Incorporating buddhism into wicca (and everyday life)?
After learning about the different aspects of Buddhism, I've decided to take the philosophy (I consider it mostly philosophy, partially religion) and apply it to my life. For reference, I am a Danica/shamanic Wicca. How can I begin to undertake this path and end suffering? I am also a sophomore in high school, to add some complications. I practice meditation already, but it is difficult. Suggestions from all you wonderful people? :P
This is a beautiful question BTW. Some tips would be to start noticing the suffering around you on a daily basis and try and find the root cause of the suffering. As for meditation, it is difficult... we all know it but try some walking meditation or simple breathing exercises. You don't have to go into a complete trance state in order to gain the benefits of meditation.
1. Not sure why you say you are Wicca when you are in HS unless you parents are too. It is Illegal to bring anyone under 18 into a coven or to teach them. You can study it on you own but can not be dedicated until you have gone through the training.
2. You really can't mix religions because the contradict each other, however you can incorporate some of the mundane (not the religious) practices into your daily life.
Hope this helps.
Are you only going to take some parts of Buddhism and incorporate it into Wicca, or are you going to try to mesh all of both together? Because I've found that Buddhism and Wicca are extraordinarily different. The most prominent difference being is that Wicca is life-celebratory and Buddhism is not. One of the big points in Buddhism is to achieve enough good karma throughout your rebirths to become enlightened and free yourself from the cycle of rebirth. Wiccans do not necessarily say you must believe in multiple lives, but when they do, they celebrate the cycle. Each life (or simply this one if you do not believe in other lives) is a blessing, and we're taught to be grateful for that blessing. Also, in Wicca, the results of your actions happen in this life, not at any point through your rebirths as it is in Buddhism.
What parts are you considering adding to Wicca? I'm actually very curious. My friend is a Buddhist and has been so for 25 years, and we have talked a lot about our religions. Compared them. And for the life of us, we cannot find much in common.
As a Wiccan, I don't see the tenets of Wicca as compatible with the Buddhist goals to end suffering.
Buddhists try to end suffering by achieving enlightenment; the way to do that is to learn how to rise above the physical nature and all that comes with it.
In Wicca, the goal is to seek union with nature and find harmony and balance between mind/body/spirit. Suffering is seen as part of life, a necessary part just as joy is necessary, you just have to strive to find the balance to learn how to handle it. There is no real way to end it because it is part of being a physical human and living in the physical world.
I'm not putting down either... I am Wiccan, I respect Buddhism... and I think either can take a lesson or influence from the other, I'm just not sure how you can reach the ultimate Buddhist goal that Buddhists believe takes years of discipline and following the Buddhist path to achieve, but do Say by following a religion (Wicca) that has a different goal and approach to life.
I know it's not the answer you are probably looking for, it surely doesn't solve your problem but you might want to consider it.
Incorporating buddhism into wicca (and everyday life)?
