifestyles, but take an extra step to help others (whether it helps them or not). the main point would be to make/maintain your own happiness first, then expand to help others become happy also. that would be the way tho change the world as we would hope for it to be—it all starts with one person at a time becoming happy. you should try exploring this practice at sgi-usa.org. it’s the philosophy that ‘fits’ best for me. Thank you so much for your insight and sharing of LIFE and how to manage it.
Interesting post, Tim.
I guess, identifying yourself as being (or not) a Buddhist is just another form of ego manifestation anyways. When you accept who and what you are beyond any label, you’re as close to Buddha as you can be, no matter what name you carry.
As for Trump: I’m working in legal aid in Uganda and the horrors I see being inflicted on people every day make Trump almost an abstract evil in comparison. Yet, interestingly, it is within this context of pain that I have learned to forgive as it is the only form of finding relief from the pain. Within myself and in others.
Cheers,
Julia
Hey Tim, thanks for the post!
From my understanding, “Buddha” means something like “to awaken”. It’s more a process (a verb) than a noun. It’s not exactly a religion, it’s more about training the mind to little-by-little scrub away all the crap that blocks our ability to see reality as it is. Anyway, it’s not necessary to call yourself a Buddhist or a Christian or anything else for that matter. These are concepts that can be used to divide us and limit us.
Speaking of concepts, I love the concept of “karma”. Trump has a massive freight train of karma headed toward him. As do our friends on team red that refuse to live in reality. Karma like gravity doesn’t require us to believe in it… it just works! Fortunately, nothing is permanent, so this silly season will be over soon.
Keep up the good fight!
Buddhism is very much a religion to tens of millions of people. But then again it’s very much a philosophy with tens of millions more, so who’s counting? ;)
I don’t think there’s a freight train of Karma heading Trump’s way, I honestly think it’s already in the station. I think the unhappiness he is enduring is his own Karma.
Good to see you around matey and I trust you’re well!
Hi Tim
Great article and comments.
Plenty to reflect on.
Thanks
Cathy
I love your blogs – and this one hit a home run with me!
Okay so you and I have been sort of rowing the same quasi Buddhist boat.
I am a certified MBSR teacher (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) , mindfulness meditation and practices facilitator and health and wellbeing consultant. I regularly attend classes with one of my teachers and mentors who leans in the Buddhist direction.
First let’s address the meat and wine issue:
Here is an excerpt from “Awakening Joy” by James Baraz who co-founded Spirit Rock in CA and is a long time mindfulness teacher.
The Five Basic Precepts
1). Honor all Life
(excerpt)
” Although like many Buddhists I’m a vegetarian, some of my wisest most respected friends are not. Tibetan Buddhists come from a high mountain terrain where fresh vegetables are scarce, so while they take the vow not to kill, they do eat animals. Eating meat does not preclude honoring living beings, as Native Americans and many hunters would attest. The intention with which we do any action is what has the most effect on our integrity.”
* The Dalai Lama eats meat because his doctor told him it would be most beneficial for his health.
5). Refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind and lead to heedlessness.
“Because drugs and alcohol so obviously affect the mind and body, some choose to follow this guideline by complete abstinence. Others interpret it as using substances in moderation so that the line from clarity to poor judgement is not crossed.” I think with a modicum of awareness we all can choose to “Act with integrity at the moment of choice” ( one of his students coined this phrase).
And then there’s Donald Trump.
I started my practice right after he became POTUS. What a challenging ride this had been!! I couldn’t stay off FB making sarcastic vitriolic comments daily about DT. And here I was a Mindfulness teacher starting a new business. I was not walking my talk. I knew I was triggered. I would sit with my anger and disgust almost daily during my meditation. And I tried every new age, personal growth, spiritual whoooo haaaa trick in my medicine bag – nothing worked to get me to see that I was throwing myself into the mash pit every time I logged onto FB!
Fast forward to recently. I finally listened to a Matt Kahn video at the insistence of one of my friends. I have known about him for years but never felt the pull. I don’t remember what he said or how he said it but I got it!!! I was swimming daily in a murky muddy cesspool of negativity about DT complaining and being sarcastic and negative. Somehow thinking my posts were going to wake up DT supporters from their follow the herd group think trance. Ha! I just finally got it that by engaging in that negativity I was #1 – not making a difference for any individual or our country. Now if I was a true activist or working for the ACLU – that’s a different story. #2 I was constantly lowering my vibration and energy. Which probably contributed to my not gaining traction at all with my new business.
I am now able to be on FB for the upliftment and skip right over political posts. I don’t watch the news on TV. I do read the headlines daily to see what’s going on.
And I am finally beginning to see some movement forward in my business. Really, it’s like night and day.
I too do the Metta Loving Kindness meditation. And sometimes used DT for the person I have challenges with. But then I would hop right back on FB and denigrate him to smithereens! So happy that I truly saw that by diving into this negative cesspool I was not serving anyone – especially myself.
Anyway – just to say his being POTUS has been a catalyst for huge amounts of growth for many people. And that ain’t a bad thing!
I agree and I understand the logic behind meat and alcohol and that it’permissible. I was just saying that with me personally.it doesn’t sit comfortably.
It’s not like I need either to survive or even thrive.
And my ranting acts like a release. I know I’m not going to persuade hardened Trump supporters. Plus I often have fun. I definitely don’t think it’s stopping me from getting shit done.
