xdianax
07-28-2004, 04:12 AM
This is an issue with many people, Buddhist and non-Buddhist alike, where they have been raised to a certain religion, come to practice another, and have to somehow find a way to tell their parents. I posted this thread not only for my own personal problem with this, but for anyone else having the same difficulties, so I encourage anyone else to share their problems/situations as well.
I have been a Buddhist for about nine months, and although I found my self recklessly tossing the word around in school, I have never told my family. My mother is Italian and raise my brother and I Roman Catholic. I have decided to go through with my Confirmation although I am really a Buddhist. Because of this, I planned on telling my parents of my religious orientation sometime after my Confirmation. This seemed to be a good plan, unti I noticed some of the difficulties I have been having with my family, especially my mom.
In regards to whether she already knows I am Buddhist, I don't know. I did a paper on Buddhism v. Communism in the Tibetan/Chinese conflict, and sometime during the month in which I was writing it, she had a strange mini-conversation which is vague in my mind but ended with her saying that Buddhists are nice and all but some of those practices "are way off the deep end" and nervously finishing with, "Besides.....your a good little Catholic girl", nervously laughing.
Regarding my father: Almost all of my favorite links on my computer regard Buddhism, Meditation, or Yoga. My father has gone on my computer a few time and saved a few bookmarks of his own, so I know he has seen the links. He hasn't mentioned them to me, and I don't think he really cares :p
(Sorry, I know I am rambling) The reason I have been inspired to create this thread is because of a recent incident. My friend Jenny who I did a volunteer program with a few weeks ago (and mentioned that I was a Buddhist), came over to my house with her mother (a friend of my mother's) recently. They talked about boring stuff for awhile ;) until, when talking about Jenny's drama camp, mentioned a play that was going to be put on based on a Buddhist story. Immediately when she said the word Buddhist she pointed to me and said if she had an extra ticket she would invite me. For the rest of the time they were at my house I was sooo anxious, nervous, and worried that they would mention Buddhism again, assuming my mother knew.
Today, I heard the doorbell ring and my mother answered. It was Jenny's mother. I heard the entire conversation, including the part where she said that since her husband was going on a Zen retreat, she wanted to invite me. My mother said she would ask me and they said goodbye. My mother didn't mention the visit until an hour ago, when when she was reminded of it from something on TV. All my mother said was that the woman came over, and that her husband was going on a Zen retreat (only mentioning the latter expecting that I would laugh at it, as she would). :( she never mentioned the tickets and I wonder if my mother is trying to prevent me from getting involved in Buddhism. (Ahh I rambled on soo much =/ so sorry).
Anyway, if you could stand all the random ramblings, basically I am just wondering what to do about this whole situation.
:) Namaste,
Diana
I have been a Buddhist for about nine months, and although I found my self recklessly tossing the word around in school, I have never told my family. My mother is Italian and raise my brother and I Roman Catholic. I have decided to go through with my Confirmation although I am really a Buddhist. Because of this, I planned on telling my parents of my religious orientation sometime after my Confirmation. This seemed to be a good plan, unti I noticed some of the difficulties I have been having with my family, especially my mom.
In regards to whether she already knows I am Buddhist, I don't know. I did a paper on Buddhism v. Communism in the Tibetan/Chinese conflict, and sometime during the month in which I was writing it, she had a strange mini-conversation which is vague in my mind but ended with her saying that Buddhists are nice and all but some of those practices "are way off the deep end" and nervously finishing with, "Besides.....your a good little Catholic girl", nervously laughing.
Regarding my father: Almost all of my favorite links on my computer regard Buddhism, Meditation, or Yoga. My father has gone on my computer a few time and saved a few bookmarks of his own, so I know he has seen the links. He hasn't mentioned them to me, and I don't think he really cares :p
(Sorry, I know I am rambling) The reason I have been inspired to create this thread is because of a recent incident. My friend Jenny who I did a volunteer program with a few weeks ago (and mentioned that I was a Buddhist), came over to my house with her mother (a friend of my mother's) recently. They talked about boring stuff for awhile ;) until, when talking about Jenny's drama camp, mentioned a play that was going to be put on based on a Buddhist story. Immediately when she said the word Buddhist she pointed to me and said if she had an extra ticket she would invite me. For the rest of the time they were at my house I was sooo anxious, nervous, and worried that they would mention Buddhism again, assuming my mother knew.
Today, I heard the doorbell ring and my mother answered. It was Jenny's mother. I heard the entire conversation, including the part where she said that since her husband was going on a Zen retreat, she wanted to invite me. My mother said she would ask me and they said goodbye. My mother didn't mention the visit until an hour ago, when when she was reminded of it from something on TV. All my mother said was that the woman came over, and that her husband was going on a Zen retreat (only mentioning the latter expecting that I would laugh at it, as she would). :( she never mentioned the tickets and I wonder if my mother is trying to prevent me from getting involved in Buddhism. (Ahh I rambled on soo much =/ so sorry).
Anyway, if you could stand all the random ramblings, basically I am just wondering what to do about this whole situation.
:) Namaste,
Diana