Religious History of My Family as I

¶ … religious history of my family as I know it, and its impact on me.

I myself am from Vietnam and am studying in New York. My parents are Vietnamese and living in Hanoi, Vietnam.

We follow a mixture of Buddhism and Confucianism, although I think that somewhere way back, my grandparents or great-grandparents - I know little of either side -- may have been pure Buddhists. Actually, I see similarities in both, in that both focus on peace within oneself, and I think that the popular way of how Americans see Buddhist belief of nirvana as believing that we are feted to suffer is wrong.

Thinking of my family's beliefs and how it has shaped our lives and my life in particular, I think it is more Vietnam's beliefs in general; that has impacted us rather than that of my particular family. The two primary beliefs in Vietnam in general, and in Hanoi in particular, are Buddhism followed by Confucianism. Both religions, and ways of thinking, de-stress the importance of wealth and therefore, I find that we have less concern about materialism than many of my American colleagues here. Interestingly enough, time has less of its substantial pressure than it does here. Meaning that here, one can really feel Time almost as an object. People talk about it, have countless tools that measure it and consult these tools almost all the time, conduct their lives around Time that they have divided into ever smaller units, and, often, it seems to me, this objectified Time shapes the emotional insides of people and how they relate to others. Since both Buddhism and Confucianism demote materialism and place family and social relationships as uppermost, Time becomes more abstract and deobjectified, particularly through meditation, which is something that many Vietnamese, regardless of religion, practice and which is a way of our country.

The concept of Nirvana has certainly shaped my life and actions. I believe that all results in this world as a cause of my actions and that, therefore, any unhappiness that is caused me is a result of something that I have done. Take toothache for instance. This is the result of my failing to care for my teeth. I can prevent this by following the 8-fold path that Buddhism prescribes, but that really criss-crosses into Confucianism too -- or, at least, as my parents, hybrids of both faiths, taught me.

The eight successful ways to live are by: right views (seeing things in a positive, or realistic, manner); right thought (thinking about things in a realistic / positive manner); right conduct (doing that which makes myself and others grow and is constructive to all); right speech; right livelihood (that which will be constructive rather than destructive to others); right effort; right mindfulness (living in the moment / ion the moment); and right meditation.

Although we regard ourselves as Buddhists in philosophy, we don't actively participate in Buddhist rituals at the pagoda, and do only that, oen may say, that is convenient or fun to us and helps us live a better life.

Possibly, the only strain in our family -- and we're tolerant of the others view so this causes null conflict -- is the fact that whereas we do not bother ourselves with death and probably follow more of the Confucian route of focusing on this world rather than another (if another does exist), I have some relations who thoroughly believe in reincarnation. I suppose, these attitudes do shape our thoughts and actions in some way, thoguh I have given it little thought.