TLDR: Discover how your favourite Hogwarts house reflects your Buddhist practice style. Explore the diverse paths to enlightenment through this magical analogy.
Much like the four houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, there are four broad types of Buddhists one encounters on the spiritual journey.
Just as a witch or wizard is sorted into Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin based on their dominant traits, each Buddhist tends to align more with certain attributes emphasised in the Dhamma. With a light-hearted nod to J.K. Rowling’s magical world, let’s explore the four houses of Buddhism.
Ravenclaw
Ravenclaws prize intelligence, learning, wit and wisdom.
“Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure,” said Rowena Ravenclaw, and the Buddha would agree. For in the pursuit of wisdom and understanding, the mind is freed from the shackles of ignorance and suffering. Just as the eagle soars above the clouds, the enlightened Ravenclaw rises above the mundane, seeking the ultimate truth of Nibbana.
In the Buddhist context, these are the sutta-quoting scholars. They have memorised countless Pali discourses and can recite teachings with ease.
Ravenclaws tend to be Dhamma followers rather than faith followers, relying more on intellectual understanding than devotional practices.
However, their weakness lies in applying what they’ve learned. Obsessed with conceptual knowledge of Dhamma, Ravenclaws get lost in analysis paralysis.
Ravenclaw Buddhists risk missing the forest for the trees if they don’t supplement study with practice. Creativity is one of Ravenclawsโ traits – and they should make use of this strength to find ways to practise in their daily lives.
Hufflepuff
Hufflepuffs value hard work, patience, loyalty and fair play. They are also known to be modest and inclusive, usually accepting of everyone. One canโt help but think that the Karaniya Metta Sutta would resonate with someone identifying as a Hufflepuff! In the Dhamma, these diligent disciples practise with steadfast determination but little attachment to results.
They put in long hours of meditation and selfless service. Hufflepuff Buddhists show up reliably to support their sangha (community). Metta (loving-kindness) is their superpower as they are generally accepting of everyone.
Similarly, Hufflepuffs tend to be faith followers who resonate with devotional practices with a lower level of heavy skepticism in their minds.
But they can burn out if they don’t balance effort with self-care and enjoyment of the journey. While hard work is admirable, Hufflepuffs must avoid turning the spiritual path into a chore by remembering the joy of practice.
Gryffindor
Gryffindors exemplify bravery, daring and nerve. As Buddhists, they courageously confront inner demons and question long-held beliefs. Unafraid of doing what’s unpopular, Gryffindors are often the first to sign up for 10-day silent retreats, and meditation sessions in cemeteries and openly share their faith with others.ย
Nothing is off limits, as Gryffindors boldly experiment and innovate in their practice. But they occasionally act rashly without sufficient preparation or guidance.
Their daring spirit needs direction, lest it devolve into reckless or impulsive behaviour that harms themselves and others. To skillfully navigate the peaks and valleys of practice, Gryffindor Buddhists would benefit from learning patience to complement their boldness.
Slytherin
Slytherins are ambitious, and shrewd, and achieve goals through any means. In the Dhamma, these strategists adeptly utilise tools and techniques to attain high levels of concentration or insight.
Slytherins follow the path because it leads to their own long-term welfare and happiness.
They are more likely to take medical leave to go on retreat, claiming it as essential for mental health. Nothing will stop a Slytherin Buddhist from realising the end of suffering. They might even game the YouTube algorithms of their loved ones so that their recommended videos become all Dhamma talks!
However, they risk getting caught up in spiritual materialism, competing or chasing status. Slytherins must remember the path is not just about building their spiritual wealth but it is also about letting go. And that includes giving when it is difficult.
Remembering the impermanence of selves
Each of us contains qualities of all four houses. Our dominant traits ebb and flow depending on circumstances.
Take Ajahn Brahm for example: earlier in his life, he had won a scholarship to study theoretical physics in the University of Cambridge – an accomplishment that would have made any Ravenclaw proud. Even today, his ability to take key concepts in Buddhism and make it accessible for the general audience shows his wit & wisdom – traits of a Ravenclaw!
Yet, his skillful and sometimes unconventional teaching methods, combined with his ambitious projects (like building one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in the Southern Hemisphere), show his Slytherin-like qualities.
