Why do you feel the need to tell people you are a Buddhist? Life is full of lessons to be learned. Running away from it? Is that the answer? There was once a monk who spent his time alone as a hermit. Sit in Meditation. Attain peace of mind. But as soon as he went to the city, all the noise came back. He could not meditate. He could not hold his own. So what good was his accomplishments? The lectures and harassment comes from you. Change your behavior and other will change their. You are the one pulling the pin on the grenade. Anyway, I wish you the best and hope you find a good teacher and sangha.

Dear Kiersten

I am one of just a few Buddhists in our community of 2000. I am the most visible as I set up and run our local meditation centre since 2007.  Over the years people have seen me walk my talk and now in the last couple of years I have been accepted by the local christian communities to the extent that I am now invited to participate on equal footing with the other various ministers in a couple of the important annual ceremonies.

I have just ordered a book called Jesus & Buddha as brothers by Thich Nat Han in order for me to find more common ground

buddhism is not a religion that can be easily explained. it’s best to let people find out about it themselves and not talk about what means much to oneself. enjoy the silence, and the non-answers