Madam, - According to Cardinal Desmond Connell, "Buddhism tends to be very self centred" (The Irish Times, April 21st). This is not the first time the cardinal has made undiplomatic remarks about other religions and it is unfortunate that such a senior cleric should use such careless speech. Instead of being quick to judge this ancient and noble religion, perhaps he should instead ask why so many people, religious and non religious alike find Buddhism so inspiring.
The first inspiring aspect of Buddhism is its wise and truthful recognition that all trouble and strife in the world stems from the untamed, agitated minds of individuals. Christian confirmation of this sorry state of ignorance within humans was echoed by Christ himself on the cross when he said: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do".
Modern psychology bears testament to this same ancient wisdom. As a man thinks, so he acts. Buddhism attempts to correct lack of awareness of one's true self not through enforcing doctrine or theology, which draw people even deeper into the ego, and therefore division and violence, but by helping to bring the individual to an awareness of his universal self. In Christian terminology, we might call this finding God by finding one's soul.
Buddhism's second most inspiring truth, compatible with all religions and more importantly with none, is that when one is trained to silence the ego in meditation, one comes into a state of pure essence or being where there is only love, compassion and truth. In this state of pure being, the individual soul is linked to the universal soul. Pure essence and being precede thought and ego-consciousness, and in this state, when the individual is linked to the source of all creation, there is a greater chance that sinfulness can be dispelled by overcoming ignorance through the pursuit of self- knowledge. Perhaps it is the emphasis on self-knowledge that gives Cardinal Connell the mistaken and unenlightened view that Buddhism is selfish.
People are drawn to Buddhism because its followers tend to live pure and virtuous lives rather than simply talking and preaching about such things. Because self-knowledge trains the individual to look within rather than without, it would indeed be rare to come across a Buddhist making the same type of insensitive, judgmental remark about the religion of others that was made by the Cardinal.
No doubt Cardinal Connell is also aware that there is a similar tradition of contemplative meditation within the Catholic faith. He would also be aware that the Buddhist method of spirituality through meditation is validated in Christian scripture by the words, "Be still and know that I am God". Furthermore this Buddhist emphasis on self-knowledge is further validated by Christ when he stated that "the kingdom of God is within you."
Buddhism teaches people that true moral authority can come only from within. Each individual must seek and understand for him or herself why goodness and virtue are absolutely necessary for our own true happiness. Morality and religion that are enforced upon people through fear, dominance and control disintegrate as soon as these same conditions are removed. The evidence of this is all around us in churches that look a lot emptier than they did some years ago.
Finally, if Cardinal Connell really reflected a bit further on this religion that he is so quick to condemn, he would notice one other amazing similarity to Catholicism. It too has a monastic tradition of celibate monks and nuns who dedicate their lives to the selfless virtues of poverty, chastity and obedience. - Yours, etc,
RACHEL STANLEY, Palmerston Grove, Dublin 6.