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Want to learn about Buddhism
I have a few question about Buddhism
How do they feel about tattoos?
What about drugs and stuff? I know that your not supposed to take them but how important is that really?
Explain the different types of buddhism??
Basically, I want to know all the basics. I grew up in a Christian home, and am now exploring other options.
Anything would be great!
Thanks
How do they feel about tattoos?
What about drugs and stuff? I know that your not supposed to take them but how important is that really?
Explain the different types of buddhism??
Basically, I want to know all the basics. I grew up in a Christian home, and am now exploring other options.
Anything would be great!
Thanks
0
Comments
Welcome on this forum
If '93 is about your year of birth I can say around your age I got into Buddhism too. I remember I thought it was a very confusing religion at the time..
So there are a lot of things written and said by people because of this, sometimes even contradicting eachother and not all of those turn out to be true. So be warned!
No problem. It depends. It is not a sin or anything. Sins don't exist in Buddhism. Although the use of drugs is said to be unwise by the Buddha, I know some Buddhists who still use it.. But in general Buddhists don't really use drugs or alcohol because it makes you act silly
I would suggest you find a nice book about it or browse online for teachers like Thich Nhat Hanh who have the gift of explaining things really well. You can also search on the youtube for various talks. Also somebody made an introduction to Buddhism a while ago on this forum, but I can't remember who.
With loving kindness (we call it metta),
Sabre
And yes 93 is my birth year, and I've looked and looked for something that meets my beliefs and desire for something greater than myself but find most religions too restricting. Would love to talk with you more about it.
Namaste
Alright, as far as drugs go, it is in the precepts to refrain from drugs... however, as with anything in buddhism, and as Sabre noted, there is nothing that says "Do this" and "don't do that," ultimately it comes down to you and what you feel is best for yourself. I had a cool buddhist teacher once that had told me "Be mindful while smoking a cigarette, and then go from there. You'll find that if you're really being mindful that you wouldn't want to smoke anyway, be mindful of your lungs, your mouth, your heart and your body and decide if it really is necessary." I mean I felt that was pretty simple and yet had an incredible impact on my view of it. I could suggest the same mantra for you while using drugs, look at yourself, and inspect the different parts of you that what you're doing impacts. Just a thought, again it is ultimately up to you to decide. Again, as Sabre said, the only reason why it is looked down upon is because it alters reality as it really is, it makes you act silly and perceive things in an altered manner. Also, it is harder for you to remain in control and be mindful. Personally i believe there is a difference between sipping a glass of wine for a few hours, only drinking one, and becoming heedlessly drunk.... and yet personally I find both states hard to be mindful in.
And as far as what sabre was saying with the 4 noble truths, I have to disagree only slightly. While I agree it is important to practice compassion and loving kindness and all of that, it is similarly important to comprehend WHY you are doing it. I think that can be found with the 4NT... I also think there was a reason why the Buddha used this as his first teaching, it sums up buddhism in 4 short lines. And while Sabre is correct that these can be complicated, I would say that these are a really good place to start so that you have background on what it is that Buddhism is, as well as what it is you can do. And yet with the 4nt, I don't suspect full comprehension for awhile, it'll take time and practice to fully see it. It is 4 simple lines, and yet the implications are vast, but it is okay to start small and work your way up.
I had an interesting discussion in group, we talked about how compassion and loving kindness can be cultivated. It can be cultivated through knowing the path, and practicing it... until eventually you're nice not because you feel a need to be, but because it is the true nature of things without grasping, trying to trick others, jealousy etc. HOWEVER, that is a hard path and could be time consuming to really understand the true nature of everything and yourself. (Interconnectedness), and so they said another way was to be compassionate and kind and eventually the intention with follow suit.
SOO welcome to the site, and I hope that wasn't too long or confusing
Ash
I had the same thing. With respect to Christians, but I looked at the bible and thought it was to much unexplained things, so I dropped that soon. The power I found in Buddhism is you have your own responsibility to improve your own life, no-one else is going to do it for you. Also realizing it is what you can only do yourself, this may take a long time but hey.. at least we have our own responsibility!
