Cattāri Brahmavihārā

For myself, it has been many years since I seriously gave credence to the believe in God as a creative force (a first mover) and as capable of offering me salvation and forgiveness without any intentional act (apart from supplication or devotion) on my part. And yet, raising children in this culture and with a spouse who comes from a strong Muslim background (even if she follows the teachings of the Buddha) means that I now am faced with trying to negotiate a safe passage through the God question for my children.

Let me first say that doing so is only necessary because I am unwilling to destroy the family ties that bind us all together which is precisely what would happen if I were to raise my children solely as Buddhists. So, like all else in my life, the problem is one of my choosing. Haviong said that it remains to be seen how I can ask my son to observe the fast of Ramadhan and participate in the obligatory prayers at that time without providing a way for him to understand God in a sense that is not altogether removed from the Dhamma.

In my mind I can conceive of the all-knowing mind of Allah as being analogous to the unfailing operation of kamma and the tariqa, or path to peace, as the Dhamma. As long as God is viewed as an impersonal force then I believe I can make sense of this in a way that doesn’t require deception and can serve to bond my family to the traditions of their forebearers. In keeping with this I have also contacted a Sufi order in my area to discuss my ideas and learn more about how I might explain the religion and its practices to my son. Besides, there is so much I admire about Sufi and Islamic adab (manners and ethics) that I feel it cannot but benefit us all.  Strange goings on to be sure but necessary if I wish to live with greater integrity.