Who We Are and What Defines Us

How decision to become a monk defines our identity

What Defines Us is not what we are, but what we do.

In the Twilight Saga films, characters are often confronted with their inherent nature (e.g., being a vampire or werewolf), but they ultimately have the will to choose their own path. For example, the Cullen family, despite being vampires, choose to live a “vegetarian” lifestyle by only feeding on animals. This conscious choice distinguishes them from other vampires and demonstrates their commitment to morality. So it’s clear that the characters’ choices and actions, rather than their inherent nature, are truly what ultimately define them.

There are other films that explore the concept that our identity is defined by our actions, not our inherent nature or circumstances:

1. X-Men (and related films):

Mutant identity: The X-Men films grapple with the idea of being a mutant, a genetic difference that sets them apart from “normal” humans. However, the films consistently emphasize that it’s the choices these mutants make – whether to use their powers for good or evil, to embrace or reject their mutant identity – that truly defines them.
Magneto vs. Professor X: The contrasting philosophies of Magneto and Professor X perfectly illustrate this. Both are powerful mutants, but their actions and beliefs about mutant-human relations shape their identities and their roles in the world.

2. Batman Begins (and The Dark Knight trilogy):

Becoming Batman: Bruce Wayne’s transformation into Batman is a conscious choice, not a predetermined destiny. It’s his actions – his rigorous training, his dedication to justice, his willingness to confront his own fears – that make him Batman.
The Joker’s influence: The Joker’s actions in “The Dark Knight” challenge Batman’s belief in the inherent goodness of people. However, Batman’s ultimate choice to uphold his moral code, even in the face of immense pressure, reinforces the idea that our actions define us.

3. The Lord of the Rings trilogy:

The burden of the Ring: Frodo Baggins, a humble hobbit, is tasked with destroying the One Ring. It’s not his inherent strength or power that makes him the ideal Ringbearer, but his unwavering commitment to the quest and his resilience in the face of temptation.
Gollum’s transformation: Gollum’s descent into madness is a cautionary tale about the corrupting influence of power. His actions, driven by his obsession with the Ring, define his tragic fate.

These films, among many others, explore the idea that our actions and choices are more significant in shaping our identity than our inherent nature or circumstances. They highlight the importance of free will, personal responsibility, and the power of individuals to define themselves through their actions.

What factors drive our actions and choices that shape our identity?

It’s true that what we do plays a huge role in shaping who we are. But what drives those actions and choices in the first place? Here’s some key factors:

1. Values and Beliefs:

Core principles: Our deeply held values and beliefs act as internal compasses, guiding our decisions and shaping our behavior. These values can be influenced by family, culture, religion, personal experiences, and moral reasoning.
Priorities: Our values determine what we prioritize in life, influencing how we spend our time, energy, and resources. These choices, in turn, contribute to our identity.

2. Past Experiences:

Learned behaviors: Our past experiences, both positive and negative, shape our understanding of the world and influence our future actions. We learn from our mistakes, develop coping mechanisms, and form habits that contribute to our identity.
Trauma and resilience: Traumatic experiences can have a profound impact on our identity, but so can our ability to overcome adversity and demonstrate resilience.

3. Social and Cultural Influences:

Family and upbringing: Our family environment plays a crucial role in shaping our early development and influencing our values, beliefs, and behaviors.
Culture and society: The cultural and societal norms we are exposed to also influence our actions and choices. These norms can shape our expectations, our understanding of social roles, and our sense of belonging.
Peer groups and social circles: Our interactions with friends, colleagues, and other social groups can also influence our behavior and contribute to our identity.

4. Personal Goals and Aspirations:

Motivations and desires: Our goals and aspirations provide direction and motivation for our actions. What we strive to achieve, whether it’s personal growth, career success, or making a positive impact on the world, influences the choices we make and the path we follow.
Self-perception and self-esteem: How we perceive ourselves and our abilities can also influence our actions. A strong sense of self-efficacy can empower us to take risks and pursue our goals, while low self-esteem can lead to self-limiting behaviors.

5. Emotional and Psychological Factors:

Emotions and feelings: Our emotions, such as fear, joy, anger, and sadness, can significantly influence our decisions and actions. How we manage and express our emotions can also contribute to our identity.
Personality traits: Our personality traits, such as introversion/extroversion, openness, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and neuroticism, can also influence our behavior and choices.

6. Biological and Genetic Factors:

Temperament and predisposition: While our actions are not solely determined by our genes, biological and genetic factors can influence our temperament, our predispositions, and our physical and mental capabilities.

