Buddhism has an enormous power to change society, yet conversations about it can be very off-putting. If you say “dhamma” or “mindfulness meditation” or “breathing in and out” to a friend here where I live, they will pack up their bags and move three states away. People aren’t even on board with dukkha, let alone Dhamma. How do we remedy this? I’d like to hear your most convincing sales pitch for Buddhism without using any Buddhist words.
3 Likes
Use your words too. Buddhism is also a Faith for many, as they interpret it. You can explain certain Dhamma principles to someone if they are ready. And if they are not, or won’t be, just be kind to them and they will in turn receive the blessing of your mindfulness, and in turn be kind to others. Perhaps that is where real Buddhism starts. 
1 Like
Well, let them move to Sydney, where they can find all that stuff literally embedded in the floor of Central station. They’ll love it!
4 Likes
AN8.30
“Good, good, Anuruddha! It’s good that you reflect on these thoughts of a great man: ‘This teaching is for those of few wishes, not those of many wishes. It’s for the contented, not those who lack contentment. It’s for the secluded, not those who enjoy company. It’s for the energetic, not the lazy. It’s for the mindful, not the unmindful. It’s for those with immersion, not those without immersion. It’s for the wise, not the witless.’ Well then, Anuruddha, you should also reflect on the following eighth thought of a great man: ‘This teaching is for those who don’t enjoy proliferating and don’t like to proliferate, not for those who enjoy proliferating and like to proliferate.’
I’d very much recommend saving my breath and finding new friends. On the one hand, the Buddha tells us to share the Dhamma with those we care about. But he is also clear that the Dhamma is not for everyone.
4 Likes
I agree, if people are befuddled by using “sankharas” and “dependent origination”, okay that seems reasonable. But if “breathing in and out” is too much for them, I wouldn’t really know where to start.
3 Likes
Mindfulness. Secular Mindfulness. MBSR. MBCT, shown to be very effective to prevent recurring severe depression.
Oh, that too is triggering to them. Wow.
I think the best you can do is to internalize dhamma inside you, then live your best dhammic life, then when people asked why are you so peaceful, you got your chance to share.
It takes a lot of skills and self censorship to share the dhamma discretely.
4 Noble truths:
problem, cause, end of problem, how to end problem.
Birth
Desire
Peace
Morality, stillness, wisdom.
3 Likes
It’s a bit like being at the first school again, some kids fully understand the teacher, whilst others (like myself) sit there forever confused…
I can try and answer, though I’m still learning the English words and have not made it over to any of the Buddhist words yet!
Periodically I’ll come across people who are stressed, depressed, angry or sad.
Maybe a rough day at work, perhaps a problem at home, I wont go on about how many reasons there could be.
I never approach anybody, it usually stems after a smile and verbal Hello.
Occasionally people will not return the greeting, but that doesn’t stop me being polite when passing people.
Most will smile back and say ‘Hello’, you kind of get a feeling when someone isn’t in a good place, yet they’ve made the effort to be polite, so I’ll then add something like, 'lovey day today (even if it’s raining) slight chill in the air (even though it’s hot) and the birds are (especially pigeons) sat on trees/roofs scouting for food.(which they do everyday of the year like clockwork)
This usually opens up dialogue, it doesn’t matter what the response is, because I know I can’t be of any help with the vast amount of problems people seem to of been brainwashed into having.
But it always leads me into saying about the energy, and how the energy we create in ourselves reflects itself onto the outside and into the real world, I’ll point out it works in reverse and when having a good day, good things happen around you, and when having a bad day, bad things happen around you. There is a lot more to this, but I don’t want to take up to much bandwidth.
I’ll then say my ‘Goodbyes’ the moment I see a thinking face!
(Though it’s always possible the thinking face I think I’m seeing, is actually one of regret having spoke with me in the first place. 
)
I used to listen to a problem and try to offer a solution, but this approach caused me trouble in the sense of forming an attachment, an attachment that felt like a burden when crossing paths in the future again.
Though I know nothing about Buddhism and scripture, I have read about the Buddha and his enlightenment/teachings. Within the last year I’ve found there are other people on this planet that may know a lot more about these teachings than I could ever imagine knowing, but I no longer see this planet full of greed, selfishness and ego, which all seem to cause the problems listed above with the people I meet.
So unfortunately I don’t know have a sales pitch…
Maybe talk to people in layman terms, don’t use words like Mindfulness and Meditation. People wont understand Breathing, not unless they’re asthmatic. They’ll just take Breathing for granted, and forgotten that they had never breathed when in the womb…
I only realised what ‘Meditation’ truly meant after reading things on here, though I have been doing it for years without knowing it had a label.
But mine is more of a walking meditation, and one that doesn’t end when I’ve finished my walk, in my mind I’m forever walking.
To stop people packing up their bags and moving 3 states away, maybe try talking to them without using the names, Mindfulness, Dharmar etc.
I’m not even sure what ‘Mindfulness’ means if I’m to be totally honest, it’s one of those words that has only sprung up in the last recent years, and I’m yet to research it, but I’ve a feeling it’s closely related to ‘Awareness?’…
Anyway, just in case, (and it’s highly possible) I’ve misinterpreted your question completely and gone off on a total waffle, in that case I will just add, ‘let the conversation come to you, and then use the weather and nature to guide you down the path containing stressful obstacles’ 
1 Like
Indeed, that’s the best! The less you try to convince people, the more they’ll reach out.
Thanks, that’s really lovely. You really catch the spirit, that the purpose of Dhamma is happiness.
3 Likes
If a person brings up something they are struggling with, or working on, and I give a Buddhist perspective or practice that can lead to a constructive conversation. I think it is because I’m trying to help them with something they brought up, not trying to convince them anything about Buddhism.
The other thing that sometimes starts a good conversation is when I tell people I’m going to the Buddhist monastery near here for a week. That is enough outside their experience that they’ll get curious and they’ll start asking questions.
3 Likes
When I talk to people from other religions or belief systems I always base conversations on common ground. I always look for similarities rather than pointing out differences. That worked well so far. I had some great conversations over the years.
So called friends who move on = safe travels my friends. I lost a lot over the years and had to accept that our journeys are different.
BUT Dhamma opens the heart and gives the opportunity to meet great people who also have an open heart and things move on.
I’m not selling Buddhism just trying to keep on the Noble 8 Fold Path, keep precepts etc and this often makes people curious and they start asking questions.
To me, a sales pitch is the process of persuading someone to buy something. I don’t see the Dhamma in those terms, so I can’t come up with a sales pitch for it. I see the Dhamma more as a teaching that invites those with less dust in their eyes to come and see for themselves.
When it comes to actually teaching Dhamma, whatever approach I’d use would be individualized, based upon assessment of my conversation partner’s knowledge, wisdom, interest, etc. Using speech to praise wholesome qualities like generosity, virtue, truth, respect, effort, patience, etc. is a simple way to point toward the direction of Dhamma without using Buddhist concepts; this can be done in many situations and often in subtle ways.
1 Like
@mheadley I’m so sorry to hear that. I have plenty of meaningful and heart-felt conversations with people using this language.
Occasionally I even slip in a pāli word or two to reinforce I’m not making this all up. 
Not only do people not pack up their bags; they want to hang out with me. I become a bright light in their lives.
1 Like