A Buddhist Catholic

“A Buddhist Catholic”. This was a term I saw on the blog of a best friend of mine. I believe that was what he was referring himself to. Incidentally, about 3 weeks ago, this was what my religious studies Prof. referred to me as—a Buddhist Christian (Catholic)—as I explained to him my Faith and related to him about a time when I supposedly experienced a mystical experience sometime ago, which I termed it the time when I was “trapped in Peace”. I was very glad at moment when he called me a Buddhist Christian because I finally found someone who understood the framework of my Faith and who encouraged me.

I find being Christian while following the Buddhist way of life (ie, the path of the “awakened one”) as fully compatible. The way of the Bodhisattva (one who yearns to be awakened) was what led me to Christianity and my firm love in Jesus. I guess it was and it continues to be the foundation of my belief in the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed One. While some of my friends think I am a fundamentalist and doctrinal Catholic, I do not actually understand what led them to that impression of me. Was it just because I yearn to understand my Catholic Faith more? Or is it that I understand what I believe in and I choose to proclaim that Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life? But isn’t that just what it means to be Christian—a follower of the Christ, which my friends are too? While those aspects of my Faith was what they saw with my contacts with them, they don’t seem to see that the cultivation of Peace, Compassion and the appreciation of silence and nature continues to be core in my life. To walk the middle path, the way of the “awakened one”, the Buddha, which Jesus is also one, is the Path to which I continue to follow. I continue to walk the way of the Bodhisattva, and to *be* a Bodhisattva. “Misunderstood” is the word I would use here, I suppose, though it really isn’t important what others think since my Faith is my own. I guess I only regret that I lost the love of my life because I thought it was important for at least the one most significant other in my life to understand this. I have since learnt to seek to understand others more than I seek for others to understand me (St. Francis' Peace Prayer).

I would say, since September last year, I have lost almost everything that was important in my life, including my Faith, which was regained over Easter this year. I believe this is something to rejoice about and I am very happy. I guess this is what Jesus meant when He said that it’s only when we lose it all that we gain it all. The Peace and Bliss I feel in my heart now has been something that I’ve missed for many years. My religious studies Prof. asked me if I would like to return to that state when I was “trapped in Peace” again, and my answer was “I don’t know…” Perhaps, this is now something to think about…

Our Pope: The Humble Shepherd

Some of you may already know, our Pope John Paul II has passed on physically into Eternal Life with Jesus this morning 11.37 am (PST). His spirit, though, continues to be with us, especially the youths in the world.

Pope John Paul II has done many incredible things in his life. And especially after he became Pope, he has worked tirelessly for peace and reconciliation in this wounded world. He advocated for inter-faith dialogues and understanding. One really significant thing he did was the reconcilation between the Church and our Jewish brothers and sisters. There are many more such things he did during his papacy, and it would be endless to list them all here. Since most newspapers and articles will talk about those great things anyway, I will not repeat them here. Instead, I would like to write more about one thing that was very close to his heart-- the Youth.

On a slightly personal side of him, he has held the Christian youths in the world really close to his heart. Before he became Pope, he was a University chaplain and loved to be with the youth. When the Vatican announced that he was to become Pope, he cried because being Pope would mean that he can't be with the youth as much as he wished to anymore. But because he was fully given to the will of God, he accepted the position. However, his love for the young people did not stop there. He started World Youth Day. This was his way to continue being with the youth. For me, he was the one who gave us, the Christian youths in the world, a "status" in the Church. By his love and advocacy for the active participation of youths in the Church, we are no more just the future of the Church... but are now part of *the Church*, fully and completely a part of it.

I was fortunate enough to have had a rather close encounter with him at World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto. The image of a hunched and humble old man, who was full of peace and love, continues to live in my heart. When he got out of the helicopter that transported him to the pilgrimage site, he saw the Christian youths from all over the world come to be with him. At that moment, he teared at that sight, and so did I.

Before JPII passed on this morning, the Vatican reported that he had mouthed repeatedly the words "I have looked for you. Now you have come to me. And I thank you". These words were supposedly directed to the Christian youths who came to visit and pray for him outside his apartment at the Vatican.

For me, these are very powerful words because it seems to me not only that he was referring to the Youths, but also to God, Himself. This just further shows me that the Holy Spirit of God *is* present in the world today, and it is in you and in me. In God, we all are One. The Pope has looked for us the Youth, and God in us; and now, we have come to him. God has come to him. And we thank you, too, our humble shepherd, for a beautiful life fully and humbly lived.

Pope JPII was a teacher and a steadfast shepherd of his flock till the end. The way he left his physical body from this world to God in His Kingdom continues to be an example of peace and total surrender to the will of God. I will forever be inspired by his Faith and trust in the Lord, even at the face of death. His humility, total surrender, emptying of himself, and most definitely compassion, Peace and Love, are the qualities of a true servant of God. I continue to cultivate myself towards that.

Our Holy Father, JPII, be at peace, for we have heard the Word, your spirit lives in us. We will continue your works. Till we meet again in Our Lord....