At the same time, he also embodies the teachings on loving-kindness & compassion, emphasising the importance of extending compassion to all beings, including oneself. Not to mention the hardship he had endured in the early days when he first went to Thailand to ordain in the 70s. Hufflepuff? Possibly!
Lastly, his willingness to stand up for gender equality and the LGBT community would make him a likely Gryffindor candidate too. (Also, fun story – Ajahn Brahm recalls the time he stayed overnight in a cave despite being warned about its spooky reputation for driving monks mad and his encounter with a ghost.) Nerve and chivalry – check.
The sorting hat would have a tough time trying to sort him into a house, possibly creating a new hatstall record in the process.
Conclusion
The wise practitioner recognises strengths and limitations in themselves to skillfully steer clear of imbalances. Just as the houses unite for the greater good at Hogwarts, different Buddhist temperaments complement one another to form a vibrant community.
Ultimately, we are all journeying towards the same destination through diverse paths. May we support each other along the way.
In conclusion, while we may start out resembling a particular Hogwarts house, true progress lies in cultivating a balanced blend.
No single attribute like courage or intelligence is enough on its own. Knowing our proclivities helps steer clear of pitfalls to keep growing as Buddhists.
With self-awareness and community support, we can skillfully work with our nature instead of against it to realise awakening, just as the houses of Hogwarts work together to maintain a school of magic. The journey may look different for each of us, but the destination is one.
Wise Steps:
Recognise your strengths: Embrace the positive aspects of your Buddhist ‘house’ as each approach has unique strengths that can enhance your spiritual journey.
Cultivate balance: Strive to develop qualities from all four ‘houses’. A well-rounded practice incorporates elements of study, devotion, courage, and strategy.
Appreciate diversity: Recognise the value of different approaches within the Buddhist community. Understanding various practitioner types can foster mutual respect and support.
TLDR: The Harry Potter series has demonstrated many different ways for us to cultivate immeasurable love to ourselves and other beings. Apart from learning different spells in Hogwarts, we can also apply our magical abilities to further strengthen our loving-kindness and extend the benefits of metta to the muggles and beyond!ย
“Expecto patronum!” I exclaimed as I garnered all the thoughts of loving-kindness (metta in Pฤli) within me to cast my Great Grey owl patronus, wishing all sentient beings around and beyond me well and happy. As I get up from my seat cushion, I visualise my energy and joy restored – just as how the dementors are scattered to the four winds by my patronus charm, bringing back happy thoughts.The joy of peace hugs me.
Dementors are a type of soul-less evil creature and thought to be the foulest beings on Harry Potterโs planet Earth. They have the power to consume the happiness out of you, creating feelings of dejection and despair.
A dementorโs kiss, the kiss of death.
Some of us may forget what our first kiss was like. Youโll never forget being kissed by a dementor, however, in fact youโll forget everything โ instead of your saliva, the kiss sucks your soul, trapping its lovers forever, so deadly that it leaves its victim lifeless in a permanent vegetative state – a punishment worse than death.
A patronus charm is one of the most powerful protective spells and itโs also the main spell used to protect against dementors. The charm takes the form of an animal in which the caster shares a great affinity with.
It is an exceptionally complicated and difficult spell to produce, as it channels the casterโs happy emotions into a spirit guardian. A patronus drives away dementors due to its counterforce of immense positive energy.
Patronus equals Metta?
A patronus spell is the only way to protect us against a dementor. Initiating as a pure concentration of happiness, it conjures a spirit guardian that drives away dark creatures.
Likewise, metta is the direct remedy the Buddha recommends to counteract ill will. Metta bhavana, or loving-kindness cultivation, allows us to develop friendliness and spontaneous feelings of positivity, which is extended universally to all beings without discrimination or reservations.
This is one of many examples of how we can find similarities of Buddhist values in the stories of Harry Potter and his friends.
The Harry Potter series of books is one of the most widely read young adult fantasy series in the world; Iโm sure that most of us have come across the story in one way or another. What can we learn and apply from Harry Potter? Quite a lot! The idea of loving-kindness features strongly in Harry Potter. Hereโre some scenes you might have missed!
The magic of Metta
As mentioned at the beginning, the patronus spell is basically a form of loving-kindness meditation. So now the question is, how do you practise loving-kindness meditation? Just like how a great witch (me, haha) would cast her patronus, one must first muster happy sensations!
