Our fathers
The different fathers
Some time ago I was sitting in a coffee house in Stuttgart at the
Schlossplatz in the midday sun.
An elderly lady asked if the second chair was still free, I said
yes, she sat down, we got into conversation.
She said she was a Christian, I said I was a Buddhist.
"Oh, those are the egoists, always looking out for themselves"
she said, I was puzzled.
"Where did they get that idea" I asked.
"Yes, Buddhism is about "enlightenment", so its Buddhists
egoists".
I got grumpy, an argument developed in which (as in most
arguments) there was no winner, everyone had their opinion, we
parted politely but did not become friends.
The essence of a religion is not to argue, but they should create
harmony.
Was the lady trying to tell me that her religion was better than
mine? What were her motives?
And why didn't she know that Buddha was not a god at all? And why
did she attack me in the first place for my statement of being a
Buddhist?
And anyway, I consider Buddha to be my ancestor, my father. Just
as she probably sees Jesus Christ as her father.
So, why don't the children of the different "fathers" respect
each other more, why is there no peace between religions? Is my
father better than yours?
While we are on the subject of fathers, what if my biological
father was a beggar on the street? Still, he is my father, so to
speak negatively about him would not be helpful either, and
certainly hurtful.
If Jesus Christ, Allah and Buddha were sitting at the same table,
right now, what could they talk about? Would they argue? Make fun
of each other's children?
MY FATHER USED TO SAY: DON'T SPEAK LOUDER, ARGUE WISER
- DESMOND MPILO TUTU - SOUTH AFRICAN CLERGYMAN - B. 1931
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