Best Of

1. I am barely Hunuman Human but I do aspire to BuddhaHoodiness
2. I mix up everything. I consider Jains, Hindus and Sikhs as almost Dharma Sisters, brothers and cousins. I like Sufi and Gnostic Christianity. I practice yoga and pray to the great Sky Cod God
3. My primary Buddhist traditions are Zenith shikantaza, vajrayana and lately hinayana Theravada.

I do consider myself a Buddhist

I started my Buddhism with a heavy dose of Gelug Tibetan Buddhism for many years, then drifted away and when I came back to it I had changed enough that many things about it no longer appealed to me. I then spent a couple years with a western Theravada group but also was allergic to certain aspects. So now I practice a mishmash of mainly western Theravada with a healthy mix of modern positive psychology/spirituality. I'm on my own path now, away from any group, I listen to a few hours of Buddhist and psychology podcasts while working to keep connected.

1. Yes
2. I continue to learn how to mix core Buddhism with all aspects of my life
3. Core 4 Noble Truths & Eight-fold Path, the rest is kinda piecemeal or ad hoc right now as I continue to practice

I don't trust. Expanding beyond the core of 4NT and 8FP feels like softer sand as a foundation for now. I feel stable on this footing and trust in it based on my experience so far. I can use it to find more truth for now.

Hi Bunks,

1. Yes.
2. Thai Forest Tradition & Zen.

Both schools I see as complementary. While the Thai Forest is very direct with "simple, crispy clear instructions", the Zen school does give me a few insights which, while challenging and mind boogling, have aided the first ones practice, and viceversa. The discipline stressed by the Thai Forest Tradition has been essential to even be able to practice shikantaza. What I miss sometimes is maybe a sangha that shares the same time-zone and geography to discuss and talk.

Lanzarote has two Buddhist centres, both Gelug. Don't know if it is better to frequent them to have some contact or if it is better not to keep mixing the ingredients in the mind's pot and also, potentially, disturb others practice as I have no intention to practice Vajrayana. They say Buddhism without a teacher can become like a messy garden. You attend the front display and let certain weeds proliferate and then adjust them to your needs, which at the end can hinder the path.