It’s important to remember that these factors are interconnected and interact in complex ways. Our actions and choices are not simply the result of one single factor but rather a combination of various influences. Ultimately, it’s the interplay of these factors and our conscious decisions that shape our unique identities.

Values and Beliefs to be the Most Determining Factor

The interplay of these factors is complex and unique to each individual. However, it’s according to the Buddha’s teachings that we should choose values and beliefs to be the most determining factor in shaping our identity and to become who we are.

Values and beliefs are not merely abstract concepts; they are powerful forces that shape our identity by influencing our choices, actions, and self-perception. They provide a framework for understanding the world, a sense of purpose in life, and a foundation for a consistent and meaningful identity. Values and beliefs can serve as the central organizing principle, providing a framework for interpreting experiences, navigating social influences, pursuing goals, and managing emotions. They provide a sense of internal consistency and direction, making them a crucial factor in determining the actions and choices that shape our identity.

Defining principles: Values and beliefs act as our core principles, defining what we consider important, right, and wrong. They are the standards by which we judge ourselves and others, influencing our attitudes, opinions, and behaviors.
Guiding choices and actions: Our values and beliefs directly influence the choices we make and the actions we take. They guide our decisions in various aspects of life, from personal relationships and career paths to moral dilemmas and social issues. These choices and actions, in turn, contribute to how we are perceived by others and how we see ourselves.
Providing meaning and purpose: Values and beliefs provide a sense of meaning and purpose in life. They give us something to strive for, something to believe in, and something to stand for. This sense of purpose is crucial for developing a strong and coherent identity.
Influencing self-perception: Our values and beliefs shape how we perceive ourselves and our place in the world. They influence our self-esteem, our sense of belonging, and our understanding of our own strengths and weaknesses.
Creating a sense of consistency: Our values and beliefs contribute to a sense of consistency and coherence in our identity over time. They provide a stable framework that connects our past experiences, present actions, and future aspirations.
Internal compass: In the face of conflicting influences or challenging situations, our values and beliefs serve as an internal compass, guiding us towards choices that align with our core principles.

Here are some examples of how values and beliefs shape identity:

A person who values honesty and integrity is likely to act in ways that reflect these values, such as being truthful in their interactions, keeping their promises, and standing up for what they believe is right. These actions, in turn, reinforce their identity as an honest and principled person.
A person who believes in environmental sustainability may make choices that reflect this belief, such as reducing their carbon footprint, supporting environmental organizations, and advocating for environmental policies. These actions contribute to their identity as an environmentally conscious individual.
A person who values family and community may prioritize spending time with loved ones, participating in community events, and contributing to the well-being of their community. These actions strengthen their identity as a family-oriented and community-minded person.

Buddhist’s Values and Beliefs

Buddhism offers a rich tapestry of values and beliefs that shape the identity of its followers. Here are some of the most important ones:

1. The Three Jewels (Triratna): These are the core of Buddhist identity and practice:

Buddha: Recognizing the Gautama Buddha as the awakened one, the teacher who discovered the ancient path to liberation. This fosters respect for wisdom and the potential for enlightenment within everyone.
Dharma: Understanding the Gautama Buddha’s teachings, the path to liberation from suffering. This emphasizes the importance of study, reflection, and practice.
Sangha: Valuing the community of monks(bhikkhus) who carry on Gautama Buddha’s teachings and support each other on the path. This promotes a sense of belonging and shared purpose.

2. The Four Noble Truths: These truths provide a framework for understanding suffering and its cessation:

Dukkha (the unsatisfactory nature of worldly existence): Recognizing the inherent unsatisfactory nature of worldly existence with inherent aging and death and developing a deep desire to transcend it, shifting from being a follower of the world to being a seeker of liberation.
Samudaya (the origin of Dukkha): Understanding that as long as we are in this world, we are subject to aging and death, this is a universal law. Only through leaving this world and this universe can we obtain liberation. What make us trapped in this involuntary reincarnation in this world are rāga (attachment), dosa (hatred), and moha (ignorance).
Nirodha (the cessation of Dukkha): Believing that suffering can be overcome through leaving this world and this universe behind, and to reach the other shore, nibbāna-dhātu, or the realm of nibbāna, which is as real as this worldly realm. Through elimination of rāga (attachment), dosa (hatred), and moha (ignorance), plus a strong Samadhi, one can escape this involuntary reincarnation in this world and reach nibbāna-dhātu where the universal law of aging and death does not apply. This provides hope and motivates practice.
Magga (the path to the cessation of Dukkha): Following the various practices as the means to reach nibbāna-dhātu. This emphasizes:
- Sīla: Ethical conduct or morality. This involves living a moral life by following the Buddha’s precepts, such as not killing, stealing, or lying.
- Samadhi: A powerful mental strength and clarity needed to transcend the limitations of the mundane world and realize the ultimate goal of liberation. Samadhi involves deeper states of consciousness including the Jhanas (meditative absorptions). These states are characterized by profound peace, joy, and equanimity.
- Paññā: Wisdom or insight. In Buddhism, wisdom is the realization of the true nature of reality.

