If one doesn’t attend temple and isn’t a part of a Sangha, can he/she/they be good Buddhists and can they possibly reach Enlightenment?
As a minister I would encourage attendance at every Sunday service to be a good Buddhist!
But in all seriousness, this question brings up the question of religious identity. What makes one a Buddhist?
This can take many forms. It is not just one way.
I think Jodo Shinshu has a big tent with the Dharma as its center support that encompasses everyone.
You may have heard of “night-stand” Buddhists. Those who are well-read in Buddhist texts but are not involved in a Sangha or claim a religious affiliation.
Buddhism refers to the three jewels that are important to the Buddhist follower. These are Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. So being with a community of followers (Sangha) is an important and helpful part of our tradition. For a Shin Buddhist, our practice is learning from our daily life. It is deep hearing which is not just listening to the teachings, but also learning from our experiences with each other.
Being with a Sangha is part of this process.
But what about those who are unable to or are uncomfortable being part of a Sangha? Are they bad Buddhists? No!
The notion of being a “good Buddhist” implies there is a “bad Buddhist.” It is not an either/or dualistic thought. They are both sides of the same coin. If we look within ourselves, we are all good and bad Buddhists!
However, in the Shin tradition, there is Great Compassion given to us by Amida Buddha, which is the Wisdom and Compassion or understanding and caring that sustain our lives. The Buddha sees things without discrimination so one does not have to be what we think of as a “good Buddhist” to receive this compassion. We all have our human limitations, and it is not in spite of, but because of, them that we are embraced as we are.
However, just because there is an antidote doesn’t mean you should take the poison. We should each strive to move toward expanding our awareness and understanding of what Amida Buddha means to us—to see the wisdom and compassion in our lives.
Gassho, Rev. Todd