Discernment is not a word frequently used in Buddhist writing. I’m not sure why. I think the word is useful in describing certain aspects of our personal practice in Buddhism as we strive towards enlightenment. Discernment is a process of examination and reflection when making a decision or a change in life. It involves gathering information, weighing options, and considering possible outcomes and the benefit. That is the mechanical or physical aspect, that’s the busy part of the process. There is another part that takes place inside the self, it does not appear from the outside to be very busy, and yet it is.
It would be a mistake to think of discernment as simply a gathering of facts and determining which option would yield the greatest reward. I don’t even believe this would be possible or that an outcome could be guaranteed. Much of religion, any religion, is unverifiable. Notice I said unverifiable not unprovable. I do believe on a personal level of experiences that a religion is provable, but only for that individual. Because the proof of a religion to a large extent lies only within the individual experience and belief it is unverifiable.
If discernment is not so much about the physical activity of fact gathering and evaluation, then what is it you may be asking? For our purposes I’m only talking about discernment about religious practice. This discernment process I’m inviting you to do is one specifically geared to a change in life based upon a new religion. You may, as you read this book, not have decided firmly to practice Buddhism. You may have received this book as a suggestion from family or friend. Or you may indeed be seriously considering practicing Buddhism. And there is the possibility that you are already doing some Buddhist practice and are new to Nichiren Buddhism and the Lotus Sutra. This discernment process is one I propose to help you at various stages in those instances.
The discernment process is not about finding a right or wrong answer. The wisdom you gain from the discernment process is personal, you do not need to justify your outcome or even share what your process looked like. You can of course share, and in fact being able to explain your process and your discovery may be helpful to a fellow inmate. Discernment is about the discovery of your feelings in the process of making a decision. Knowing your feelings includes knowing what you were feeling before you considered making a decision. Perhaps most important of all is the awareness of your feelings about what you wish to gain, or that you think you will gain in making the decision. In other words identifying deep seated feeling you wish to have or wish to change from your decision.
As you continue in the practice you choose time goes by. Perhaps a year or two later and something happens to discourage you in your practice of Buddhism, or actually anything in life. The discouragement may be easily overcome, though occasionally it doesn’t seem to go away. It hangs around and eventually perhaps it grows because it hasn’t been resolved. Then the discouragement becomes so overwhelming that you may begin to slack off of your practice, or you may simply quit altogether. It is at those times being able to remind yourself of the reasons and feelings you had when you first started can be so important, crucial even.
Further the discernment process can be a valuable tool at various stages or milestones in your practice of Buddhism. You may use the process to determine if your practice is developing in the way you wished. From that you can determine if either your practice needs to change or perhaps your expectations were incorrect. It is a valuable process to engage in frequently. I myself find the discernment process to be valuable and something I engage in around the New Year. I also do it frequently during the year as I face various challenges or potentially life changing events. Sometimes I’ll use it as I am considering making a change in direction or starting a new project. It is an extremely powerful and valuable process.
Let’s get started. This will be mostly a list of questions to ask, yourself. Sometimes you may need to keep asking the same question repeatedly until you have exhausted all the possible feelings. Other questions you may ask repeatedly because you might not be able to answer at this time. Of if you are able to answer the answer feels incomplete. To a certain degree the discernment process is a life long endeavor.
• What do you presently know about Buddhism?
• What are your expectations in this moment about practicing Buddhism? What do you expect to receive, experience, gain from this practice?
• Why are you considering Buddhism?
• Emotions have their own information or data be open to collecting your feelings – write them down if necessary.
• I feel ________ when I consider practicing Buddhism – inquire within your self repeatedly filling in the blanck over and over. Repeat as necessary.
• When I consider practicing Buddhism am I feeling peace? Joy? Excitement? Calm? Certainty?
• What obstacle, if any, can you identify that prevents you from feeling those feelings? What’s in the way? There may be nothing, that is fine, simply note it and be aware.
• Is there a deep seated longing you hope to fulfill? If there is, what about Buddhism do you think may help?
• What is your deepest desire about practicing Buddhism?
• As you consider Buddhism in your life what are some ways in which your practice can help others?
• Are there inner pains you wish Buddhist practice to help repair? If so, what are some of those pains?
• Is there any pressure you experience that makes this not a freely chosen decision? Guilt? Peer? Administration?
You may not be able to easily or clearly articulate an answer to some of the above questions. That is fine, don’t worry. Asking yourself these questions and seriously reflecting on the answer or lack of answer is all part of the process. This is not meant to be a quickly accomplished task. It may be an ongoing process even as you already begin your practice of Buddhism. Hopefully you will actually begin to practice so you will be able to have some experiences to use in your decision or discernment process. Engaging in Buddhist practice may also help you answer these questions from a deeper place in your being.
I would encourage you to engage in this type of self-examination on a regular basis. Perhaps you might do as I do and make it a part of my New Year ritual. And I would definitely encourage you to use this whenever you undertake a significant change or endeavor in your life.
