Where Do I Begin Life As A Buddhist [Archive]

Greywolf

19th April 2007, 10:00 PM

Hi all,
Where does one start on the road to embracing the Buddhist way of life. I read much, i have looked at many of the obvious things like the 8 fold way and so on. I have a copy of the Dharma. I have read some of HH books. But i feel a little lost for direction. When we learn most things, there is some point where we start and move on from there. Does a new student in a monastery study the same as a man of 50 years learning. If i was to join, where would you tell me to start. And how do i know what to read and what to practice next.
I hope this question is not to silly. Many times in the past i was told to meditate, but it took a long time before someone told me how to go about it. I don't want to do the same with Buddhism.
Thanks
GW

Taeguk

20th April 2007, 01:03 AM

Hi, Greywolf! :)

Welcome to thebigview!

You asked:

Where does one start on the road to embracing the Buddhist way of life. I read much, i have looked at many of the obvious things like the 8 fold way and so on. I have a copy of the Dharma. I have read some of HH books. But i feel a little lost for direction.

Let's see, in terms of books I would highly reccomend Joseph Goldstein's The Experience of Insight (http://www.amazon.com/Experience-Insight-Shambhala-Dragon-Editions/dp/0877732264/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-3901926-8325659?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1177000713&sr=8-1). It's a collection of Dharma talks given at a month-long meditation retreat, and I've found it to be an invaluable resource. It lays everything out in a simple, straight-forward manner, and contains specific tips on meditation, elaboration of various Buddhist concepts, and as well as advice for living mindfully in your daily life. The language is always clear and easy to understand. I've found it to be a wonderful source of inspiration and guidance.

Of course, you may want to see if you can't find a Dharma teacher or at least a few other Buddhists! You may want to see if there are any monastaries or meditation centers nearby. :)

Greywolf

20th April 2007, 05:39 AM

Thank you for your advice. I will go to my bookshop today to see if there is a copy available.
Unfortunatly, i have found many books difficult to find where i live, and if it is a little old
impossible to order. I will look at lunchtime today.
Thanks again
GW

Sersta

20th April 2007, 06:56 AM

Greywolf here are a couple of ideas to start you on your path of being a Buddhist. Start off by being kind, compassionate and forgiving. I know it sounds easy but in todays world trust me those three are doozies. And they are very important to what it is all about. It is easy to "book" it or get very lost in some of the esoteric worlds of Buddhism. These three acts will free up your mind and energies from entanglement and allow you time and positive mood to approach centering and clearing your mind and soul. Be aware of the greater essence of what it is to be kind, compassionate and forgiving and couple that with your inner sense of peace and you will have a glimpse of what it is.

I hope that helps. www.abebooks.com is an excellent resource. As well anything printed by Shambala Press is exceptional.

Peace

Sersta

20th April 2007, 07:40 AM

thank you psyche, you are always kind and wise with your words. I think you should reconsider your love of air conditioning and join me this summer. lol :) also thank you for posting the info on the videos, I was not aware of them and will look for them, they look very good. Sersta

scameter

20th April 2007, 09:58 AM

There is no "life" to "begin". :uhoh:

Greywolf

20th April 2007, 09:21 PM

Thanks for all the help everyone, i have bought a copy of the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying today. I have only read a little so far, but it seems like it is going to be very helpful. Looking forward to reading it.

Taeguk

21st April 2007, 04:46 AM

The library is definitely my favorite public institution :thumbsup:

I think I'm going to go get the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying myself; I've heard of it but I haven't read it yet...

Let us know what you think of The Experience of Insight, psyche :)

Oh, and keep us posted as well, Greywolf. And do let me add my support to Sertsa's insight; by just living with compassion and awareness, you've begun to live as a Buddhist. :)

Thomas Knierim

21st April 2007, 01:49 PM

Greywolf: Thanks for all the help everyone, i have bought a copy of the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying today.

Very good choice. It's deep and at the same time suitable for beginners. Good text to get started and get a "feeling" for Buddhism. I also recommend Handbook for Mankind by Buddhadasa Bikkhu, which is a very practical book explaining the "nuts and bolts" of Buddhism in a lucid way. Although the latter is a Theravada text representing the Hinayana approach to Buddhist practice and thought, it is pretty universal. I personally think that the ideal education path is to begin with Hinayana and move on to Mahayana only after the Hinayana teachings have been internalised. I might be biased though, because I live in Thailand where the Theravada tradition is very much alive.

Greywolf: Where does one start on the road to embracing the Buddhist way of life.

I think the best way is to seek out Buddhist practitioner groups, visit dharma talks, and retreats. The availability of such events/presentations depends a bit on your location. Here in Thailand there are many, but unfortunately very few of them are in English, so that I am no better of at all. :lol: In California, for example, you would find more English-speaking Buddhists than here in the North of Thailand.