100% agree with that last sentence. If he is what is/was needed to make a lasting beneficial change in terms of people becoming more politically active (especially women), then so be it.
Maybe when we look back we will see this as a good thing.
Hi Tim
Patricia brilliantly said it all for me!
Good for Patricia!
My analysis Tim,
Dosent matter what one says, its in oneself that believes in himself or herself of what is real, and secure in belief that results in peace, happiness and joy now and always within on Earth and afterlife wherever it may be or whatever it will be.
Its all oneself reflection of realities in life in peace and happiness and joy now and always for ever.
Thanks.
I’m not really sure that all means Clotilda, but thanks for commenting!
You and I are kindred spirits. I have been sending wishes for wellness, safety and happiness as I picture Trump’s face during meditation for the last two years. I remember how hard it was to do at first; I didn’t even want to picture his face. It is much easier now, I don’t see his face so much anymore as I see the sadness and anger behind it. Sometimes, I add “may you not suffer”. Love your blogs, Tim. Thank you for taking the time to send them out.
Thank you my anonymous friend!
Your. Best. Blog. Post. Ever. Signed, Another Person Who Would Love to Be Buddhist But Really Hates Trump’s Guts Too Much to Qualify.
Repeat after me:
May you be well, may you be happy, may you be safe Mr. Trump – lol!
Good and helpful analysis.
A long time no see Gary! Hope you’re well mate.
Hey, Tim.
Your title got my attention. I don’t think that the label we place on ourselves is important. The word “Buddhist” is a relatively new one and doesn’t exist in the scriptures. People would just say that they were followers of the Buddha’s Dharma (teachings). Practicing the Dharma isn’t something we ever do perfectly, of course. Following the five precepts, which is the base-line level of ethical practice, involves speaking truthfully. So as long as you’re not consciously lying about Trump you’re at least doing something.
You can be critical and still follow the speech precepts. In one teaching the Buddha says “In the case of words that the Tathagata [Buddha] knows to be factual, true, beneficial, but unendearing & disagreeable to others, he has a sense of the proper time for saying them.” He wasn’t afraid to call people out for their bad behavior and to do that he used language much stronger than yours. You can be truthful, intend what you say to be beneficial (e.g. letting people know the truth about Trump so that they can lose their illusions about him), and also be critical (as you did very nicely above).
This is something I’m working on at the moment. I’ve been looking at the way I communicate on Twitter in particular, and trying not JUST to be critical, but also to articulate values I believe in. So I’ll tend to point out Trump’s faults and also say, for example, that we need ethical leadership. I’ve also been looking at and aiming to learn from the tweets of people like Chelsea Clinton and Cory Booker, who handle criticism beautifully.
Nice to see you here Bodhi!
And yes you’re right (it seems you may have read a bit or two on this!), of course, you can criticize with honesty, integrity and with the best of intentions. But I rarely do that, I tend to attack and it has very limited value other than feeling like I got it off my chest.
I had no clue about Chelsea Clinton and Corey Booker, that’s very interesting and also encouraging.
It’s kind of weird that I admire people who are like that but struggle to emulate them.
BTW, I enjoyed ‘I can’t believe it’s not Buddha’ (for anybody reading this it’s Bodhipkas’s latest book that explodes some popular myths about Buddha and especially some of the fake quotes attributed to him), although now I have to battle with getting all indignant when I see fake posts shared on SM :)
Hi. I consider myself as a Christian-Buddhist person and i agree with you. Thanks for the article.
Hugo
I remember reading ‘Living Buddha, Living Christ’ by Thich Nhat Hann a few years ago. It was interesting to see how their lives mirrored one another and how the basic beliefs of both religions share more far commonalities than differences.
As a consultant, we try to help clients identify their one main GOAL that they want to MAXIMIZE and their other requirements that they need to satisfy- usually thought of as stakeholders. Having more than one main goal causes incredible amounts of conflicts and stress within the organization and individually within its members. WIth individuals, this is an even greater problem, you can walk away from a job but it’s hard to walk away from yourself. When faced with decisions to make and choices to take maybe we need fewer decision points, Does this do good? Does this increase my stress. Stress being the number one killer, it would seem that increasing stress would be a violation of every religion or belief system.
What is the….
Right View?
Right Resolve?
Right Speech?
Right Conduct?
Right Livelihood?
Right Effort?
Right Mindfulness?
Right Concentration (meditation)?
Taken as a group trying to fulfil all of these 8 contradictory objectives leads to dysfunction and stress. Look at a compass pointing in eight different directions and try to go in al of them at the same time.
Tell a lie and save someone’s life or tell the truth and someone dies? Truly Good intention and disastrous result?
Having a healthier country is not the result of changing the health insurance system. Changing lifestyles, better sleep, real food diets, major stress reduction leads to greater health. Our society functions by increasing stress that’s how we make a living.
The problem with our political systems is that they don’t work, My platform is the only right way to achieve my objectives. I’m right do it my way. Al thje parties are wrong. A systems engineering approach that identifies and connects the causes and effects and identifies the solutions that produce the least “unintended consequences”. Almost all politicians are and have been hacks.
I don’t even know where to start answering this Harvey.
I didn’t do a very good job in my explanation so I’ll refer you to Bodhipaksa’s response in the comments.
I’m fairly sure people like The Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Pema Chodron, Ajahn Bram, Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach (and I’m just naming people whose work I have read and who I follow) don’t live lives full of ‘dysfunction and stress’.
Thanks for your input!
Appreciate your reasoning!
Cheers.