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I have so many questions - Buddhism for beginners
buddhagrace
New
So lets just get straight to the point-
I want to become a buddhist (i think its good to have a type of purpose in your life which could eventually make me become a healthier person) ... is there any formal type of ritual i need to participate in in order to be classed as a buddhist?
I understand Buddhists believe in reincarnation... although I am a strong believer in ghosts and spirits.. is this sort of contradicting one of my other beliefs???
I'm under 18 and so its diifcult for me to get to places... is it vital i attend a buddhist temple?
and what about organ donors- do Buddhists support this?
I seriously need someone to talk to about these questions
I want to become a buddhist (i think its good to have a type of purpose in your life which could eventually make me become a healthier person) ... is there any formal type of ritual i need to participate in in order to be classed as a buddhist?
I understand Buddhists believe in reincarnation... although I am a strong believer in ghosts and spirits.. is this sort of contradicting one of my other beliefs???
I'm under 18 and so its diifcult for me to get to places... is it vital i attend a buddhist temple?
and what about organ donors- do Buddhists support this?
I seriously need someone to talk to about these questions
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
i've been researching into Buddhism in books and online for the past 3 months. I know my general stuff. I just have extra questions that you just can't get from a book. Last time i looked there wasn't any practicing Buddhists around the area i live in and it would of been nice to speak to someone who may have been able to answer some more alternative questions.
And there will be plenty of people to talk to here, believe me.
And Buddhism isn't about what you know, think or believe.
About an hour away from London in the UK.
The past year in my life wasn't exactly the best and I feel like Buddhism could really help me, i want to do it properly thats all
Anything in particular?
You could just hang out here and questions/answers/
topics usually come up every couple of days...No pressure
to participate. If things sound juicy and you want to know
more....you can bump up the info in books to what you
hear here. And....part of learning how things work is just
letting it unfold.
BUDDHISM
The truth of Buddhism does not come from a book. It does not come from a temple. It does not come from someone else. It is not written on a piece of paper. The truth of Buddhism comes from the individual effort to investigate, verify and actualize a clear understanding of this life.
Shakyamuni Buddha, the man most often referred to as the founder of Buddhism, was born on the border of India and Nepal in about 565 BC. He attained what is sometimes called enlightenment at 35 and preached until his death at 80. Many schools of Buddhism sprang from his teachings … in India, Tibet, China, Korea and Japan among others. Uncertain estimates put Buddhist numbers at about 350 million worldwide.
All Buddhist schools agree on at least two things:
1. THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS: These are observations about the world around us.
The Four Noble Truths are:
*** 1. There is suffering (dukkha – the uncertainties, dissatisfactions and doubts that life can dish up); 2. There is a cause of suffering; 3. There is an end to suffering; 4. There is a way to end suffering.
2. THE EIGHTFOLD PATH: These are the tools suggested as most useful when seeking out a truly peaceful life in a changing world.
The Eightfold Path is:
*** 1. Right View 2. Right Intention 3. Right Speech 4. Right Action 5. Right Livelihood 6. Right Effort 7. Right Mindfulness 8. Right Concentration.
The word "right" is sometimes translated as "complete." A “complete” effort is thorough-going and whole-hearted. Nothing is held back. Buddhism is not a threat-based persuasion: You won’t go to heaven (right) if you practice it and you won’t go to hell (wrong) if you don’t. But honesty is required -- complete honesty.
The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path carry with them the verifiable observation that everything in life changes. There is nothing that does not change. Joy turns to sorrow, love turns to anger, birth turns to death, and the family car always gets a flat. All Buddhist schools agree on such things, but how they approach them may vary.
But as the Dalai Lama put it once, "Everyone wants to be happy." And that is probably as good a summary of Buddhism as any.
I actually think this is a good place to start for a beginner. It's not that it's the be-all and end-all, but you'll get ways of looking at things from various points of view (sects, if you will). On the other hand, if you go to a local center, you'll get the point of view of that center. Later, once you get some varying POVs here, you can study more in-depth at a center of your choosing, or more through books.
Ask away, but just remember that what you get here are POVs.
Really, to be a Buddhist, you only need the desire to practice the foundation of Buddhism. Many people, but not all, choose to do a refuge ceremony, either with a teacher or just on their own. You can research it online and find what speaks to you, look up Buddhist refuge vow ceremony or triple jewel refuge.
don't worry much right now about how to reconcile your beliefs of afterlife and what "most Buddhists believe" because you will find even rebirth means different things to different Buddhists.
