I am the product of a multi-cultural home. Born to a
Lebanese father and an Italian-American mother, I was constantly influenced by
two distinct cultures. I have grown up celebrating Muslim and Christian holidays,
eating delicious foods the names of which I still have trouble pronouncing, and
observing rich traditions that have shaped my outlook on life.
In addition to that, growing up, my best friend – an Israeli
Jew – and his family invited me to partake in their own rich traditions –
Friday night Shabbats, Purim, and others…I appreciated the rich culture, sense
of community, and of course, the delicious food!
When looking back at the privileged opportunities I
have had partaking in varied faith traditions, I felt encouraged to attend a service
as a Doyle fellow in hopes of experiencing something new, yet instilling that
same sense of wonder and respect toward a personally unexplored way of life.
To this end, I chose to attend a Buddhist meditation
service at the Vajrayogini Buddhist center in Washington, D.C. I felt drawn to the individualistic
and reflective nature of Buddhist mediation. Not to say the other traditions I
have experienced do not promote similar reflections, but meditation, for me,
allowed for a degree of self-reflection I had yet to experience. Specifically,
the type of Buddhist meditation I participated in, the new Kadampa Tradition,
emphasizes the pursuit of meaning, purpose, and the development of inner peace
and happiness through “Heart Jewel” prayers. These prayers are self-guided and
focus on ways in which to achieve aspects of peace and happiness through
compassion, understanding emptiness, loving-kindness, etc.
Needless to say, I was skeptical. Going in, I knew
attending just one service would not allow me to fully understand and
appreciate the sentiments and beliefs, but I was hoping the individualistic
emphasis would perhaps allow me to reflect in a way I had not before.
I arrived at the center a bit late; there were about 10 people already there, some advanced, some first-timers like me. I felt
welcomed and appreciated; the teacher, an American Buddhist nun, respected my
attempt to experience a new faith tradition. I began praying, trying my best to
reflect on my experiences and how they related to my happiness. The instructor
gently reminded us to breathe, so that we might eventually come to feel the
breath upon our upper lip. At that point, she said, we will have advanced a
great deal.
The purpose of mindfulness meditation is to bring
oneself to a spiritual centeredness. Aside from providing practical benefits
such as reduced levels of stress, improved concentration, and a general feeling
of communal harmony, I found that the experience of engaging in prayerful
meditation developed my sense of communal interdependence. I felt that all
those in the room, praying silently together, could relate through this uniting
experience on a level of pure humanity. Religious, ethnic, and racial differences
became irrelevant, and in meditation all of us were one.
