Buddhism is the way of yoga,
It is a quiet way of living your life,
It is meditation,
Ethics,
Cosmology,
The pathway to enlightenment
And mystical practices.
The Buddhist Order is open to anyone;
You can join!
But first you must be initiated by a
Senior member of the Order.
I would be glad to initiate you
And put you
“On the path,”
As we say in Buddhism;
The pathway to enlightenment, that is.
But before I initiate you I must ask you several
Questions. Don’t be afraid. I have put the answers
Underneath the questions, just in case you have
Forgotten them since your last incarnation.
| 1. | Do you know what Buddhism is? |
Buddhism is the search for bodhi — enlightenment.
All people who seek enlightenment are Buddhists,
Whether they realize it or not.
| 2. | Do you know what enlightenment is? |
(Trick question, don’t fall for it.)
No one knows what enlightenment is,
Including incarnate Buddhas.
The correct answer is: “No, I don’t.
Enlightenment is beyond the mind’s
Knowing.”
| 3. | What is the cause of pain? |
Cable TV.
| 4. | Funny. What is the real cause of pain? |
Attachment to desires.
(This is a great answer!
The usual answer is “attachment.”
But when you answer “attachment to desires” you
Indicate by your answer that you have a much more
Subtle grasp of the teachings of Buddhism than
The average applicant has.)
| 5. | What are the Four Noble Truths? |
A rap group.
(Very funny. Have you thought about going on
Star Search? Try again.)
| 6. | What are the Four Noble Truths? |
| 1. | The life of an unenlightened person is filled |
| With suffering. | |
| 2. | The cause of suffering |
| Is a lack of enlightenment, which is caused | |
| By a person’s attachment to desires | |
| And aversion to suffering. | |
| 3. | There is a way to reach enlightenment |
| And get beyond suffering. | |
| 4. | Meditation is the pathway to enlightenment. |
| 7. | In a Zen sense, what is illusion, and what is truth? |
Truth is who you see in the mirror.
Illusion is who you see in the mirror.
Since you now know all of the answers, I will
Initiate you as a member of the Order and put you
On
The path.
There, it’s done.
Just one more question before you start your
Journey — from Rama — who has put countless seekers
Of enlightenment on the path
Over the course of countless lifetimes:
| 8. | What is the most important thing to remember now |
| That you are a member of the Order and have been | |
| Put on the path? |
Stay on the path.