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32 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE
How to Bring
Buddhism to a
New Buddhist?
By Alan Peto
Alan Peto is a Buddhist layperson
practicing in the Mahāyāna
tradition of Humanistic Buddhism
with Fo Guang Shan (FGS). He
enjoys explaining Buddhism
and Buddhist teachings for
beginners and westerners from
the layperson perspective using
social media, articles, videos,
infographics, books, and a
podcast. He is also the author
of the Daily Buddhist Practice Benny: Can you tell us how you by Venerable Master Hsing Yun in
Guide, Buddhism in 10 Steps, and became interested in Buddhism, Taiwan but has temples and groups
and whether you practice within a
The Buddhism Secrets of Cats. specific Buddhist tradition? worldwide. It is Chinese Buddhism
https://alanpeto.com where followers practice the path
known as Humanistic Buddhism,
Alan: I was fortunate to grow which means to practice Buddhism
Having listened to some of his
up in a major city that exposed and engage in our human world just
podcasts, Benny Liow took the
me to several different religions, as the Buddha did and taught us to
opportunity to ask Alan how which included many Buddhist do.
he first became interested in traditions. However, it was
Buddhism, how he practiced as a ultimately the diversity of the What did you find in Buddhism
lay person, how one could start Buddhism religion that made me that made you so passionate
to study Buddhism and not be interested in becoming a Buddhist. about wanting to share it with
confused with so many different Even though there are many many people, especially in the
traditions, as well as what traditions, monastics, practices, and West?
motivates him to be a Dharma explanations of the teachings they
propagator. provided not just one single dogma Buddhism has profound and
or viewpoint, but several, and they unique teachings on the nature of
all pointed to the same destination. our world which are not always
understandable to Westerners. In
My current tradition is in the the West, there are often teachers
Mahāyāna branch of Buddhism and groups that shape Buddhism
with Fo Guang Shan (FGS) founded in a way that may not be familiar
