When my body quit making complete enzymes to break down proteins in meat and the food sat in my stomach until I threw up made me decide to become a vegetarian. I quit throwing up every meal and my stomach thanked me. When it was found I was intolerant to pain meds--found out after surgery--and there was nothing I could take for pain I looked into other forms of pain relief. The one that was affordable was meditation--it was free. It actually worked as long as my children left me alone so I could clear my mind and not hear, "Mom, I need a drink!" "Mom, he's touching me!" "Mom, Dylan hit me!" I had actually looked into becoming Buddhist before this but hadn't really committed to it. In my search for pain relief the meditation came from a Buddhist web site. I started reading it and found out more things that--for me--was appealing. They don't push their religion off on other people. You set examples by living the examples. The morals were the same as Christianity but try to explain this to a Christian in the Bible Belt of America.
I have had a lot of criticism from people because of my decision to become Buddhist but ultimately it is my decision not theirs. One such problem I had was when after three years of being asked by a woman at work to come to her church I told her I had chosen to become Buddhist. She was appalled by this and commenced to preach to me every day we worked together. She quoted Bible scripture, repeated what her preacher preached on that Sunday, and reminded me that only Christians will make it to heaven. I ignored her every single day while she carried on. I hoped she would tire of her ignored efforts but after six months I found myself tired of ignoring her and quoted Matthew 7:1--"Do not judge, or you too will be judged." I thought it would shut her up but it only angered her more. I found myself in the office with my manager and her being told to keep my religion to myself or I would be fired. I told her I understood and I went back to work. The worker then started telling everyone she won a victory for the Lord and everyone rallied to congratulate her. I was irritated but then at election time I ended up in the office again because she was mad at me for voting for Obama--I was told to keep my political views to myself as well.
I'm not saying everyone should run out and become Buddhist I just wish they would educate themselves before they open their mouths. I have found inner peace in Buddhism and I wish to be respected just like anyone else. Love for your fellow man should be universal without the stigma of denominational affiliation. If I saw a Catholic in need of help I would not pass him by because of his religion I would do what I could to assist without pushing him to convert to my beliefs. Assistance should never come with strings attached it should be freely given like a breathe of air--free.
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