According to Buddhism, the main source of our suffering is our preoccupation with our own desires. Suffering is said to be caused by selfish cravings and desires. The way to enlightenment, for Buddhism, therefore involves detaching from our narrow concern with ourselves, escaping the prison of our own desires and illusions. Do you think it is possible to live according to this teaching in the contemporary United States? Is there a conflict between what Buddhism teaches, and how we are encouraged to think and act in our society? What are your thoughts on this?

I really don’t think it is possible to live the way Buddhism teaches especially in the United States. Buddhism teaches you to reject materialistic things. The United States is based on capitalism. You want us to get rid of our iPhones, laptops, Jordan sneakers and all the other things people hold dear to themselves? Not going to happen! From young we are taught to strive for things. To have a goal and a dream of what we want to accomplish in life. We are taught if you do not have any dreams or desires for worldly possessions then you are a bum. I say this all the time; my goal in life is to be happy. I don’t want to be the next Bill Gates. I don’t want to drive a car that has the same value as a small country. What would bring me happiness? My health, my children’s health and living comfortably are my views of succeeding in life. Our society teaches this is not enough. You have to strive for the best of the best and work until you are at the top of the top. It’s kind of sad because I believe life would be so much better if we lived as the Buddhist. I mean living for you instead of living for what you can get sounds way better. Because guess what, once we die, that car, that iPhone, that house, and those Jordan’s are not going with us. But you can die happy and at peace knowing that you mastered yourself and found the connection to what truly matters in life.