Cheers, Thomas

Taeguk

21st April 2007, 02:19 PM

Hello hello :)

Thomas, you wrote:

In California, for example, you would find more English-speaking Buddhists than here in the North of Thailand.

Oh yes, there's quite a few Buddhists over here in CA!

Between our large numbers of Asian immigrants, and the initial interest the Beatniks and Hippies had in the religion, you'll find all kinds of temples, monastaries, and retreat centers!

I would imagine our state probably has something of a monopoly on Buddhists in the United States, if not North America in general :lol:

Greywolf

22nd April 2007, 09:46 PM

Thank you Thomas,
I have been reading my new book, and it must be an amazing thing to be able to listen to people with such a presence as described by Sogyal Rinpoche. I thought i would be frightened reading the book, i definitely fit into the mindset that is talked about at the start, death is just to scary to think about :) but so far it has been not frightening in the l least. I am only up to "The Practice of mindfulness" But as i said so far it has not scared me. I would love to join a Buddhist group, but I an unsure how to tell if they are well meaning or not so good. Much of this kind of spiritual searching where i live has become e "The thing to do", as i live in a bit of an Arty/ Yuppie kind of town. So i am fearful i will end up in a room full of people who are their because they want to be seen to be there, rather than for any great spiritual awakening. But then there is probably not a lot of choices here as it has a population of less than 100,000.
But i will continue to read my book, and hope it does not get too confronting in later pages. I dearly hope to be able to have the strength to undertake this road.
Thank you again.
GW

Thomas Knierim

22nd April 2007, 10:51 PM

Taeguk: Oh yes, there's quite a few Buddhists over here in CA!

California seems nice. I wish I could visit it some time. Did you know that America has more Buddhists (2%) than any European nation? Germany only has 0.5%. I wonder if monks over there do any alms rounds at all.

Greywolf: I have been reading my new book, and it must be an amazing thing to be able to listen to people with such a presence as described by Sogyal Rinpoche.

Presence is the right word. It is very important in Tibetan Buddhism, or rather in Tantric Buddhism. It's all centered around the master-student relationship. If you keep on studying different traditions, you will find that each one has its idiosyncrasies.

Greywolf: I dearly hope to be able to have the strength to undertake this road.

Good luck with your search, Greywolf. I congratulate you on your determination and I envy you that you have the time to do this. Here in Chiang Mai, where I live, are hundreds of temples in the mountains and valleys. Some of the most accomplished meditation masters of the country are here. Many of them still teach. Unfortunately, I cannot make free any time for a retreat, because I have a wife and two babies who need me 24/7. :baby:

Cheers, Thomas

scameter

23rd April 2007, 04:35 PM

True. And did you know that marijuana is the most widely selling crop in America at about 500 billion, whereas the second highest, corn, is about 200 billion per year? With the majority of it being grown in California.

Rudra

27th April 2007, 07:47 PM

Hi Everyone,

I'm quite inquisitive abt Buddhism...have just started reading abt Buddhism.

I've become quite confused abt my life...it doesnt have a specific direction! I cant focus on anything..be it professionally or personally! My perspective towards life has turned negative...theres a lot of negative force around me!

I want to explore Buddhism...in a hope to find the purpose of my life and a positive energy!

As read in the above posts, i'm going to buy the book 'The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying: The Spiritual Classic & International...' to learn Buddhism!

Apart from reading...just want to knw from u guyz who have been reading lot into Buddhism...how can this help me n how can i implement it??

Thanks n Regs,
Rudra

Thomas Knierim

28th April 2007, 12:11 PM

Rudra: ...how can this help me n how can i implement it?

I suppose you will have to find that out by yourself. Sorry, but there is really no way of telling for us. The only thing I can tell you is the story of my own encounter with Buddhism, which occurred about 11-12 years ago. At that time I was 30 years old, and I had spent roughly 15 years of study of Western philosophy. While Western philosophy is very fascinating, it is impossible for me to say that any single Western view, any -ism, or any single philosopher offers a system of thought (and what is more: a system of practice!) which is as true, as consistent, and as comprehensive as Buddhism. Of course, this is my personal opinion and I don't claim to speak from a perspective of universal truth. There is truth everywhere, in (well, almost) every philosophy and religion. There are many different teachings from which truth can be learned. That is -more or less- what this website is about.

Cheers, Thomas

Rudra

28th April 2007, 06:11 PM

Thank you, Thomas for sharing the information

Yea...i knw i need to find the truth myself....however as i'm exploring new things i've new queries....

Frankly speaking i'm quite less experience than you guyz as i still have to see lot more of goodness n sorrows as a part of my life! i basically dont beleive in one religion and GOD in deeply..But i do beleive there is a supernatural power controlling us and i do have faith in HIM.

