So I recently told you that I’m Buddhist. It’s not something I shout out loud, simply because the majority of people around me are Christian, and I feel like they think I’m weird. And I don’t need any help in that department. I thought I’d take a post to tell you a little about Buddhism if you don’t know anything about it. Please don’t take me for the expert on the subject, because I am not.

• Buddhism has been around a long time. Like since 500 BC.
• Christians are surprised when I tell them there’s a lot of parallels in Christianity and Buddhism. Essentially we don’t harm others and do the right thing just like you.
• We do not worship Buddha. He is a figurehead, a prophet, much like Jesus. He came up with a lot of the stories and parables that are now in books, so he is one of many figures in Buddhism that teach us. (But he’s dead; you got that from the first line, right?)
• The fat Buddha symbol you see above stands for prosperity. If you’re fat, you have money, riiight?
• I don’t attend a temple. Hello? I’m in Arkansas. But there are temples in other places. I used to go to special ceremonies at a Thai temple in Orlando.
• We can meditate to clear our minds. I should do this more, but I always add it to my ever-growing list of things to do and never get around to it. I meditate in yoga instead.
• Buddhism is practiced heavily in India and China.
• I was actually raised Catholic, but as a teen, found it wasn’t for me. I became Buddhist sometime in college.

This was a light course. If you want to learn more about Buddhism, visit these sites.