The following is a list of possible questions and answer for Multi-Faith Forum. If you think there's an answer more appropriate to a particular question, you're welcome to tell us.
******************************************
Multi-Faith Forum of Long Island
Education Project Committee
17 Possible Questions for Moderator to Ask
1.What part/element of your faith tradition is most important to you?
Compassion, wisdom, and a detailed set of methods to realize them.
2.What would you say to an outsider is most important to you about your faith?
Compassion and wisdom.
3.How does your religion affect your daily life at home or at work?
I try to live my life in accordance to the teachings of compassion, non-violence, and non-attachment, both at home and at work.
4.If I observed you for a day, what would I see, hear, touch or taste that would tell me that you are a Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Jain, etc.?
A Buddhist cannot be identified by any outward form. However, if you come to my home, you will see statues of Buddhas on the altar. We keep these statues as objects of reverence mainly as a show of respect and gratitude, as a representation of the virtues and merits of the Buddhas, and to remind ourselves of our commitment to cultivate these virtues and merits ourselves. You may see us burn an incense as an offering to the Buddhas. You may also hear Buddhist chanting. Moreover, some of us are vegetarians. However, it is important to note that none of these is required for someone to call himself or herself a Buddhist; and there is no supreme religious authority to set the official forms of Buddhist practice. In fact, some sincere practitioners of Buddhism do not observe these forms of practice. As long as one aspires to actualize the teachings of the Buddha in one’s daily life, as long one determines to live one’s life in accordance to the five precepts of not killing, not stealing, not involving in sexual misconduct, not lying, not taking alcoholic drinks or other intoxicant, one is a Buddhist.
5.What is the most important religious holiday for you and why?
The birthday of Shakyamuni Buddha. We celebrate Buddha’s birthday to show our gratitude to him in leaving behind the teachings and to renew our commitment in the path of Buddhist cultivation.
6.In your faith tradition, what is your image of the supreme being?
The image of the supreme being in Buddhism is a perfect human being – perfect in the actualization of completely altruistic compassion and direct, unobstructed wisdom. Buddhism believes that all sentient beings can be a Buddha – a completely enlightened human being.
7.Given that you are a minority on Long Island, what of your faith is it hardest to maintain or to practice?
Currently Buddhists on Long Island are not well-organized. I would like to see us reaching out more to each other. I would also like to see more people understand what Buddhism is all about and not to associate it with an exotic religion.
8.How do your children react to your faith or tradition?
I don’t have any children but I am sure if I do, they will appreciate it very much. It’s a lively, creative tradition that is not dogmatic.
9.What do you do to keep the deep connection everyday to your faith?
Daily meditation, prayers, and living my daily life according to the teachings of the Buddha. Buddhism is not separable from the daily life. Therefore, to live according to the teaching of the Buddha, to respect all beings, to be compassionate, and to try to be free of attachments in my daily life is the most important fulfillment of religious duty.
10.How does the dominance of the English language affect practice of your faith?
Since I am bilingual, the use of English enriches my practice. The practice of Buddhism does not rely on the use of a particular language. Since Buddhism was brought to America from various countries, having English as a common language is a blessing. It is important for Buddhism to take root in America. We need to develop more programs in English for the younger generations.
11.What would be one thing that you would like to change about life on Long Island in order to maintain with integrity of your religious identity?
To have the resource to organize more Buddhist activities and to share what Buddhism is all about with believers of other religions so that they have a better understand of its messages.
12.What religious practices have changed in your tradition because of your living in American society?
There is less emphasis on the ritualistic aspect of the religion.
13.What similarities do you share with other religious traditions?
To do what is wholesome and to refrain from what is unwholesome. These are the basic similarities of all great religions. The teaching of compassion is another similarity.
14.What are some of the big controversies, tensions or differences within your own tradition in America?
Buddhism originated from India and spread to the surrounding regions in Asia. It took hundreds of years for Buddhism to be assimilated into the cultural fabric of the host countries. During this process, it is inevitable that many elements that are culturally and ethically based were adopted into the practice of Buddhism. There is a need to clarify which of these practices are relevant in America and which are not. There is an ongoing process of assimilating the essence of Buddhism into Western cultural settings based on aspects of Buddhism that are universal. The important point is to make sure that the original messages of the Buddha are not diluted.
15.What keeps you committed to your own religious tradition today?
In the world today, where there is a need for mutual tolerance and respect, the messages of the Buddha appeal all the more deeply to me. Not only is its teaching of non-violence, peace, and non-attachment to dogmatic position appealing, equally important is its emphasis on personal cultivation based on a time-tested set of methods in spiritual contemplation. My personal well being as a result of the balanced practice of rationality, compassion, and spiritual contemplation makes me optimistic about the possibility of attaining the Buddhist goal of cultivation.
16.How do you pass on your tradition to your own children?
Teach them the essence of Buddhism, which is the cultivation of compassion and wisdom.
17.What is your tradition’s understanding of death and the afterlife?
Death is not the end of existence. It is believed that after death, one will be reborn again as another being (not necessarily as a human being). The totality of one’s deeds determines the next rebirth.
文章定位：
