24 December 2003
My faith and me - Buddhism
by Mark Dowson

Mark Dowson is 28 and lives in Preston at the Vajravarahi Buddhist Centre. He shares his thoughts about his faith and what it means to him.

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What's the best thing about your faith?
I think for me what I've found over the last few years that I've been practising Buddhism is practical application. Within Kadampa Buddhism we have a tradition of practicing what's called lamrim which is a set of meditations what we do which is a set of 21 meditations. These meditations we can actually apply within daily life.
Watch the video clip to find out what kind of situation Mark means.
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How easy it for you to talk to your friends and work colleagues about your faith?
A lot of the time if people ask me for any help or advice or anything, like friends, I would give them some of the teachings of Buddha that I've received and sometimes they've come back and told me that it's helped. Or I'll suggest try doing some breathing meditation if friends are stressed or having problems. But I haven't actually said these teachings are Buddhist teachings. A few of my friends actually know I'm Buddhist and respect me for it but on the whole I'm not openly going out telling everybody that I am Buddhist. Generally the people that know me support what I do.
Watch the video clip to find why Mark doesn't openly tell people he's a Buddhist.
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What's the biggest lie you have ever heard told about your faith?
I've had people tell me that because I don't believe in God, because I don't believe in a creator that all sorts of negative things are going to happen to me.
Watch the video to find out how Mark reacted to this.
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What's the longest distance you've travelled to follow your faith?
In 2001 I travelled to New York to receive teachings from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso which was absolutely amazing.

Who is the most inspirational person you've met through your faith?
That would have to be my teacher,Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. This man is an absolutely remarkable man, I've never met anybody like him in my life. From the age of seven he was ordained into one of the great monastic universities in Tibet where he studied until he had to flee when the occupation of Tibet took place. He then went on retreat in the Himalayas for 20 years living in mountain caves performing healing practices on people who came to see him. During that 20 years he spent in retreat, meditating on all the teachings he received while he'd been in Sierra Jay Monastery.
Watch the video clip to find out more about Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and how Mark felt when he met him.
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Who is the most famous person that follows your faith?
You've got the likes of Richard Gere who's a Buddhist, Stephen Segal, Maxi Jazz out of Faithless.

Is there a part of your faith that you could manage without?
Honestly, I think as time goes on I'm starting to realise how precious it all is, sometimes I kind of forget and kind of get all complacent about it. The more I think about it I realise how much I personally need meditation and Buddhism in particular to help overcome different states of mind.
Watch the video clip to find out what states of mind Mark is talking about and whether he could manage without some of his faith.
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Is there anything in your faith that you think deserves more prominence than it usually gets?
I'm not really too sure I think where we are as Buddhists, I think we're in as good place. People say why don't you go out and do the evangelical side of it? Well with Buddhism, the main emphasis is on meditation and you can't really go out and force somebody to sit down and meditate and stuff.
Watch the video clip to find out why Mark thinks Buddhism is having a golden age.
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What is your favourite proverb/phrase?
It's the Root Text Of Eight Verses Of Training The Mind by Geshi Lan Retampa. I'll read it.
Watch the video clip to for the reading.
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Do you always turn the other cheek?
Basically if I have any problems with anybody or anybody has any problems with me I just try to keep patient and try to keep a happy mind because if I get angry with them then problems just escalate. At the end of the day no solution can be overcome with anger.
Watch the video clip to find out why Mark can turn the other cheek easily.
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What would you do if you found £100 in the street?
(Laughter ensues) I think if I was to keep that £100 then obviously that £100 wasn't mine, so within Buddhism every action we do creates an effect. If I'm picking up £100 that isn't mine I'm engaging in an action of stealing, which at some point along the line will create an effect that I will experience. Maybe if I picked £100 up in the street and kept it myself then if I lost £100 in the street the likelihood of me getting it back would be like that.
Watch the video clip to find out what Mark would do and also what he's done in the past.
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The views expressed on this page are those of the contributor and the opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the BBC.