3. The Eightfold Path: This path outlines the practical steps for achieving liberation:

Right View: Understanding the Four Noble Truths.
Right Thought: Cultivating wholesome thoughts free from greed, hatred, and delusion.
Right Speech: Speaking truthfully, kindly, and constructively.
Right Action: Acting ethically and compassionately.
Right Livelihood: Earning a living in an ethical way.
Right Effort: Making effort to overcome negative states of mind and cultivate positive ones.
Right Mindfulness: Paying attention to the present moment with awareness and equanimity.
Right Concentration: Developing mental focus and concentration through meditation.

4. The Precepts:

The five Precepts are ethical guidelines form the foundation of Buddhist morality:

Abstaining from killing or harming living beings.
Abstaining from stealing.
Abstaining from sexual misconduct.
Abstaining from false speech.
Abstaining from intoxicants that cloud the mind.

The 227 precepts for bhikkhus (Buddhist monks) in the Theravada tradition, found within the Vinaya Pitaka (the monastic code), provide a robust framework for ethical conduct and spiritual development. They aren’t arbitrary rules but rather a carefully crafted set of guidelines that foster a specific value ground, contributing to both individual and communal well-being. By living in accordance with these precepts, bhikkhus not only progress on their own spiritual path but also contribute to the well-being of the community and the preservation of the Buddha’s teachings.

5. Concepts of Kamma and Rebirth:

Kamma: The principle of cause and effect, where actions have consequences that shape future experiences. This encourages ethical behavior and personal responsibility.
Rebirth: The belief that after death, consciousness is reborn in a new form, driven by karma. This emphasizes the importance of present actions for future lives.

6. Brahmacariya

Brahmacariya primarily referred to a life of celibacy for monks and nuns. It emphasized control over sexual desires as a means to conserve energy and focus on spiritual pursuits. Brahmacariya also emphasizes:

Living a pure life: This encompasses physical, verbal, and mental purity, aiming to live a life free from defilements.

Sensual restraint: Moderation in all sensual pleasures, not just sexual ones. This includes control over desires for sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and tactile sensations.

Ethical conduct: Upholding the Five Precepts, especially the third precept regarding sexual misconduct, which for laypeople means avoiding adultery and other harmful sexual behaviors.

Mental discipline: Cultivating mindfulness and concentration to overcome craving and attachment, which are the root causes of suffering.

Brahmacariya also expands to the Eight Fold Noble Path. By reducing distractions and conserving energy, Brahmacariya supports the development of mental concentration and wisdom, essential for achieving liberation. It provides an ethical framework for relationships and interactions, promoting harmony and reducing conflict. By practicing restraint in sensual pleasures, one weakens attachment and moves closer to the Buddhist goal of non-attachment.

7. Brahmaviharas

Brahmaviharas were considered qualities as divine states of mind for brahma gods. They are qualities to be cultivated by all practitioners as a path to liberation:

Metta (Loving-kindness): Wishing well-being and happiness to all beings without discrimination.

Karuna (Compassion): Feeling concern for the suffering of others and wanting to alleviate it. Buddhists are encouraged to cultivate compassion for all beings and to act with loving-kindness and empathy.

Mudita (Appreciative Joy): Rejoicing in the happiness and good fortune of others.

Upekkha (Equanimity): Maintaining balance and composure in the face of all experiences, including both happiness and suffering.

The Brahmaviharas are powerful antidotes to negative emotions like hatred, anger, jealousy, and resentment. They promote positive mental states that are conducive to meditation and spiritual progress. They encourage a universal sense of compassion and loving-kindness, breaking down barriers between self and others and fostering a sense of interconnectedness. By cultivating equanimity, one learns to see the impermanent nature of all things and to let go of attachment. The Brahmaviharas promote harmonious relationships and contribute to a more peaceful and compassionate society.

