Diversity Q & A

Is there something about your culture, religion, or society you don't like?

Sujato

There are plenty of things I don't like about Buddhism.  Like people of every religion, we all too often don't live up to the values of our religion.  We speak of compassion and tolerance, but act with harshness.  We say that what really matters is a good heart, but then get all obsessed with petty details of rituals and customs.  These are just a few examples!  But when I examine these problems, I always find that they are human problems, which happen when we try to apply such a pure philosophy in this complex world.  I don't blame Buddhists for these problems, I try to help them – and remember that I'm far from perfect, too!