We first begin with the development of loving-kindness (metta) towards ourselves, wishing ourselves to be well and happy, to be free from physical and mental suffering.
I propose to take oneself as the first object of metta as true loving-kindness for others is only practicable when we are able to feel genuine loving-kindness for ourselves. How do we love others when we cannot even love ourselves, right? We can’t possibly pour from an empty cup! A lot of our anger and aversion directed towards others spring from the negativity we grasp on ourselves.
Hence, to grant access to the flow of friendliness and kindness outwards, we need to melt down the hardened scab embodied by negative attitudes. Once the feeling of metta kindles and fills us up, we can stretch it to others: shifting from our loved ones, to furry animals, and to acquaintances. We wish them to be well, healthy and happy.
As our patronus gradually takes its form and shape, we are ready to broaden it to people whom we are not agreeable with. Bit by bit, aversion and ill will, like dementors, wonโt have room and will soon diminish in Azkaban, the detention facility for convicted criminals in the magical world .
The idea behind dementors
Interestingly, J. K. Rowling, Author of the Potterverse, mentioned that she used depression and self-hatred as a source material for dementors. Dementors are the very personification of our inner demons.
Self-hatred often comes with a heavy price tag.
It makes us perturbed, dissatisfied with life, or even depressed. Just like the dementors, self-hatred sucks the happiness out of us, leaving us feeling nothing but a sense of lack within.
What can we do at times like this? We can confront our self-loathing thoughts in a non-judgemental way by sending metta to ourselves. Metta involves being friendly and benevolent as opposed to being harsh and judgy. Ironically, many of us make incredibly harsh, cruel self-criticism that we would never have uttered to a total stranger, let alone someone we care about.
An opportunity to spend time with ourselves
Metta meditation gives us the opportunity to spend some time with ourselves. As we pay close attention and awareness to each moment, we can open our hearts to genuinely loving ourselves for who we are. We accept our foibles and imperfections.
By developing a calm and open state of mind, we can see ourselves and others more clearly and lovingly. We understand that other sentient beings are not much different from ourselves, each in search of happiness and steers clear of suffering.
We may, perhaps, be more inclined to find the courage to let go of the hurtful past.
Loving ourselves is the gateway to loving others.
Another component unravelled in the Potterverse is mindfulness. Just as Harry taught Dumbleldoreโs Army how to fight off bad guys in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix where the kids had to fend for themselves against Voldermortโs death squad, your patronus can only protect you for as long as you stay focused.
When we aren’t mindfully aware of the suffering we are facing, we canโt give ourselves compassion. We are just repressing the pain or ignoring it, or being involved in the maze of problem solving..
We have to pause for a moment, admit and accept the torment. And we acknowledge that in this moment, we need metta for ourselves. We can’t be kind to ourselves if we refuse to face the distress.
By being mindful, we recognise that we are suffering. Being kind to ourselves in that suffering helps to reduce anxiety and related depression too.
What about the death eaters in our lives? What can we do?
Apart from identifying that cruelty to ourselves stands from distress and suffering from within, we may also discover that many people, whom we deemed as โprofoundly wickedโ or whose mission in life seem out to make us uneasy, are also in pain inside.
The all-time great wizard Albus Dumbledore saw through Voldemort past his icy snake-like skin and understood that Voldemort is in fact lonely and very much dissatisfied with his life. Dumbledore managed to grow his compassion in sight of such an โevil personโ.
Dumbledore strongly believes it is more tragic to be alive and loveless than dead. Apart from pity, we could also turn this compassion into empathy: Voldemort was conditioned into the way he was.
Voldemort was, after all, conceived without love, his father abandoned his mother and him. Both his parents were unhappy and he spent most of his childhood in an orphanage as a loner. Even for someone as powerful and monstrous as he is, we could see that Voldemort was suffering.
In Potterverse, we notice that there are far more creatures other than humans that have magical ability. Likewise, in the muggle world, metta radiates beyond the human realm.
In the Harry Potter prequel, Fantastic Beasts, we saw how Newt Scamander, a magizoologist known for his passion for magical creatures and beasts, was delightfully fascinated by all creatures, even those that seem hideous to the normal eye, stretching as far as to describing them as fantastic. Newt feels extremely connected to all sorts of creatures and always defends them.
