should spiritual choice be made upon culture?

Question

for example, if someone is from the middle-east , isn't that person better choose islam instead of christianity ..? I was wondering if every faith doesn't have a culture in which they fit ... and should people get out of their own culture by adopting a faith which is not a part of their culture...?

Answer 1

I am an American who has attended 3 teachings from HH the Dalai Lama. In these teachings, HH always stresses at the outset that people should seriously consider devoting themselves to the tradition of their culture, or that they were raised in.

The idea, I think, is that people can develop in any religion or spiritual modality. But the richness of connections to a tradition we were raised in is hard to develop later in life. Still, it's not impossible.

So, my answer is that a final choice of spiritual practice shouldn't be based exclusively on cultural upbringing, but culture should definitely be part of the consideration.

There is some danger when choosing a foreign tradition of falling for "grass in greener," or the lure of exoticism. When it comes right down to it, it's possible to live and good and holy life, and develop spiritually, through any religion or core practice.

Still, some people, like me, are syncretic...we live a mostly secular life, including elements of religion and various spiritual practices to support what we think is a good, spiritual life. And I have known a few people who practice multiple traditions with deep devotion.

But to thoroughly practice Christianity or Buddhism or Islam can be a full time proposition, so sometimes choices have to be made. Even then, I'd say we can respect and learn from other traditions than that of our core choice.

I should add that this is more of a question for Americans or European Christians, than, say, people raised in strict Muslim countries. We have more variety and choice. And as an American, I cannot help but believe this choice is generally good thing.

What HH was talking about, I believe, is that it's good to get down to brass tacks in our personal spiritual work. If we spend to much of our time "shopping" for a tradition, we waste valuable time.

Answer 2

I think it is easy to confuse cultures with religions or to practice whatever is most prevelant in any area.

But religions should probably be chosen based on doctrines, and that's about it.