Wandering Along the Path: Right Speech

My husband and I had a prebreakfast discussion this morning about a PBS show we'd seen on TV. It was about the life of the historical Buddha, and was done well, with multiple narrators. He didn't understand why Buddhism didn't take root in India, and I said I understood that Buddhism was an offshoot of Hinduism, a much more ancient religion, and differed in only one main respect, so it wasn't so fresh and new. It was Islam, from about the same time as Buddhism in the Axial Age, that seemed new and different. And both Hinduism and Islam were different in many obvious ways. He also wanted to understand why and how the historical Buddha knew he wouldn't be reborn, after thousands of lifetimes. I answered he knew he was enlightened not briefly or occasionally but permanently, and he did not want his followers to look to him as a diety. He wanted them to see and trust the Buddha inside themselves. It's the opposite of a cult. His journey was for the benefit of all beings, but it is looking inside not outside. In this way it differs from other religions. There is no "authority", though guides may help you on the path. You must recognize everything for yourself. My husband is curious about my practice, and has, in the past, gone with me to dharma talks, but he has never tried meditation, because looking inside doesn't appeal to him. I accept this. We are all on our own paths, and I have found many others to share insights with and lots of books, dharma talks and practices to aid me in my journey. We are different, but we coexist very well.