But often i've dark thoughts running into my mind....Why am I born as a Human - just to suffer more than be happy? I personally feel we are born as Humans bcoz of our last Karma! I found relatively same mentioned in the 1st Four Noble Truth - "Life means suffering" "To live means to suffer". Though we humans have evovled in lot of areas but eventually end up destroying everythin we have created it and wht we already have it!

Why is it so tough to accept and face the truth, live compassionately and learn to forgive? Easy to say, Tough to act!!

My Boss said today "If you want to do, its easy, If you have to do, its tough" :thumbsup: So true...

i feel gr8 to join this forum where highly experienced and intellectual members r in which gives so much facts n experience for a self-motivation!

i'm gonna keep reading this forum and givin my inputs too... :)

Thanks and Cheers!
Rudra :)

schrodinger

28th April 2007, 10:17 PM

But often i've dark thoughts running into my mind....Why am I born as a Human - just to suffer more than be happy? I personally feel we are born as Humans bcoz of our last Karma! I found relatively same mentioned in the 1st Four Noble Truth - "Life means suffering" "To live means to suffer". Though we humans have evovled in lot of areas but eventually end up destroying everythin we have created it and wht we already have it!

The closer you approach your goal, the more resistance you will meet. The goal of every living thing is to understand the nature of itself. The more complicated the being, the more difficult this is to achieve. As humans, we are the most complicated beings of all, at least as far as we know. It is very tempting to regress, and only understand our animal nature, it is much more comfortable in that small arena. But, you cannot regress the intellect without paying a price. It is better to accept the challenge of being “human” and strive for the understanding of self which ultimately will lead to the next rung on the ladder, and an even more difficult challenge! Life is only worthwhile as long as there are challenges! Once that is understood, suffering ceases.

Noway2Zero

30th April 2007, 02:19 AM

The closer you approach your goal, the more resistance you will meet. The goal of every living thing is to understand the nature of itself.

so Life is dependent of a goal?

what happens after the goal is met? game over?

you've created goals for yourself,.. im sure, now what do you do once you complete a goal? you create another, right? we are habitual creatures.. we dont change the course of action we set out on we just change the circumstances and continue on in a ridiculous circle of illusion(a self-centered one i might add)

so what happens when no more goals?

Life is only worthwhile as long as there are challenges! Once that is understood, suffering ceases.

worthwhile? so no more challenges means Life is what?.. useless?.. a burden?

The_Wanderer

2nd May 2007, 09:28 AM

Rudra you mentioned

....I found relatively same mentioned in the 1st Four Noble Truth - "Life means suffering" "To live means to suffer" Though we humans have evovled in lot of areas but eventually end up destroying everythin we have created it and wht we already have it!

When Buddha taught the Noble truths especially with reference to the first' "Life is suffering" He really meant an Unenlightened life is one of suffering. Being unenlightened means being ignorant. Ignorance is the lack of knowledge of how things really are. Which is why Buddhist encourage meditation. When Buddha meditated he acquired insight into the causes of suffering and thus how to become free from it. By acquiring this knowledge, the veil of ignorance was lifted and he became enlightened. He described being enlightened as reaching a state of Nirvana; pure bliss, freedom of stress, suffering etc. As it states in the big view Nirvana cannot be perceived, there is no way to wrap our intellect around it. I think that's why it seems so fantastical to most people. I think life in its totality is very mysterious, there are many different religions, many different beliefs and philosophies I myself find it so hard to choose. How do we really know guys?

Stoinkler

2nd May 2007, 09:35 AM

You know when you stop asking questions.

Noway2Zero

2nd May 2007, 10:29 AM

I myself find it so hard to choose

choose?

How do we really know guys?

dont know.. to know is to introduce limitation.. we are searching for the unlimited are we not?

You know when you stop asking questions.

asking questions is the essence of intelligence

problem is.. soon after the question we are to expectant of and immediate response and so we obsure the answer this way

spending to little time with the question and far to much time with the pre-arranged knowledge

Noway2Zero

2nd May 2007, 11:19 AM

"What is important, surely, is for you to find out. And, to find out, your mind must be in a state of creative experience, must it not? Your mind must be capable of discovering, which means it must be completely free from all knowledge as to whether there is an ultimate reality or only a series of ever more extensive and significant experiences. But, your mind is crammed with knowledge and information, with experience, with memories; and with that mind you try to find out. Surely, it is only when the mind is creatively empty that it is capable of finding out whether there is an ultimate reality or not. But, the mind is never creatively empty; it is always acquiring, always gathering, living on the past or in the future, or trying to be focused in the immediate present: it is never in that state of creativeness in which a new thing can take place. As the mind is a result of time, it cannot possibly understand that which is timeless, eternal.

