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"Buddhism is more of a philosophy,
ary at bookstore readings. Between
and a philosophical ethic ... Buddha
quips and prayers, he offered chants,
was a Hindu as Christ was a Jew ...
haiku poems and open discussion with
Buddhism is basically agnostic."
the audience.
The man who asked this question,
"I know you're supposed to ask me
a University of Michigan professor
questions, but I'm asking you: 'What
who declined to give his name, later
do we do?' We all know a good ques-
explained that like Surya Das, "I was
tion is better than a right answer.
raised Jewish, bar mitzvahed, but in
Questions open doors."
This idea, said the lama, echoes
such Jewish traditions as self-
inquiry, commentary and debate in
CC j
the Talmud. It is his inquisitive atti-
tude that earned him the nickname
(( ocean of questions" during his
years living throughout Asia, study-
ing under Buddhist mentors.
These days, Surya Das shares
time between his New England
home and religious centers world-
wide. Of foremost importance to
him is the time he spends in Israel,
teaching and speaking publicly. "I
understood where I come from, as a.
New York Jew, better," he said
emphatically, "from being in
Jerusalem."
But the political and religious
clashes he sees there trouble him:
"Israel is a microcosm ... of the
world's problems right now.
"Jerusalem is a holy place, defi-
nitely. But Israel is very, very diffi-
I don't want to say godless
cult
— maybe Marxist.
"Every molecule, every atom of
Jerusalem is holy," he repeats.
Within that holiness, however,
Surya Das finds troubling the rela-
tions between people of two reli-
gions that venerate the ancient city.
ICS exactly that dichotomy between
faith and praxis that inspired him to
study Buddhism more than 20 years
ago.
"I think we all have a little God
in our life. But when I see what's
going on in the streets, among the
people, an angry kid with an Uzi
and a cigarette is what I see. There's
no God there. That's why I went on The former Jeffi-ey Miller
my path."
For other Jews contemplating
such paths, the lama is demurely
sort of a secular, suburban fashion.
encouraging.
"I've not practiced Judaism at all
An audience member introduced
since college. And I'm getting little
himself, saying, "I'm Jewish myself,
musings about getting involved in it.
and I've been studying Buddhism for
There's a little idea, a personal edge —
about 10 years." He asked the lama
the question was floating around in
for his thoughts on the nature of
my mind."
Judaism as it might relate to
"I thought his answer was terrific,"
Buddhism.
he
said of Surya Das. "It's obvious he's
Surya Das replied that the faith of
thought
about it, too."
his heritage leaves plenty of room for
"Yeah," the lama concurred, his
Buddhist thought and practice. Rather
New York accent clear. "I've thought
than seeing the two as mutually exclu-
about it a lot." Li
sive religions, he explained,
erusalem is
a holy place,
definitely.
But Israel is very,
very difficult."
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16 Detroit Jewish News