Both Brahmacariya and the Brahmaviharas are interconnected and support each other on the Buddhist path. By practicing Brahmacariya (sensual restraint and ethical conduct), one creates a foundation for cultivating the Brahmaviharas (loving-kindness, compassion, appreciative joy, and equanimity). Conversely, cultivating the Brahmaviharas helps to strengthen one’s commitment to Brahmacariya by fostering positive mental states and reducing negative emotions.

8. The Three Poisons (Trivisa): These are the root causes of suffering and obstacles to Nibbana:

Raga (Greed/Attachment): The craving for sensory pleasures, possessions, and experiences.
Dosa (Hatred/Aversion): Negative emotions such as anger, hatred, and resentment.
Moha (Delusion/Ignorance): Lack of understanding of the true nature of reality, especially the Three Characteristics of Existence.

Through consistent practice, these efforts lead to the complete eradication of the Three Poisons, and a state of complete liberation of the mind, peace, and freedom from suffering and the cycle of rebirth. In essence, through the purification of the mind and the eradication of the root causes of suffering, as guided by the core values and beliefs of Buddhism. Nibbana-dhātu, or the realm of nibbāna can be reached out of this world.

How these shape Buddhist identity:

These values and beliefs shape Buddhist identity by:

Providing a moral compass: The Five Precepts and the Eightfold Path provide clear ethical guidelines for daily life.
Guiding practice: The teachings on suffering, its origin, cessation, and the path lead to practices like meditation and mindfulness.
Creating a sense of community: The Sangha fosters a sense of belonging and shared values.
Offering a framework for understanding life and death: The concepts of karma and rebirth provide a context for understanding life’s challenges and the importance of ethical conduct.
Promoting inner peace and well-being: The practice of these values and beliefs aims to cultivate inner peace, wisdom, and liberation from suffering.

One’s Decision to Become a Monk

A person’s decision to become a monk or nun is a profound life choice that inevitably leads to a significant transformation of their identity. It’s a shift that affects not just their outward appearance and lifestyle, but also their inner world and sense of self. Here’s how this decision shapes their identity:

1. Renunciation and Detachment from the Worldly:

Leaving behind worldly life: The decision to become a monastic involves renouncing worldly possessions, social ties, and personal ambitions. This act of letting go is a fundamental shift in identity, moving away from attachments to material things and social status.
Cultivating detachment from the worldly: Monastic life emphasizes detachment from worldly concerns and the cultivation of non-attachment. This process gradually shifts one from a follower of the worldly to become a seeker of nibbāna-dhātu.

2. Embracing a New Identity:

New name and community: Upon ordination, a monk or nun typically receives a new name, symbolizing their new identity within the monastic community (Sangha). They become part of a lineage of practitioners, sharing a common purpose and way of life.
Adopting monastic values: Monastic life is guided by specific values, such as simplicity, humility, mindfulness, and compassion. By embracing these values, monastics gradually internalize them and integrate them into their sense of self.

3. Focusing on Inner Transformation:

Prioritizing spiritual practice: Monastic life centers around spiritual practice, including meditation, study of the scriptures, and ethical conduct. This dedicated focus on inner development leads to a profound transformation of consciousness and a deeper understanding of the self.
Cultivating self-awareness: The practice of mindfulness and introspection, integral to monastic life, fosters a heightened sense of self-awareness. Monastics become more attuned to their thoughts, emotions, and motivations, leading to greater self-understanding and personal growth.

4. Living by the Vinaya:

Ethical framework: The Vinaya, the monastic code of discipline, provides a clear ethical framework for monastic life. By adhering to these rules, monastics cultivate self-discipline, purify their minds, and develop a strong moral character.
Community harmony: The Vinaya also promotes harmonious living within the Sangha, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose. This sense of belonging to a supportive community contributes to a strong sense of identity.

5. Serving Others:

Dedication to the Dhamma: Monastics dedicate their lives to studying, practicing, and teaching the Dhamma (Buddha’s teachings). This service to others becomes an integral part of their identity, giving their lives meaning and purpose.
Example for lay followers: Monastics serve as living examples of the Buddhist path for lay followers, inspiring them to cultivate wholesome qualities and strive for spiritual growth. This role as a spiritual guide further shapes their identity.

In essence, the decision to become a monk or nun is a radical act of self-transformation. It involves renouncing worldly attachments, embracing a new identity within the Sangha, focusing on inner development, living by the Vinaya, and dedicating one’s life to serving others. This comprehensive transformation leads to a profound shift in identity, shaping the individual into a dedicated practitioner of the Buddhist path.

Gautama Dhamma