"Practicing mindfulness does not mean becoming a Buddhist. It means living like a Buddha."

"Nobody’s Grandmother Is a Buddhist"

My friend Jean told me that she had discovered a large hornets’ nest under the eaves of her roof. Her eight-year-old granddaughter, Courtney, who was with her at the time, was frightened and didn’t want to stay outside. Jean, too, was dismayed by the presence of so many hornets and paused to consider possible remedial alternatives.

Sensing her grandmother’s reluctance to take immediate action, Courtney asked, "What are you waiting for?"

"I’m thinking," Jean replied. "I don’t like having these hornets here either, but the Buddhists don’t like to harm living beings…"

Courtney looked up at Jean with the sideward, skeptical look children have when they think someone might be teasing them. Finally, she shook her head in disbelief. "Naah," she said. "Nobody’s grandmother is a Buddhist."

I think what Courtney meant was, "Hey, you can’t change cultural contexts on me all of a sudden!" Practicing mindfulness does not mean becoming a Buddhist. It means living like a Buddha.

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