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Schools of Thought

BashoBasho
edited January 2012 in Buddhism Basics
I have been contemplating Buddhism for some time now and finally have settled with some very basic meditation vipassana thing. At the same time, I am exploring both Zen and Tibetan schools. Do many beginners struggle with what school to follow? Trying to find my niche.

Comments

  • ZeroZero Veteran
    Buddhism is more an intellectual pill than a religion - in my mind therefore you should follow yourself (you are the niche itself!!!)- you will inevitably land where you need to be... try different things and dont be afraid to change - after some time, the question will become irrelevant - beginner or not life comes with struggle included!
  • BashoBasho
    that pretty much has been the approach I have taken. I figure I will absorb the information like a sponge and then wring out what doesn't ring true.
  • ZeroZero Veteran
    liking the analogy!
  • TreeLuvr87TreeLuvr87 Veteran
    That sounds like a great plan Basho. I've been studying Buddhism for almost two years now regularly but still don't favor one school over another.
  • craigpoffcraigpoff
    So much may depend on what teachings are actually available to you. In my case, with any Dharma teachings (less metropolitan area) being hard to find, New Kadampa/Tibetan predominates and my personal Teacher is of this school. Still, this does not stop me from studying Theravada and Pure Land (nearly opposites!) on my own.

    Most of us on this Board come out of Christianity and Judiasm. I can't speak much about the latter, but the former encompasses theology as varied as Eastern/Greek Orthodox, Seventh Day Adventists, Latter Day Saints, Roman Catholics, Anglicanism (where I came from), Southern Baptists and even Jehovah's Witnesses. Pretty wide spread there!

    I don't find (so far!) Buddhism to be quite this varied, but there are many menus to choose from. I think once you have laid the groundwork in your head, one will "click" it it will find you. In the meantime, follow the sponge anology keeping in mind that no one school is either totally "correct" nor totally "false".

    And I don't write all that often as I am confused too! I like the Theravadan aspect that The Buddha was just a flesh and blood man (no real aspects of diety except that he was able, unlike most of us, to achieve enlightenment), but I also like the Tibetan teachings of a bit more theism, the literal idea of rebirth, The Bardo state and The Book of the Dead. The Buddha may have summed it up best by teaching to consider all teachings for yourself, do not blindly follow the advise of anybody and you should end up fine!

  • ArjquadArjquad Veteran
    I do the same thing, I try to take teachings from all paths, take what I like and throw the rest. But I have recently been interested in zen since I see it as more personal and concentrates on self with less reliance on many scriptures.
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    Another approach is to focus on one path. When you go far enough down that path you will see what the others are doing.
  • CinorjerCinorjer Veteran
    In my case, Zen fit me like a glove so I didn't need to struggle. Only, the type of Zen I practiced back then bears little resemblence to what I'm doing now. My understanding continues to evolve, I suppose, so my practice follows.

  • BashoBasho
    oh... after further review the theravadan idea that Buddha was just a man of flesh and blood seems to have sold me!
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