So, our job is to inquire not if there is an ultimate reality, but whether the mind can ever be free from time, which is memory—from this process of accumulation, the gathering of experiences, living on the past or in the future—that is, can the mind be still? Stillness is not the outcome of discipline, of control. There is stillness only when the mind is silently aware of this whole complex problem, and it is such a mind that can understand if there is an ultimate reality or not."

scameter

2nd May 2007, 11:50 AM

There is no "we" to search.

Ryker

5th May 2007, 12:58 PM

I'm a little late in replying to this, but hopefully it's still relative. :lol:

You're definitely not alone, Greywolf! "Where to begin" is a question that has drove philosophers crazy since the beginning of humanity. In obtaining knowledge & wisdom, one gets to the point where you know so much & then you begin to see how little you truly know. It's truly infuriating.

I had this problem not too terribly long ago & I believe it was Taeguk who helped me through that.

If you want to know where to begin, I'd begin with the basics & then move on to meditation techniques. Sure, you can read about things & know them intellectually, but if it becomes part of your experience there is much more value to it. :) As you begin to meditate more & more, you will gain wisdom little by little. It's very odd because it doesn't come as concious thought. It kind of just happens. You just begin to see things very differently.

Also, I would suggest the book "The Buddha Said..." by Osho. He has some amazing insights to teach.

But the best advice I can give you is: dive in. If this is what you want, commit to it. You'll never truly get anywhere if you're not willing to put everything you've got into it.

Good luck sir. :) And remember: wisdom is obtained through trial & error. However, you have to be mindful, otherwise you won't remember what trial gave you what error. :P

The_Wanderer

13th May 2007, 11:33 PM

Hi all
I have a question regarding one of the Precepts and I hope it's ok if I post it here. My question is with regards to the The precept of not killing. Quite a few months ago I got scabies and it's was in a semi advance stage (it's ok I'm fine now :) ). Scabies is skin disorder caused by mites which burrow into the skin, it is VERY itchy and very annoying. Although in a strange way I kind of enjoyed it since it taught me patience......sorry I'm rambling. Anyway I probably had nearly a thousand mites living in my skin if not more and the treatment which consisted of creams and a special soap killed them off. What are your views on killing mites, or head lice etc?

thanks

Thomas Knierim

14th May 2007, 10:29 AM

The_wanderer: Anyway I probably had nearly a thousand mites living in my skin if not more and the treatment which consisted of creams and a special soap killed them off. What are your views on killing mites, or head lice etc?

You butchered thousands of innocent mites? That's shocking! :lol:

No seriously, life cannot exist without death. It is a constant struggle. For example, your immune system constantly struggles against all kinds of invaders and kills off hundreds of thousands of life forms in the process.

Nothing to worry about, really. This is the "karma" of all living beings.

Cheers, Thomas

Korablestroitelej

16th May 2007, 05:15 AM

Hello, I'm new here - and so Hi everyone.

Can someone please clarify for me whether The Tibetan Book Of Living And Dying is a different book to The Tibetan Book Of The Dead. Please and Thankyou.

Korablestroitelej

16th May 2007, 05:15 AM

Hello, I'm new here - and so Hi everyone.

Can someone please clarify for me whether The Tibetan Book Of Living And Dying is a different book to The Tibetan Book Of The Dead. Please and Thankyou.

Korablestroitelej

16th May 2007, 06:33 AM

Thankyou, psyche.

Does The Tibetan Book Of Living And Dying include The Four Noble Truths, The Eightfold Path and The Precepts?

Plus any further information on its contents would be much appreciated.

Please and Thankyou again.

Korablestroitelej

16th May 2007, 06:33 AM

Korablestroitelej

16th May 2007, 07:32 AM

Thanks for the link on its extra content, but do you know if it contains The Four Noble Truths, The Eightfold Path and The Precepts?

Korablestroitelej

16th May 2007, 07:32 AM

Thanks for the link on its extra content, but do you know if it contains The Four Noble Truths, The Eightfold Path and The Precepts?

Korablestroitelej

16th May 2007, 07:47 AM

Yes I am aware of that. It's just that a book is more sentimental to me.

I guess I should be asking, "Other than the Buddhist Canon, what would you say was the Buddhist handbook/bible?"

Korablestroitelej

16th May 2007, 07:47 AM

Yes I am aware of that. It's just that a book is more sentimental to me.

I guess I should be asking, "Other than the Buddhist Canon, what would you say was the Buddhist handbook/bible?"

Stoinkler

16th May 2007, 07:49 AM

Am I correct in my understanding that The Dhammapada, as seen on this website here (http://thebigview.com/buddhism/dhammapada.html) is basically like the Gospel is to Christianity or the Quran is for Islam?

Is it also the best place for reading the words of Buddha, or the best interpretations of what he said, today?

Stoinkler

16th May 2007, 07:49 AM