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What drew you to your Tradition? What did you like about it? And what didnt you like about others?

zenmystezenmyste Veteran
edited May 2012 in Buddhism Basics
What drew you to Zen or Tibetan Buddhism or Theravada or Nichiren buddhism. . . etc etc?

:-)

Comments

  • genkakugenkaku Northampton, Mass. U.S.A. Veteran
    I wanted something that, in my mind, would "go for the throat" -- that was long on doing and short on chitchat. For my purposes, Zen practice seemed to fill the bill.

    My choice did not rely much on comparison with others' activities. I was and am willing to credit that any discipline, whether inside or outside a designation like "spiritual," can get the job done if a participant exercises the determination not to "stop" or "nest" ...

    Zen just happened to be my choice.
  • Floating_AbuFloating_Abu Veteran
    Zen just fit
  • RichardHRichardH Veteran
    edited May 2012
    There is no objective measure of religions and paths. Each person has his own measure in his heart of hearts... and can't proclaim the "True"... whatever..




    For me.. Buddhism is unique in one special way. Whereas Vedantic paths..and esoteric Abrahamic paths, seek union with the formless unconditioned Self or Godhead, Buddhism puts aside ontological reaching, and metaphysical musing, and points to Dukkha. Dukkha and non-dukkha.

    Through the discipline of the 8fold path, there is a taste of non-dukkha and from there the unfolding of ongoing practice...free of doubt. This taste of non-dukkha is ineffable. The Buddha and those who followed him were uniquely skillful in this way. Zen.. has a "shut up and just do it" quality that works for me, being a stubborn mule.
  • I_AM_THATI_AM_THAT Veteran
    A flash of light and a moment of clarity... I was confused and had too many questions that were not being answered; but then I looked within and found the answers that I was seeking.
  • Telly03Telly03 Veteran
    Zen just happened to be the first Sangha I visited... I had always been interested in establishing a meditation routine even before I knew anything about Buddhism, so like Floating Abu, it just fit.
  • Invincible_summerInvincible_summer Heavy Metal Dhamma We(s)t coast, Canada Veteran
    I don't follow a specific tradition, although I lean more towards stuff like Zen and Theravada. I like these traditions more because - to me - they don't have all this esotericism found in Vajrayana/Tendai/Shingon/etc, and tbh I'm more attracted to the meditation aspect so faith-based stuff like Pure Land/Shin Buddhism aren't great matches for me, though I respect all these traditions.

    Theravada and Zen are more "real" to me.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited May 2012
    I like Theravada because it seems to cut to the chase.
    I do incorporate some Mahayana/Tibetan practices, because I enjoy them, but i'm not really too attached to anything in particular there.....
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    I'm traditionless. I just try to follow the 4NT, N8FP, and the precepts to the best of my ability.
  • ArthurbodhiArthurbodhi Mars Veteran
    Different flavours of ice-cream.  It is the same thing but with different tastes appealing to different people. :)
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited May 2012
    I tried a course and was impressed how it wasn't 'candy'. It was some very unsettling perspectives and language and directions and seemed true. Groundless space. And very compassionate, trusting.
  • DavidDavid A human residing in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Ancestral territory of the Erie, Haudenosaunee, Huron-Wendat, Mississauga and Neutral First Nations Veteran
    I'm also non traditional. My parents were Anglican but the Biblical character known as "God" seemed more like a devil to me. Oddly, when I was about 12, I tried to conjure a devil in the flame atop my baptism candle turned upside down, lol.

    I was agnostic toward everything but I had only heard of a few things. I didn't find anything that made sense until I found Taoism. Studying Taoism gave rise to studying Buddhism which gave rise to studying Hinduism.

    I could still have a bit of Hinduism flavoring my outlook but it isn't anything I'd have any faith in.

    I try not to give any one tradition any more credence than others but I find my interest fades when I have to actually suspend my disbelief.

    When I hear a teaching that comes from an understanding of the dharma such as Nagarjunas two truths, I like to go to the Theravadian(?) source to see if it makes sense to me or not.

    I know the difference between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism but I don't differentiate. I love Zen and Tibetan...

