Questions & Answers #1

Question: Must I be a Buddhist to be a member of Shaolin Zen?

Answer: Yes and no. By joining Shaolin Zen, a Buddhist Organization, you are by definition then a Buddhist. However, being anything is done by BEING anything, whether you've joined it or not. So really it is still up to you whether you DECIDE to perceive yourself as a Buddhist or not.

Question: So, if I DECIDE to be a Buddhist then I am a Buddhist?

Answer: Yes and no. If a person decides to be a Doctor, are they a doctor before they graduate medical school? To further complicate this answer, Buddhism teaches that every person is born a Buddha, perfect and pure in nature. Then, technically, a Buddhist is a person who lives by the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the first self-proclaimed Buddha.

Question: Now I am even more confused than before I asked my first question.

Answer: Good. Buddhism seeks to create a questioning mind and shatter illusions rather than give you elementary answers. So you probably are already a Buddhist.