How to proceed?

Stormer

I am an aspiring Buddhist. By that I mean that I haven't gone through the formal ceremony thing yet and I refuse to until I feel like I have a better grasp of the beliefs and, as the Buddha encouraged, test them out for myself.

I don't have a teacher of any kind and there are no Sanghas within about a 200 mile radius of me. What I am planning on doing is just continuing to read up on Buddhist ideas via the internet and meditate. I was wondering if anyone had any advice about how I should proceed.

how

Just as you are.

FairyFeller

Welcome @Stormer.

I am in a similar position myself and I am following a similar path but have been nudged in the direction of fairly local support who I will approach at a time I feel ready. The welcome and support I have been offered in the New Buddhist Forum has been amazing and helpful.

BhikkhuJayasara

Stormer said:

I am an aspiring Buddhist. By that I mean that I haven't gone through the formal ceremony thing yet and I refuse to until I feel like I have a better grasp of the beliefs and, as the Buddha encouraged, test them out for myself.

I don't have a teacher of any kind and there are no Sanghas within about a 200 mile radius of me. What I am planning on doing is just continuing to read up on Buddhist ideas via the internet and meditate. I was wondering if anyone had any advice about how I should proceed.

I have also been in this same situation. I agree with How in continuing how you are however I would highly suggest if you can afford the gas money to take that 200 mile trip and do a retreat if they offer it. I drove 5 hours to Bhavana Society for a retreat and I've been going every other month since.. finding a true place of dhamma is a practice changing experience.

have you found a leaning towards one tradition or another?

also if you want to listen to some good simply pure dhamma, check out all the info I posted from Ajahn Chah at this thread -http://newbuddhist.com/discussion/17466/ajahn-chah#latest

I'd also not worry about this "becoming" a buddhist thing.. I thought I had to "become" a buddhist when I was ready and I went to Bodhi Monastery, a Mahayana monastery to take the refuge and pecepts.. I knelt for 45 minutes listening to Chinese chanting and then I was a buddhist.. whala! lol. Same can be said to listening to the Pali chanting for Theravada, although now I know the Pali so when I repeat it I know what I'm saying.

no person or no ritual " makes" you a buddhist( or as I like to say , a dhammaist).. being mindful and practicing is how you become one. When you are ready you also make the effort to take on the five precepts.. these are training rules you take on, you are not "given" them.

Jeffrey

There are some teachers who hold interest for long distance interactions.

My teacher does though I think when I am finished with my course with her I may have to either take another course or make sangha dues to continue. I'm on SS disability so money is not possible though my family can make a gift of a course. I also do a bit of transcribing of their dharma talks which is just as good a donation.

BhikkhuJayasara

Jeffrey said:

make sangha dues

:eek2:

Jeffrey

@Jayantha, I know the sangha doesn't misuse dues. My teacher didn't even have her own computer as of last year. We did build a stupa, but I think that is a good use. Do you think we could have built a stupa without any dues? To my knowledge my teacher cannot conjure money or stupas out of thin air. :cool:

My teacher's goal is to make a sangha with a teaching that her students can follow their whole life even after she is gone. I am on the materials team and working at transcribing her talks so that they can become available or used.

Tosh

What's your sangha, Jeffery? Have you got a link?

Jeffrey

@Tosh

http://www.ahs.org.uk/

lobster

I was wondering if anyone had any advice about how I should proceed.

There are a variety of people and levels of experience here. Do not be afraid of asking further questions. It will provide a great deal of insight to all concerned . . . some of it may even be useful . . . :wave:

ecdrewello1

I hard a Tendai minister speak at a tokudo (ordination ceremony for monks/nuns) once. I wish I could remember better how he worded it... but he said that one dosen't become a Buddhist. You start down the path of Buddhism, and when you start down the path, you don't leave behind your old self... you take that all with you because everything that has happened to you up until now is what it took to get you to be ready to hear the dharma. It might make sense to not take on devotional practices until you understand/feel comfortable with them... but other than that, you don't need to do anything special to be a Buddhist. All of us already have everything we need to walk the path and to eventually become Buddha ourselves.

peace.

footiam

Stormer said:

I am an aspiring Buddhist. By that I mean that I haven't gone through the formal ceremony thing yet and I refuse to until I feel like I have a better grasp of the beliefs and, as the Buddha encouraged, test them out for myself.

I don't have a teacher of any kind and there are no Sanghas within about a 200 mile radius of me. What I am planning on doing is just continuing to read up on Buddhist ideas via the internet and meditate. I was wondering if anyone had any advice about how I should proceed.

I remember reading something about proceeding without moving. Buddha probably does not have formal training or maybe he has from some ascetics and most certainly, he does not have Buddhist books to refer to. We are luckier. Everything is being served on a platter especially in this modern age when we just to go click, click, click and there the magic screen brings forth a mountain of knowledge but then of course we must use our minds to sieve the diamonds from the rubble.

Vastmind

Proceed with Buddhist friends.
That's us.
You'll get alot of info/teachings on here.