STUDENT:

This concerns people of other faiths who practice Buddhism. Is it possible to intellectually understand the concepts of the Dharma and benefit from the practice without incorporating the teachings into your religious belief system?

SHIH-FU:

Is it possible to ignore the teachings, the concepts and theories, and just practice? It may be possible, but only in the beginning stages. When I teach a newcomer, I can ignore such teachings, but after a while I have to introduce ideas like karma, rebirth, causes and conditions.

Can one understand these teachings and yet not accept them? If you are content with gaining only a small amount of benefit from the practice, perhaps. But if you want to enter deeper and deeper into the practice of the Dharma, then you must accept the teachings.

STUDENT:

Then the earlier question returns. If a person from another faith wants to practice Buddhism on a deep level, eventually that person must give up the beliefs and teachings of the original religion?

However, we are talking about deep levels of practice. One can gain much from meditation and Buddhist principles without abandoning faith in other religions.

SHIH-FU: