Welcome to the Buddhist Boot Camp Podcast. Our intention is to awaken, enlighten, enrich, and inspire a simple and uncomplicated life. Discover the benefits of mindful living with your host, Timber Hawkeye.

Without anybody asking, my friend Sophie tells everyone that she is vegan. She then proceeds to tell them how much they would

benefit from changing their diet as well. According to her, she only wants to help

people see the light. Unfortunately, all they see is another crazy vegan putting jackfruit on their plate and calling it pulled pork.

When I asked her why she does this, she said,

we've all been raised to believe that sharing is caring.

But I am not so sure it always is. A few

organized religions send missionaries door to door to spread the word of God, to

recruit new members into their church church and to offer people another shot at salvation.

Even the phrase sharing is caring is a biblical reference often quoted but more often misunderstood. The Salvation Army actually coined the term with a trademark in 1950

guiding us all to share what we have with those who are less fortunate.

And that right there is the problem.

When it comes to offering food and shelter

to those who have none, sharing is a wonderful idea,

even wholly if you must.

But for someone to preach to people who follow a different religion or non at all, because they are seen as less fortunate, and to do it under the guise of sharing is caring, is anything but caring, loving, or kind.

In that instance, sharing is actually demoralizing.

It's what nonviolent communication calls unsolicited advice.

It's when someone with a superiority complex

thinks they are helping those who are less fortunate or inferior.

That superiority complex is exactly what sent me running from Judaism in the first place, where believers chant Adonai U alohaheim, which means my God is the God, implying all other gods are false.

Ooy!

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