Leta Lestrange, one of the closest friends of Newt since their Hogwarts days, affirmed this by saying Newt has never met a monster that he couldn’t love.
We can learn to have a heart just like Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts, big enough to room any living creatures, no matter what it is. But how?
The Buddha was a strong proponent of non-discrimination, so shall our practice on metta be thus. Regardless of race, language, religion, gender, sexuality, etc, all beings deserve to be happy, to be free from suffering and to receive metta from us.
The Buddha has used many similes in his teachings to let us better understand and visualise his point. Buddha has shown us how a love similar to that of a motherโs love could be used to cultivate unbounded love for all sentient beings.
A motherโs love has been greatly emphasised in the Harry Potter series where Lily Potter literally embodied herself by using her own body as a shield to block off Voldermortโs Avada Kedavra death curse to protect her child, her only child.
As Dumbledore has repeated time and again, love is one of the most powerful forms of magic. This magic of love is also the main reason why Harry Potter is untouchable by the Dark Lord till the age of 17.
It is also through love, that Snape, a loyal death eater (did I also mention that it was him who was the spy responsible for informing the Dark Lord the prophecy foretelling Voldermortโs downfall and lead to the eventual death of Lily Potter whom he tried so hard to protect?!?!), betrayed the dark side and joined the path of righteousness.
The power of Metta
Learning from Voldermortโs defeat, we shall not look down on the power of metta. The Buddha reminded his disciples to not underestimate metta using the stars and moonโs radiance as an analogy:
Just as the radiance of stars do not match up to sixteenth part of the moonโs radiance, no one worldly merit is worth a sixteenth part of a mind released by loving-kindness. A mind that radiates loving-kindness and full of love glows and dazzles, shining brighter than a diamond.
There are a lot of takeaways from our daily mundane life regarding metta that we can reflect on. Even if religion is not involved, cultivating metta does no harm but let us be kinder and make the environment we live in a more bearable place.
May we continue to practice kind speech and actions to avoid hurting others and ourselves, cultivate right thoughts. With the right means, may we have compassion for ourselves and to those around us.
May we have the right effort and energy to walk the path of peace and pave the way for a happier, harmonious and suffering-free world filled with metta.
May we be a great wizard with a powerful patronus. And may we be well and happy. Because at the end of the day, โYer a wizard Buddha, Harry!โ
Wholesome Wednesdays (WW): Bringing you curated positive content on Wednesdays to uplift your hump day.
When someone says that our work sucks, how do we feel? How can we better receive feedback when our work ain’t up to someone’s standard? We explore filtering feedback and improving our interactions with others. We also draw wisdom from Will Smith to show the other side of him beyond the slapping incident.
1. Filtering good and bad feedback like Harry Potter
2. Meeting someone for the last time
Filtering good and bad feedback like Harry Potter
Credits: The Tiny Wisdom
What’s going on here
Brian, from The Tiny Wisdom, uses Harry Potter’s interaction with Voldemort to teach us creative lessons on receiving feedback. This fun and creative comic strip covers ways we can better deal with feedback that we may not like. Sometimes, our best might not be enough for the world. Harry Potter teaches us how.
Why we like it
As we navigate through work-life, we often find our work being criticised or scrutinised. This can make us question our self-worth and quality of work. This is a nifty way to figure out whether the feedback should be taken or cast aside.
“When someone told you something about your work โ good or bad โ you ask them: why?”
Wise Steps
Taking feedback non-personally. We often attach strong ownership to our work and get emotional swings through praise or criticism. Building the feedback muscle makes us take a pause before engaging with the feedback.
Read more on the science and art of receiving feedback here
Meeting someone for the last time
Unsplash
What’s going on here
Will Smith, a famous actor (also infamous now for the oscar slapping), shares one of the most important lessons he learnt and how he applies that to everyone he interacts with.
Why we like it
This video is short but impactful. It makes you think deeper about the relationships we hold and the way we interact with others.
“Tomorrow is not promised to any of us.”
Wise Steps
Try to greet every being as if it is the last time you meet them. Because tomorrow is not promised never go to bed hating someone or saying nasty things. Had an argument? Internalise, forgive, and re-engage with one another.
