[2025 September DCTB Mindfulness Tip]
Bespoke Buddhism?! Buddhism is based on a well-documented 2500 year old tradition – how dare you call it bespoke! But yes, actually the pathway taught by Buddha Shakyamuni was custom made for each student who appeared before him. We can read the different and sometimes contradictory presentations of the teachings in the sutras, which are the recorded conversations between the Buddha and those who sought spiritual guidance. Over the course of his long teaching career, certain themes emerged that could be applied in many situations. It is these themes that have formed the structure of many Buddhist schools that trace their history back to ancient times.
As humans, we love to systemize and organize. Especially when we are faced with uncertainty, we rely on predictable pathways to keep us on track. Our social conditioning also trains us to love goals. So naturally, Buddhist Lineages evolved into predictable pathways with a series of milestones and rules designed to keep one engaged.
Joining a long established tradition provides rest from decision fatigue. The sect gives us a clear set of regulations to order our life. The choices that remain are limited by what the group deems appropriate. We surrender to what the teacher or leader says is right and true, and we absolve ourselves of responsibility.
However, Buddhism doesn’t work when it becomes a mass production factory. Ironically, the deeper we become ingrained in a group identity, the more we are bound to samsara. The main themes of the Buddha’s teaching can improve one’s life and society as a whole by bringing people to high states, where compassion and generosity are the norm. But without addressing individual attachments, through a unique application of the teachings, Liberation is unlikely.
If one is seeking community and a decent life, perhaps joining a standardized tradition is enough. However for the rare person who wants Enlightenment more than anything else, bespoke Buddhism is required.
Just as even the most skilled tailor cannot sew a suit out of soap bubbles, there are limits on what constitutes Buddhist teachings. So bespoke Buddhism is not a free for all where anything goes. A tailor must restrict the choice of material to something that is actually workable. We must do the same in our Buddhist study and practice.
In Trikaya Buddhism, we do not deal in theoretical wonderings. In our brand of bespoke Buddhism, we keep our focus on the practical. Teachers share their experiences and answer questions from students in terms that are transferable. It is not enough to think about the practice philosophically; we need to be able to apply the techniques to our daily life. The student trains in using their discrimination to make their own choice of how to utilize the teachings offered in class.
In this way, every student develops a customized pathway, unique to their current situation and needs. While it is more challenging than simply following a set playbook, it creates the opportunity to develop wisdom and compassion no matter what circumstances one faces. It means we do not need to wait for our life to line up in a certain way before we can implement the teachings. Bespoke Buddhism is about taking ourselves and everything we are dealing with and using it as the Path.
Once we have been reminded of silent mind, it is possible to practice the pathway to Liberation on our own. However it can be tough to remain motivated and maintain enough clarity to be successful in the long term. By cultivating a relationship with a teacher of Trikaya Buddhism, the Dharma, and the community of practitioners, a student can move forward with confidence, guidance, and companionship.
Are you ready to custom design your pathway to Liberation? Does bespoke Buddhism speak to you? Join us at Dharma Center of Trikaya Buddhism for meditation and discussion to discover how the ancient teachings of Enlightenment are relevant in our modern world.