    I think it is fascinating to see the development it all goes through.
  • personperson Don't believe everything you think The liminal space Veteran
    I started spiritually seeking by doing tai chi and some yoga. Then spent a few months learning meditation with a Hindu group. I still read things from other traditions zen and some new age stuff. When I mentioned this to the head of the Hindu group she mentioned that looking to other sources than the guru's for wisdom wasn't encouraged, I left at that point. About the same time a fellow student in my yoga class mentioned some Tibetan monks had arrived in town and would be starting classes soon and invited me to attend. I did and it fit so I stayed, I've looked around and read other traditions since but I still find TB a good fit.

    I like the thoroughness and depth of the teaching. I'm not that into the ritual and deity aspect but no one's ever demanded that I practice them or even been the least bit condescending about it. There isn't much in the way of group meditation, aside from the odd retreat now and again, but I can do that on my own.
  • snGussnGus Veteran
    I like Therevada because it has great emphasis on the Tripitaka which is the closest source to the Buddha's teachings. I also like written stuff because it makes easier for me to get in contact with the Dhamma even without a reliable local sangha that I could attend.
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited May 2012
    Tibetan buddhism is more of a transmission teaching from the guru who embodies the three qualities of self-awakened beginningless, timeless buddha and dharma and sangha. The sangha is a part of it which spreads the energy of the whole tradition and is an example to each person. There is less emphasis on a specific text and indeed going only by texts is discouraged because it's the mind that is important rather than the material and lists. Of course many take transmission of the sutras read at top speed so that it is difficult if not impossible to understand everything. But it is the mind we all have that is the focus.
  • GuiGui Veteran
    My mother used to tell me that all the different faiths and religions were different paths up the same mountain. And I would wonder what all the different practitioners would expect to be waiting for them at the top and what they would experience and do when they got there. And it occurred to me that the one who lived zen would simply walk back down. I have tried for years to disagree with zen and I can't because I know nothing and expect nothing.
  • minimayhen88minimayhen88 Veteran
    Humanistic Buddhism (...Fo Gunag Shan) because of its emphasis upon Charity and Education x
  • TBRulhTBRulh New
    Initially, I got a good dose of Zen philosophy through practice of Okinawan Karate, Ueichi-ryu. I enjoy Zen, but honestly, I only got into Zen because I took Karate and because there is lots of available literature. I am a proponent of the idea that all paths lead to the same place.

    I once read about a western guy who went to study Buddhism. One day he met a great monk. The monk wanted to talk about Christianity, specifically, why the western guy wasn't a Christian. The monk said something to the effect of, "If I was born in America, I'd be a Christian, but I was born in Japan, so I am a Buddhist." The western guy went home and became a Unitarian, heavily influenced by Buddhism. It might be from a book called "Anthology of Western Buddhism" or something such. I'll get back to you all if I can figure out the source.
  • seeker242seeker242 Zen Florida, USA Veteran
    Zen because of it's simplicity and the main, primary focus being actual meditation practice. I tend not to differentiate too much between traditions as they all teach the same thing essentially. I feel as if I am a member of all traditions because they are all Buddhism. :)
  • BonsaiDougBonsaiDoug Simply, on the path. Veteran
    edited May 2012
    I like Theravada because it seems to cut to the chase.
    I do incorporate some Mahayana/Tibetan practices, because I enjoy them, but i'm not really too attached to anything in particular there.....
    That pretty much sums it up for me as well. For me, Theravada does provide that cut to the chase aspect with the early TiPiţaka, but I too find comfort in much of the Tibetan tradition.

    Good thread!
  • DairyLamaDairyLama Veteran Veteran
    What drew you to Zen or Tibetan Buddhism or Theravada or Nichiren buddhism. . . etc etc?

    :-)

    To start with I just went to my nearest Buddhist centre - it took a while to realise there were all these options....
    ;)
  • Floating_AbuFloating_Abu Veteran
    edited May 2012
    What drew you to Zen or Tibetan Buddhism or Theravada or Nichiren buddhism. . . etc etc?

    :-)
    To start with I just went to my nearest Buddhist centre - it took a while to realise there were all these options....
    ;)
    :)

    And not a bad thing at all @porpoise !!
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