A good selection of Dharma centres in my area

Lookingformyway

So I was please with my find today.

I did a search for Dharma Centres in edmonton, and actually came up with this site.

http://buddhactivity.org/action.htm?-Response=buddhacity.htm&ccity=Edmonton

I know, is a personally choice, and I know in my first initial post, I stated my interest in Zen, but after reading the responses decided maybe at this early stage I should be more open and open my heart and mind to the possibilities of all the traditions. To save you clicking each link, I will give you a run down of what is available in my city, which I was actually really, really please with, and feel slightly spoiled for choice. Buddhist Dharma centres in my area with in house teachers are as follows (the lineage/tradition is in bold underneath each one):

SGI Canada Edmonton Community Centre
Soka Gakkai

Samatha-Vipassana Meditation Centre (This one has a resident monk who runs the centre)
Sri Lankan: Theravada

Ratchatham Buddhist Society
no info for this one

Karma Tashi Ling (this one also has a resident monk who teaches, and looks like a wonderful/beautiful centre)
Tibetan: Kagyu
http://www.karmatashiling.ca/index.html

Gaden Samten Ling
Tibetan: Gelugpa

Edmonton Shambhala Centre
Tibetan: Shambhala, Kagyu, Nyingma


Edmonton Buddhist Meditation Group
Japanese: Sōtō


Diamond Way Buddhist Society of Edmonton
Tibetan: Kagyu

Amitabha Buddhist Meditation Centre in Edmonton
Tibetan: Kadampa


As you can see there is more than I thought after some digging, and was surprised that two of them have resident monks who teach. I am curious, (again i know its a personal choice) I don't want to jump into one that is two "heavy" which, throws me off balance and just confuses me. In YOUR opinion, which one of these would make a great starting point?

Love

Me

genkaku

Hi Me -- Basically, I think you can expect any of these centers to give you a warm welcome. Not to put too fine a point on it, but I wouldn't be surprised if they were all over you like sharks on red meat. Most centers take pretty good care of newcomers.

In order to take a swing at a choice, you might research Tibetan, Japanese or whatever Buddhism. Tibetan -- no disrespect intended -- is a bit more intricate and ornate. Soto Zen puts emphasis on meditation practice and is far less ornate. The great gods Google and Wikipedia should help you get a sniff.

Don't give in to your expectations. Just imagine you were going to a movie: Maybe you'll like it, maybe you won't ... either way, it's not the end of the world... or the beginning either.

Best wishes.

person

Since you're just starting out I'd give several a try and read books from different traditions you may eventually settle on one that appeals to you more or you may not settle on any one tradition at all. They all have a slightly different focus and will appeal differently to different people.

Invincible_summer

I think you should read a bit on all the different traditions and see which appeals to you most.

Or you could also just visit all of them.


My initial impression though is that the Theravada and Zen centres will probably be the easiest to "get into," as they're pretty mainstream traditions. Plus, Tibetan Buddhism is a bit esoteric, and SGI isn't for everyone (a bit of controversy surrouding them).

Tosh

I've been studying with the Jamyang centre which is Gelupa. Gelug Buddhism is (so they say) probably the most scholastic form of Buddhism, so if you've got a scholastic bent, have a look there; if not, maybe not.

HH Dalai Lama is a Gelupa; just for interest.