I think this may be an interesting talk for you. It is a bit long but he has some wise things to say about this. I think it is a great introduction to Buddhism.
A lot of people go to buddhist meditation groups without actually being very interested in the deeper teachings, which is great because that is also possible. Even if you don't accept certain teachings, meditation will slowly improve your life and you'll learn about yourself.
The second thing that got me into Buddhism was the cultivation of kindness. Not a lot of religions really go into this like this.. some just say: BE NICE OR ELSE!! I always liked kind people
If you have anything to ask, you can always send a message or post here.
With metta,
Sabre
Also Sabre, awesome video :clap: I love Ajahn Brahm. Awesome teacher, no doubt.
:om:
Drugs, imo, are a no-no. Although I studied Buddhism for many years, I didn't feel like my practice had begun until I quit drugs and alcohol and could begin analyzing my morality and ethics from a sober vantage point. My newfound sobriety is refreshing and liberating.
The differences in the schools are all "surface-level." They are considered different "skillful means." As in different teachings are used to instruct and guide people with different personality types. In the end your greatest teacher is yourself, and the greatest school is your personal journey.
For the basics, I'm not sure would be ebst to explain first. In my own experience, I quickly dove inot some very complex concepts and continue to voraciously absorb new information. My mind works in a way that things come together like a puzzle and as I learn more and more, previously learned complexities gain greater depth of clarity.
I'd start with the 5 precepts and zazen (zen meditation.)
Refrain from killing
Refrain from stealing
Refrain from wrong speech (lying, gossip, idle chatter)
Refrain from sexual misconduct
and
Refrain from consuming intoxicants
With love
BUDDHISM
The truth of Buddhism does not come from a book. It does not come from a temple. It does not come from someone else. It is not written on a piece of paper. The truth of Buddhism comes from the individual effort to investigate, verify and actualize a clear understanding of this life.
Shakyamuni Buddha, the man most often referred to as the founder of Buddhism, was born on the border of India and Nepal in about 565 BC. He attained what is sometimes called enlightenment at 35 and preached until his death at 80. Many schools of Buddhism sprang from his teachings … in India, Tibet, China, Korea and Japan among others. Uncertain estimates put Buddhist numbers at about 350 million worldwide.
All Buddhist schools agree on at least two things:
1. THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS: These are observations about the world around us.
The Four Noble Truths are:
*** 1. There is suffering (dukkha – the uncertainties, dissatisfactions and doubts that life can dish up); 2. There is a cause of suffering; 3. There is an end to suffering; 4. There is a way to end suffering.
2. THE EIGHTFOLD PATH: These are the tools suggested as most useful when seeking out a truly peaceful life in a changing world.
The Eightfold Path is:
*** 1. Right View 2. Right Intention 3. Right Speech 4. Right Action 5. Right Livelihood 6. Right Effort 7. Right Mindfulness 8. Right Concentration.
The word "right" is sometimes translated as "complete." A “complete” effort is thorough-going and whole-hearted. Nothing is held back. Buddhism is not a threat-based persuasion: You won’t go to heaven (right) if you practice it and you won’t go to hell (wrong) if you don’t. But honesty is required -- complete honesty.
The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path carry with them the verifiable observation that everything in life changes. There is nothing that does not change. Joy turns to sorrow, love turns to anger, birth turns to death, and the family car always gets a flat. All Buddhist schools agree on such things, but how they approach them may vary.
But as the Dalai Lama put it once, "Everyone wants to be happy." And that is probably as good a summary of Buddhism as any.
1. Apologise when your wrong and not make excuses for yourself.
2. Pay attention to what your doing.
As you progress in your practice you will begin to realize deep within your own heart if these things are wise for you or not. My only advice for the time being is to focus your attention on learning about Buddhism and if it's the right path for you, rather than changing your life to fit someone else's world view.
With peace,