Meditation, Yoga, Gratefulness, Mindfulness.. are trendy practices in Western countries, these days.
And because of that many western followers want to visit India, but Buddhism came from Nepal.
The majority of people doesn't know nothing about India. And they get really surprised when they visit India. It's one of the most populated countries in the world, with a high rate of poverty, poor food hygiene, very polluted air, dirty and smelly streets, with high crime rate, specially girl and woman group rape.
But it's also one of the most ancient civilisations in the world, with an unique culture, food and religion.
The main religion of India is Hinduism. While the rest of the world moved from a religion worshiping several gods to just one god, India kept its ancient religion of worship several gods and a new god is created, once in a while.
Buddhism is also very ancient but more recent than Hinduism. In fact, Buddhism isn't really a religion because there is no god. But more of a way of life.
Westerns found Buddhism in a time when western societies want to be more free from the rigid christian church. Western don't want to feel guilty anymore to "sin". Because western mentally changed and marriage is no longer the main goal of their lives, but careers, the pursuit of love and the pleasures of life.
But Buddhism is more than yoga and meditation and working in oneself to achieve a state of well being and mind peace - the Nirvana.
The Buddhism is a spiritual philosophy. An analysis of the society and their reason of suffering. According to Buddhism, people suffer because of the desire of owning things that cannot have. So Buddhism came with the solution by training the mind to repress those desires and feeling happy with what one already have. Using the daily repetition of sentences to change the mind set (meditation).
In order to not suffer, a person should not have desires or expectations and consequently won't feel frustrated and won't suffer. Learning to control the mind and feel in peace.
Westerns just use Buddhism to work in their self esteem and to feel good about themselves. And they keep buying more things to pamper their ego.
But there is much more about Buddhism:
- the refrain from alcohol and drugs;
- the refrain from lying, stealing, immorality and sexual misconduct;
- not killing any living being- including mosquitos!;
- the karma - what people do with bad intentions will come back to them;
- the reincarnation. Buddhist believe in many lives till reaching the Nirvana;
- Women should reborn as a man before they can reach Nirvana. Being born a woman is result of bad karma. And as a wife, women are expected to be obedient and submissive to their husbands.
- And more.
Westerns feel more free, now, to do whatever they want because in Buddhism there is no god watching all their moves everywhere and judging them anymore. And they keep being the villains in some people´s lives, free of punishment.
In the end, Buddhism for westerns is just pretending being spiritual.