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Not so sure about fitting in
I have explored a few options in Calgary with respect to meditation centres and temples. I actually attended one for a number of months but started to receive suggestions that I was not attending enough meetings and the like. I thought that I was doing well to do what I was doing given my circumstances at the time. So, I tried another temple where some of their literature that they showed me was so homophobic that it made me quite uncomfortable. Being anti-anyone is not my spiritual path.
I know some people in Calgary who attend Buddhist groups. In conversation, one person suggested that one Buddhist group was not as good as others because it was largely made up of Chinese people and somehow what the Chinese government did in Tibet influenced acceptance of that group.
As a result of all this, I am a little wary of becoming involved with any organized group. Unless one is expert in a particular religion, it is difficult to separate what is faith from what someone has interpreted as faith. Who do you believe? Whose interpretation is most accurate in its reflection of the faith?
I know some people in Calgary who attend Buddhist groups. In conversation, one person suggested that one Buddhist group was not as good as others because it was largely made up of Chinese people and somehow what the Chinese government did in Tibet influenced acceptance of that group.
As a result of all this, I am a little wary of becoming involved with any organized group. Unless one is expert in a particular religion, it is difficult to separate what is faith from what someone has interpreted as faith. Who do you believe? Whose interpretation is most accurate in its reflection of the faith?
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Comments
Everything the Buddha taught is open to question - at his insistence and behest...
BuddhaFoot has a portion of the Kalama Sutra (this instruction) as his signature.
If I may venture to give you my opinion - spread your net a bit. Where I live I have no temples, centres or gatherings where I can integrate and participate. The Internet Fora are my 'Sanghas'... Ask anything you like of us. We have no barriers, no limits and no conditions to ostracise anyone new, whose interest is to learn more about this Discipline.
You will doubtless receive varied answers to your questions, but they will all be honest, unbiased, polite and from that person's perspective. Your Mission - should you decide to accept it! - will be to take these offerings and use them to learn whatever they might impart.
Welcome to you.
It's good to see you.
I'm in the same position as Fede. I live on a farm in the middle of nowhere and I don't have access to any Buddhist community except this one. And although I really want to find a teacher, for now this site does a great job in giving me various perspectives and discussions on the practice of Buddhism. I can't tell you how much I've learned here.
When I worked for Greenpeace I lived in Calgary for six months on 12th Ave between 1st and 2nd street in a dump of a hole in the wall. But the convenience store downstairs made the best samosas in the world. And there was a Vietnamese restaurant around the corner that made the best dry chicken curry ever. $7.95 for a huge plate. I still think about that curry.
There is a large Vietnamese population there and there should be some Vietnamese Buddhist temples around, if you haven't already found them. You could try a Google search as well. It's a major western city with a large Asian population so there's bound to be a variety of choices. There isn't any tradition that's better than any others but you do want to do your homework before getting involved with any group. Research, research, research. You'll also find a lot of opinions on this site regarding groups like New Kadampa, Dark Zen and the like. Check out the list of threads and make sure you're well educated before you get involved with any one group or teacher. You can run things by this sangha and you will get some very good advice. But remember never to take anyone else's word for it. You gotta test it out for yourself.
You will find homophobia in Calgary. I wish I could say it's not true, but unfortunately it is. But you will also find a large gay community with some of the most innovative activists in the country. You'll find a great artist community, environmental activist community, native community and a strong socialist community. There is always good with the bad. And you get to have Chinooks, which IMHO are the coolest things ever. You can actually see them on the horizon.
It's just occurred to me that I've assumed you're not a Calgary native. If you are, just disregard the stuff you already know about. LOL!
In the meantime, you can always hang around here. There's always something new happening and lots of stuff to talk about. So please feel welcome, make yourself at home and have fun.
Brigid
I've never been afraid of homes-they're so pleasent and comfy to live in. I just cant understand why anyone would be scared of them....oh well.
I believe Xray was just being a smart aleck like moi
-bf
the majority of my posts should be taken with two pinches of salt for full efficacy
(did I spell that right? oh well)
There are no temples of Buddhist organizations other than a Zen group that sits once a week in a local library. Unlike you however I am actually seeking out Buddhists in the local asian community in hopes of attending one of their groups. If I find one where I feel welcome, I will stay regardless if Chinese or whatever.
I hope that you can also find a place that welcomes you and where you feel welcome.
Dear Calgary Guy
Might I recommend the following book for you?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1573226564/sr=8-1/qid=1140321479/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-4732049-1695907?%5Fencoding=UTF8
Buddhism without Beliefs by Stephen Batchelor
I really love this book - I think it might be one of the best..
Also (disclaimer: just my humble personal opinion) I don't personally believe that you need to join a group - I would rather recommend you read some simple books - this way you can learn at your own pace and follow the teachings and traditions you see right = thing is (IMO) if you join a particular group, they may tend to give you the idea that "ours's is the right Buddhism, others are wrong" - and this is a decision you should make yourself.
That said, there are a lot of truly intelligent people here and they are very kind, they will definitely help you in any way they can..
Q. to the forum: Is there a simple and official structure that shows the main flavors* of Buddhism? (Mahayana, theravada, zen... etc..?)
[edit - my question on flavors.. or branches.. has an answer here:
http://www.newbuddhist.com/forum/showthread.php?t=409
thanks!]
Best wishes!
- hope
*Sorry I know there should be a better word there!
I wondered why I never bother about people's sexual orientation. It doesn't bother me in the slightest, in fact it never crosses my mind. I meet people and react to them on their personality, whether we've got much in common, if we are going to get on easily.
Maybe it's just that sex isn't an all-consuming question in my life. I don't know, but it's interesting.
To paraphrase what I have said to Argon elsewhere: I have always been attracted to or removed myself from the company of a person by personality rather than their plumbing! Perhaps that is why I have found porn so tedious.