Why Im Part Buddhist

Not by harming life
Does one become noble.
One is termed noble
For being gentle
To all living things.
- Dhammapada

My whole life I’ve lived in the same house, located on a dead end next to the woods. When I was little the street in front of my house was cracked and messed up. Well after years of calling into the town, my mother finally succeeded in getting them to come out and fix the street. There was also this big, old, beautiful tree growing in front of our house between the curb and the sidewalk. It provided shelter for birds and squirrels. It shaded the grass and various plants from the harsh sun. And most importantly, it added beauty to the world. When the workers evaluated the street they discovered that in order to fix it they would have to tear down the tree. My mother agreed to allow this to happen. I, on the other hand, being a small child around the age of 8, felt for the tree, and actually cried when they tore it down. In Buddhism, there is a principle that states, “all living entities are equal.” In this thought all things should be treated the same; from a flower, to an ant, to a fish, to a dog, to a human being. This is something that as a young child I had no concept of but seemed to believe at heart as my reactions show. I still believe in this principle to this day. When everyone tries to kill the moth in the house, I’m the one who catches it and lets it go.