I found Buddhism when I was under eighteen as well and have found it to be one of the few choices I would repeat from that era.
http://www.buddhamind.info/leftside/sumaries/q-a/thought-is.htm
Hungry ghosts and spirits are believed in by many Buddhists
Organ transplants relieve suffering so most would support them
Temple/monastry/dharma centre would be helpful but not immediately necessary.
OK you iz now Buddhist. You can do a formal ritual whenever you are ready . . . if ever . . .
To try to answer your questions, as simply as possible: There is a 'ceremony' called 'Taking Refuge', and depending on which Tradition you may choose to follow, you can either perform it in private, in your own way, in the comfort of your own home, or in a temple, with your Lama/Guru/Teacher performing the ceremony....
personally, I opted for the former.. 'Reincarnation' is a bit of a sticky word.
SOME Buddhists believe in reincarnation; Tibetan buddhists consider it to be something only the most elevated and 'Enlightened' lamas can do; because reincarnation literally means 'being flesh again'.
Most Buddhists who choose to do so, believe in RE-BIRTH - which is an entirely different matter. And one only each individual buddhist can, and should, consider, for themselves.... Not necessarily.... I don't. But it's important that nevertheless, you Practise..... I personally have come across no reason why we shouldn't.... Well, we're here for you - but bear in mind, you'll receive a good diversity of answers. We won't be right - but we won't be wrong, either....
it's a big step for one so young, to take, alone.
I was assuming the closest center would be in London, which may not be the case. You can also pick up the phone and call a center. I spent about 4 hours on the phone with the director of my sangha before I ever went up there.
The thing is, one person, and the advice they give is likely to be a lot easier to digest that a dozen hitting you all at once from as many different pov's. A forum like this is more likely going to be a detriment in that situation.
We often forget that we have a lot more experience and are better equipped to filter out the noise than a beginner.
This is just my sect of Buddhism. Gengkaku is absolutely right int there being different sects.
Regarding being "classed as a Buddhist," like @federica said, there's a taking refuge ceremony that some people like to do "officially" (i.e. at a temple), but it's your intention that really counts. There's no Buddhist membership badge that you earn from doing it. It's all up to your faith in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha.
Some people don't like using the word "faith" since it brings other religions to mind that they have a problem with. But I think that's what it really is - you're deeply trusting in the "rightness" of the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha to bring you happiness.
I understand it's normal to want to "do it right" when you're new to something. Some unsolicited advice: take a deep breath, slow down, and focus on the 4NT, 8FP, and some meditation. That's what will help turn your life around. Worrying about whether or not Buddhists will ban you from the club if you are an organ donor probably won't.
http://www.thebuddhistsociety.org/about-us/general/
They also have correspondence courses which can be an excellent learning tool for the distance challeneged. I took 3 or 4 online courses from Nalandabodhi and found it to be an excellent alternative to travel when I couldn't afford to go up to Boulder once a week.
It also appears they can offer guidance about the various traditions which can help a beginner moving forward.
Therefore, it you want to practice Buddhism on your own, without a teacher, you need to be practicing Theravadan. I recommend you buy "Mindfulness in Plain English" by Bhante Gunaratana. You can buy it on amazon.com. It will clarify what Buddhism is and isn't, as well as give you both instruction and trouble-shooting for your daily meditation practice.
You say you have read, but stop reading the sources you are using. Either you are coming up with wrong information, or you are trying too hard to understand with your mind (you cannot force understanding through intellect in Buddhism ... the truths of Buddhism are experiential, not intellectual).
- Reincarnation is Hinduism, not Buddhism (except for Tibetans who do use the term, but it means something different and only applies to those who has mastered Buddhism).
- You are not supposed to blindly believe, in Buddhism. Understand that belief is an attempt to find a sense of security through thinking you Know. See belief for the coping mechanism that it is, and that belief is NOT the same thing as first-hand knowledge.
- No one is "classed as a Buddhist", and it's not supposed to be some sort of ego-label we use to make our self-identification stronger. Buddhism, like playing the piano, is something you either do or you don't do. And the more you do it, the more skill you develop.
