Living the Dharma: A Buddhist Priest’s Exploration of Religion and Spirituality
As a BUDDHIST PRIEST living a lay life, my relationship with religion and spirituality occupies a unique space.
On one side, I live within the realm of religious practice. Yet, there’s another dimension to my practice, a more personal exploration that leans more towards spirituality.
MY RELIGIOUS ROLE
As a BUDDHIST PRIEST, I function within the established structures of a religion. I lead worship services, officiate rites, rituals, and ceremonies like weddings and funerals, and even perform exorcisms in certain traditions.
These acts solidify the role BUDDHISM plays in the lives of many, providing a framework for rituals and practices that mark life’s transitions and connect individuals to something larger than themselves.
In this sense, yes, I am very much a part of the religious landscape.
BEYOND RITUALS: THE CORE OF MY BUDDHIST PRACTICE
However, my personal practice delves deeper than the outward forms of religion. As a Buddhist layperson, my primary focus lies in cultivating a spiritual life centred on the core teachings of the Buddha:
