How I lapsed:
Buddhism works. Period. When I really applied it, my life changed so much that every day was a joy to live. I ate good stuff, lived well, did meaningful work, helped others and LOVED every minute of it. At 34 I attained my childhood dream of being an ecologist. But see, I skipped a part. It's Buddha, dharma and sangha, Buddha, teaching and community. I left out the last part. In the end, I found that joy and sorrow are part of the same. I had no one to share it with. At all. I didn't love anyone *individually*, nor they me. The loneliness ate me up. So I stopped. Mostly. I bring it back some times, for a week or two, but until I can find that community, I don't dare embrace it.
BTW, you're utterly wrong about all religions being the same. Does believing that the universe is rational and comprehensible give you a nice sense of peace? It isn't. At least the Buddha taught us: Believe nothing, no matter who says it, not even if I say it, unless it stands to reason and fits with your common sense. That alone makes it a world apart.
Buddhism works. Period. When I really applied it, my life changed so much that every day was a joy to live. I ate good stuff, lived well, did meaningful work, helped others and LOVED every minute of it. At 34 I attained my childhood dream of being an ecologist. But see, I skipped a part. It's Buddha, dharma and sangha, Buddha, teaching and community. I left out the last part. In the end, I found that joy and sorrow are part of the same. I had no one to share it with. At all. I didn't love anyone *individually*, nor they me. The loneliness ate me up. So I stopped. Mostly. I bring it back some times, for a week or two, but until I can find that community, I don't dare embrace it.
BTW, you're utterly wrong about all religions being the same. Does believing that the universe is rational and comprehensible give you a nice sense of peace? It isn't. At least the Buddha taught us: Believe nothing, no matter who says it, not even if I say it, unless it stands to reason and fits with your common sense. That alone makes it a world apart.
My book, a setting for fantasy role playing games based on Bantu mythology: Ubantu
