Monday, August 09, 2010
My mom has become a religious nutjob
Ever since becoming an empty nester, my mom has really dedicated herself to the Buddhist religion. It’s seriously like her full time job. In fact, I think she spends more time on Buddhist activities than I do at my full time job! Although I’m glad she’s keeping herself busy being useful to others, I find it’s about the only thing she talks about when I visit her. I think Buddhism is a much better religion to follow than most of the others (with emphasis on being at peace with yourself and others), it’s still a religion, with a lot of wacky, irrational superstitions like any other religion.
One of the biggest qualms I have against all religions is how they manipulate people into giving money. Televangelists are some of the biggest known offenders, but Buddhist temples aren’t much different. One of the “principles” my mom talks about most often is the idea of “merit”. You earn merit by doing good deeds and it goes towards good karma. Simple concept, and a good one. However they take it much further by talking about the “need” for those who are deceased to continue receiving merit. My mom keeps telling me about how she “transfers” merit to her deceased mom, as well as to her kids. Like a freaking bank account. She’s even made that comparison when trying to explain the concept to me. So basically, you can pray to earn merit for other people. Of course, maybe you don’t have that kind of time, the temple says you will earn greater merit the more you give money to the temple! In the end it’s all about money. You want to save your immortal soul? Give money! Give more money and save your ancestors’ souls! Give even more money and save your kids’ souls as well!
It pisses me off, and I’m sure my mom has been duped into giving thousands of dollars, but I can’t say anything, because religion is all about blindly accepting what someone else is telling you. It wouldn’t help anyway, because she’ll just smile serenely and say it’s okay I don’t believe, but maybe one day I will understand. The other thing that annoys me (okay there’s countless things, but I’ll stay on topic) is how she thinks it’s all her praying that has made my life so good. I got laid off and I was able to find another job within two weeks. I proudly told her this during one visit, and I jokingly said, “Because I’m that good.” She smiled in that insanely peaceful way and said, “Maybe, or maybe it’s because of all the merit I’ve been transferring to you.” Seriously? You want to take credit for me kicking ass at interviews?? Hogwash! But I don’t say this. Why take away her source of joy, however crazy it may be? If she can’t be proud of me, then at least she can be proud of herself, even though I think she’s wasting her time.