Taylor du Pont
Multimedia Editor
Over the past few years, I have struggled to accept a religion into my life. I was brought up in a Congregational family, but as the years of my childhood flew by, I began to question my Christian faith. After my best friend was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor when I was in seventh grade, my skeptical religious views turned into agnosticism. When I was a sophomore in high school, she died, and I became a pessimist, turning to atheism.
When I told my friends that I was going to convert to Buddhism, most of them thought that I had jumped off the deep end. I was tired of living my life like a zombie: emotionless and hopeless. I needed something to hold onto. I needed to make a difference in the world around me and be a part of something that was bigger than myself. In the beginning of June last year, without any warning, I started taking my first steps towards becoming a self converted Buddhist.
“I undertake the practice of refraining from consuming intoxicants”
One of the most appealing aspects of Buddhism is its focus on health and awareness. Not only has my new vegetarian diet improved my physical health, but Buddhism has helped to improve my mental health as well.
With all of the sports, school work and clubs that high school students are involved in, it is hard to catch a breath. Meditation has been one of the only ways that I have truly been able to calm down and take time for myself in my hectic teenage schedule. I first started the practice this summer, shortly after becoming a vegetarian. I remember my first attempt vividly. One warm, summer morning I packed a towel and incense inside of a knapsack and walked to a little rocky beach. I lay my towel out on a particularly large rock, lit my incense and closed my eyes. I tried to clear my mind and to think of nothing (as I had read that this was how to meditate on wiki-how), but as I tried to think of nothing, all that I could focus on was thinking about thinking of nothing. In short, despite all of my efforts, I was thinking of something, instead of thinking of nothing. After about an hour of failed attempts, I packed up my knapsack and headed home, defeated.
When I woke up the next morning, I was debating whether or not to go out for another meditation session, but then it hit me. The core of Buddhism is rooted in forgiveness and patience. I needed to have patience with myself. Once again I packed my towel and incense into my little knapsack and walked down to the small rocky beach. As I sat down and lit my incense, however, I took three soothing deep breaths. I didn’t try to clear my mind, but rather let it happen organically. As I felt the salty breeze on my face and arms, my mind started to drift until it took me away from my thoughts and worries. I forgot about all of my work and college application stress, and truly felt peaceful and relaxed for the first time in months.
Many high schoolers find release for their stress through intoxicants such as alcohol, drugs and caffeine. The fact that they can escape their normally clear minded perception, and lose themselves in the “high” that the drugs create, is a comfort. Buddhism’s emphasis on maintaining a healthy lifestyle has led me to seek an outlet for relieving stress in a healthy manner. Instead of turning to unhealthy intoxicants, I meditate.
One of the judgements that is often made about my habits is that I do not know how to have fun. Just because I don’t drink or do drugs doesn’t mean that I am incapable of having a good time. I enjoy going out with friends just as any other typical high schooler does… I just have a clear mind while doing it!