Buddhism is a self-discipline, a training of the mind, that takes you into yourself and brings insight and wisdom that slowly changes you profoundly. So start meditating, 10 minutes in the morning at first, and as you are able and gradually extend it to an hour every morning before you start your day. Buddhism is something you do, an experiment into yourself. But if you believe, then you have defined what you will and won't find, and you will only find whatever fits into your "belief". You cannot discover if you believe ahead of time.
So just start meditating, reading a bit on the side, and just see what you see. And look for a live teacher, a qualified teacher.
Refuge Vows here: http://what-buddha-said.net/sangha/Sangha_Entry.htm
Oh hell I've been drawn in to the black hole of the thread, but will enjoy and not regret it :LOL:
FYI: Mahayana buddhism 'DOES NOT INSIST you have a QUALIFIED TEACHER': if any buddhist insists you 'need' a 'teacher' then they are lacking something (lol), buddha taught that we are responsible for our own liberation! A good teacher can expedite us along the right path, but can't be responsible for taking the bite of the apple that leads to expulsion from the garden of eden - just making that up for poetic effect, but hopefully it gets the point across - knowledge can be powerful, but is not energy equivalent. The historical buddha was human and did not conceal what he taught, and gives us all hope.
I have grown up in the "ENGLISH TRADITION" where 'THE LEARNED' are "REGARDED as ACKNOWLEDGED"; but the outcome for me is that's a load of BULLSHIT (but that's just my opinion, what is your conclusion? To be a professor is to claim openly, but what is proclaimed may well be false, either to the proclaimer and/or the proclaimed.
If you claim to be a buddhist then these words will resonate: the buddha apparently said something along the lines of "believe nothing no matter where you read it or who has said it, not even if i have said it unless it agrees with your own reason and common sense". That leaves you to investigate your self for the answer, cool or what?
Either Theravadan or mahayanan buddhism will ring true to you, don't feel obliged to be conditioned by one persons thoughts (yes I am referring to your perspective and advice @FoibleFull). I refer to my previous statement(s).
Reincarnation is a fact not necessarily of hinduism (or you have no understanding of moment to moment conditionality and the phenomenal appearance); but as a normal human being you can only talk about your current incarnation which is an interdependently co-arising momentary re-incarnation regarded in the field of awareness. To discuss life to life re-incarnation requires a different perspective that no one here will agree on, as they can't convey it yet alone express knowledge of it. I have no recollectable memory or experience so will fall silent on that one.
Belief is - belief: i.e. an acceptance in the believer that something is true or real. Question what is true or real...
I agree no one is 'classed as buddhist', but it is a referential point from which we cain gain perspective and insight.
Yes buddhism is 'Self-Discipline' and as you have described, or is it?
Meditation is not something you can just do, OR IS IT?
There are no right or wrong answers except for this one: this is the 'MIDDLE WAY"
'what is the only question that cannot be answered with a positive affirmation in the light of truth?'
Scroll down for spoiler
Spoiler: Are you Dead?
To be a Mahayanist you must surrender everything including all of your money and your firstborn. You must become a mindless automaton, incapable of any independant thought or volition. You must stand by while your child is forcibly placed in a monastery near Buttrham, Nepal and all your money is used to buy your Guru a big house in Crestone to house his girlfriends .
Forget about practice.
Or you can join a web forum and ponder questions like that.
Are we helping her be less confused, or making it worse?
We are all on a long journey of longing and leaving longing.
LIVE LONG AND PROSPER (Vulcan Dharma) :clap:
Meditation may not be necessary to be a buddhist, but it is really a very useful tool, and how the historical buddha achieved enlightenment, and to whom we are all grateful.
Beginners courses tend to focus on the intention and motivation that leads one to meditate and importantly the meditators posture or attitude, aiming to achieve poise and self-respect.
Serious beginners are generally introduced to the basic concepts of the 4 noble truths, the 3 marks of existence, and the 8-fold path... However, the aspect that is mindfulness is reiterated, again and again, for a reason. Single-pointed focus and attention are necessary and that is the practice of meditation. So most people start with the breath. In ... Out.. 1... 2 ...3 'sdfbhskjdfghsdfbsdf sm,nfbsKLDFBASDF'
What was that about, WHAT WAS I DOING before that nonsense presented itself?
Focus: in ... out
Mettha
We dont agree on anything. Key terms such as dharma and dhamma, karma and khama. Interpretation. Conduct. Respect or need for teachers. Hell, we can't even agree on the definition of "Buddhist".
Some beginner comes to a forum like this, chances are that they'll run screaming into the night.
metta