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How Did You Start Buddhism?
When you first started learning about Buddhism, and even perhaps became akin to calling yourself a Buddhist, how did you first start "practicing" Buddhism?
Meaning, did you start any kind of meditation schedule, did you trying to working on any of the spokes on the eight-fold path, did you start going to a sangha first? How exactly did you start your practice?
Meaning, did you start any kind of meditation schedule, did you trying to working on any of the spokes on the eight-fold path, did you start going to a sangha first? How exactly did you start your practice?
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A year or so later, I went to a Zen Buddhist center in New York ... a place with a large meditation hall, black cushions, and a lot of people sitting around straight and still and silent. It scared the crap out of me at first: Talk about weird!
I suppose there was a time when I called myself a Zen Buddhist. And if someone asks, I'll be happy to say "I'm a Zen Buddhist" if it makes their life easier. I still sit, light incense, occasionally chant, but after 40 years, calling myself a Zen Buddhist feels a bit overstated, and more, not entirely accurate. What would be more accurate? I don't really know and don't much worry about it. "Buddhist" is all right, "old fart" is all right ...
Buddhism is a good practice for those inclined to take it seriously. True, there are no door prizes, but it's still a good practice.
I was in classes in college and read about Buddhism. It struck a cord with me however I didn't call myself Buddhist for some time. I went to a few small Christian churches in the Gnostic tradition and continued to meditate as you could with small children. At some point I refocused on mindfullness during everyday life.
I still don't read much, many years ago I thought if I only had time to read or meditate I
should meditate. I got over a few glitches like 'do I have to give up pink music?' and 'what if I never intend to be a nun?' . Those worked out.
The reason to give myself a label doesn't always seem valid, I don't really spend time around people who think it is so cool which is very good. Also not around people who want to save me. It reduces the risk of attachment if no one really cares
I study Buddhism, try to practise mindfulness when I remember to do so, I have a fairly decent meditation practise (mostly), I am involved in a local Buddhist group, and I practise compassion. Sometimes I feel like I'm making progress, other times I fall off the spiritual bike and motivation is low.
My teacher said that to be a Buddhist we have to hold the Four Seals. Off the top of me 'ead, I can't even remember what they are.
Meh!
While overly basic, what I read "clicked" immediately. I never looked back. Over the months I was able to locate a nearby Sangha, have attended classes and teachings (Mayahanan based...not promoting it, it was just what was available) and I am learing more, literally, each passing day.
Once I got in to it, however, I realized that I was already "more Buddhist" than I realized, but had just never been exposed to formal teachings or any self study. I have a long long way to go, but feel (closer to age 100 than I am to age zero!) that I have finally started my journey.
the only time i ever seen goody smile was when he talked about Buddhism.
so when i got back i searched thru many religions (most of the worlds religions)at which the last 2 I hadnt checked out was taoism and buddhism,I remembered my freind goody so I checked into Buddhism,FELL INTO LOVE and I never looked back.
funny note 9 out of 30 guys in my platoon became Buddhist(none were asian)
christian chaplin noted it as a statistical anomoly.
welcome!
Only recently camed across Buddhism so i still have alot to learn.
Back in 2007, I attended an international convention that was happening in Portland, OR. My wife and I were having problems (due to my wishing she were different that she is) and there was a woman there that I knew that was interested in me and I was attracted to her as well. I was going through a "mid-life crisis" having suffered a heart attack the winter before and turning 50 that next fall.
Anyway, the first night of the conference I went and checked out Powell's bookstore in Portland. It covers a city block and is three stories high. For whatever reason, I left with the Dalai Lama's "Book of Wisdom" as the only book I purchased. I got back to my motel room and and started reading it. On the first page, I read, "The basic fact is that all sentinent beings, particularly human beings, want happiness and do not want pain and suffering. On those grounds, we have every right to be happy and to use different methods or means to overcome suffering and achieve happier lives. It is worthwhile to think seriously about the positive and negative consequences of these methods. You should be aware that there are differences between short-term interest and long-term interest and consequences-and the long-term interest is more important."
As a result of this, I did not go through with what could have been a whirl-wind romance that could have very likely lost me the woman I love.
I have long been a beliver in "when the student is ready, the teacher will come" and "everything happens for a reason".
Thank you, Buddha.
I wish I was joking
(Sorry, I just can't resist 'em when I see 'em just lying there waiting to be picked up - I'm here through Thursday. Be sure to tip your waiter. Try the veal!)
Anyway after that classes got more sporadic and were harder for me to attend. Also, I kind of felt in myself that my practice had gotten to a place where I would either join a monastery or stay a lay person. I didn't really want the former so I stayed a lay practitioner and put my practice on simmer. I still read occasionally and had a small daily practice most of the time, sometimes not. But basically I just worked and tried to have some fun when I could while still trying to be a nice person.
Then a couple years ago I had a bad accident which shook up my perspective on the fragility of life and good times. So I've kind of redoubled my efforts since then and have a new appreciation for the Dharma.
I used to hated all religion or anything even remotely similar. When I was younger, a local preacher was caught stealing money donated to the church for personal gain. He had a nice car and a fancy house simply due to peoples' generosity and naivety. Therefore, I had the notion that it was just a ridiculous crutch that weak-minded people relied upon and sycophants used for their own personal gain. It was nothing more than a scam, I thought. Until, out of curiosity, I visited a local Thai/Lao wat. When I attended the Dhamma classes, somehow everything they taught really clicked with me. It just made sense, which at the time really surprised me. I learned a lot while I was there, and the meditative practices and other teachings helped me out in a lot of difficult situations I was faced with in that period of my life. From drug abuse to other self-destructive habits I had at the time. Since then, I traveled a lot and had the very fortunate opportunity to check out many different schools and learned what I could from them.
it all has to begin somewhere that first tentative step.....
My last push was finding a teacher in an Indian Orthodox (christian) church and studying with him. He may be full of it, we had about 8 people total and 5 were my family, but we worked through a lot of middle way stuff. There was a point he said that I had learned what he had to teach me and I said that I was feeling the limits of being female were too much so we split off the formal teaching deal and I just moved on.
I read in the early seventies, a book called "On The Road" and that got me thinking. I later got a copy of "Be Here Now" which many oldsters know (and youngsters perhaps).
This book has a lot of practical information on the practice.
I am not a Buddhist yet, I don't think; but I am very curious.
One - Buddha
Two - Dhamma
Three - Sangha - GO!
I'm still in the marathon, but every now and then I pause to try a wild strawberry, and they are delicious!
Note: the definition of stealing is obtain something from someone without consent of the owner.
Reading sutra and chanting mantras. ( The closest you can get to the teaching from Buddha)