Diversity has always been a factor in our world today that makes living sometimes more difficult than is necessary. Diversity can ignite conflict, violence, or spark mutual creativity and understanding. Many times it is difficult for people that are not Buddhist to understand why practitioners of Buddhism act the way that they do by seemingly cutting all ties to the material world. Because of the focus on spiritual growth and selflessness in Buddhism, practitioners of the religion are at odds with the values of the world around them. For people to live in harmony it is imperative that one understand why Buddhists give up material wealth, live a strict lifestyle, and cut ties with loved ones to participate in their religion the way that they do.

People that may look at the Buddhist religion from the outside world may not understand what their cause is, and why they do what they do. People may look upon it as a strict religion that consumes the lives of its practitioners as well as their family members that are separated from them. Zen Buddhism is a religion that requires complete dedication of its followers’ lives to complete their spiritual devotion. It focu

Though the rigidity of the Buddhist religion may seem impossible for people outside of the religion to comprehend it is important to understand that the goal of a monk is to show complete selflessness, compassion, and discipline. To do this they must not dwell on material wealth because material wealth takes away from concentrating on the small things one may be grateful for. The strict lifestyle that they follow encourages them to work hard and fix the things that they may not excel in. The separation from family that must take place is sometimes the most difficult thing for people to understand, but without this, emotions get in the way, and rational decisions cannot happen. It is through these processes that a Monk is able to realize that through suffering one is able to look at something and appreciate the true beauty within it.

Another aspect of the Buddhist religion that is easily misunderstood by family members of a practitioner as well as friends, and onlookers is the isolation that one must take from their family. The role of the biological family is taken away in a practicing monk’s life, but because the monk has made the decision to separate himself from his family, typically the parents seem much more distraught. When they turn their child over to the monastery, the child gives up their family name, and is adopted by the priest and has a parishioner parent. It is difficult for a parent to give up their child, and to not only turn them over to someone else, but to have no contact with them or know what they are doing. Ryotas’ parents wanted to see him, and to know about his grades, but the priest would once again not allow them to know his grades, give him money, or even bring him food that he liked. She would sometimes even scold them for being too lenient and wanting to spoil him. “Parents feelings disturb religious training; the em

Some topics in this essay:
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