Following the middle path

For Fiona Pathiraja, Buddhism provides respite from the hectic medical world. Here she describes the influence that her faith has on her life

With more than 350 million followers, Buddhism is becoming a trendy faith in the West with many celebrities clamoring to take it up. Buddhists do not worship a god, rather they follow the teachings of the Buddha--the founder of Buddhism. The name Buddha actually means "enlightened one," and enlightenment--a true understanding of the meaning of life--is what all Buddhists are striving for.

A central feature of the faith is meditation, during which you clear your mind and attempt to direct it to a positive state of calm, concentration, and awareness. There are many stereotypes of Buddhists who meditate; one picture is of a man with a long beard, sitting in the lotus position, humming to himself. But in reality, meditation requires tremendous mental discipline and helps to develop a strong mind.

Meditation also provides an outlet for me, because the life of a medical student is often hectic, and I find that my mind is anything but calm. In fact, since coming to medical school, I have begun to practise Buddhism with increased enthusiasm. Without my parents nagging me to go to the temple, I find that I am driven to go there more--it is often therapeutic to escape to the temple away from the fast paced life of central London.

Medicine goes hand in hand with Buddhism, which emphasises the importance of kindness and compassion. The faith began in 6 bce with the teachings of the Buddha, as an intellectual and ethical movement. It encourages its followers to follow the middle path--majjhima patipada--to live life in moderation, and not to do anything in excess. Buddhists believe in non-violence and peace, and sometimes the religion is described as weak or vague.

One thing that is common to all medical students is change, and my experience of medical school has involved plenty of change. Buddhism views life as a constantly changing process. It teaches its followers to embrace change and see it as a healthy part of life. When times are difficult, Buddhism has taught me to believe that changes are often for the better and to be strong in the face of adversity.

APICHART WEERAWONG/AP

Men from the monastery: Buddhist monks honouring Earth Day

Last year, I intercalated in neuroscience and felt unprepared for the transition from pre-clinical medical student to fledgling researcher, very much in control of my own work. I had to adapt to the change and found Buddhism an immense help in my quest for calm in the face of near panic, and I believe that a strong mental attitude is of utmost importance in medicine.

In the clinical years of a medical degree, students see patients from all walks of life and working with a large team of people with whom they will have to develop professional relationships. Buddhism advocates tolerance and respect of others' beliefs and teaches its followers not to have preconceived ideas about other people. This has taught me to meet patients with an open mind, and look after their best interests, without letting my beliefs obstruct their welfare.

I certainly did not enter the medical world with any religious precedents. However, the further I am ensconced in medicine, I see that there are many challenges in it and that there will be many more. Buddhism will help me face these with a strong mind and an open attitude. I would never use my faith to make judgments about clinical medicine or what was best for the patient, but ultimately separating what you believe and what you do is difficult. Buddhism does not have very imposing terms, rather it has moral guidelines and I aim to apply these guidelines to my life to ascertain what is right and what is wrong. Although my faith will not impinge on my clinical practice, it will mould the person I become in the future. Guided by my beliefs, I hope I am on my way to becoming a good doctor.