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Online Courses/Teachers
nmarie3
New
Hello all!
So I'm currently to the point in my practice where I've studied quite a bit on my own, but now I'm looking for more formal teaching. Can anyone recommend any online teachers or courses? I don't live near a Buddhist temple or meditation center - the nearest one is five hours away and I would prefer something that would be more easily accessible, like online.
Thank you in advance!
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Comments
Hello
Here is a course that is good instruction. However I have no idea whether the 'teachers' are any good. They seemed like a bunch of sheet wearing weirdos, so I only did the course. I am pretty weird so be warned ...
http://aromeditation.org
This forum will get you to the 'first gate' the understanding of 'no-self'
http://liberationunleashed.com/
'ask a teacher' section at
http://www.zenforuminternational.org
Treeleaf have two excellent teachers and an online zendo, forum, training and interaction
http://www.treeleaf.org
Many teachers have youtube channels. Do you have a particular tradition you follow? My teacher has all of his teachings on there, and a "curriculum" on the webpage, but he's a Vajrayana Tibetan teacher, so it's not for everyone. One of my very favorites is Thubten Chodron who runs Svarsti Abbey. She does a new one almost every day called the Bodhisattva Breakfast Corner, which are brief topics,and then she (or others at the abbey) do some longer ones, too. A lot of Thich Nhat Hanh's stuff is online via Plum Village channel as well. There are A LOT of videos on youtube
Here are a couple of Tibetan teachers that are available online.
http://onlinelearning.fpmt.org/
http://learning.tergar.org/
http://www.samyeling.org/facilities/home-study-dharma-course/
Hope that helps.
I thought that was ghosts.
^^^^ The aro course is excellent for learning basics, posture, types of meditation etc. However the aro group like to dress up as pseudo Tibetans, despite being mostly Westerners. Maybe it is a form of Tibetan cosplay. I have no interest in wearing sheets, it seems unnecessary and frankly cultish. Am I too superficial?
I have no particular path that I follow. I do like Tibetan Buddhism and prefer Mahayana meditations, but like to stick more with Therevada cannon. Although I have read TNH and love what he has to say as well. I've been pretty eclectic in my journey and feel like there's something good to take from every path. I'm open to any course or teacher that truly wants to enlighten.
Thank you for all the suggestions @karasti ! I have also heard good things about FPMT and Treeleaf, so I will definitely dig into those, too.
@nmarie3 I've taken the Meditation 101 and part of the Discovering Buddhism course and found them very useful. Recently been getting into Tibetan Lam Rim meditations and had some positive results. The Discovering Buddhism course at the FPMT is modular and can be bought in small chunks.
Thank you, @Lonely_Traveller. I have read one book by Lama Yeshe and enjoyed it, so I will browse the FPMT courses. How much of the Discovering Buddhism course have you done so far? If you could elaborate on your findings it would be useful for me. I work as an intern so I don't make very much money and would like to know as much about the course as possible before making a monetary investment into it.
I have not taken any course from Cheri Huber but have met her and she is quite nice. Whatever 'nice' means. I have read many of her books as well and would not hesitate to recommend the books. If the classes/course are as good, then I would recommend them as well.
I'll elaborate a bit later @nmarie3, still taking my morning coffee, I should point out that part two of Discovering Buddhism is free so you can check that one out for nothing. Just finished a book by Lama Yeshe yesterday and I enjoyed it very much.
Edit: Thought I'd add a quick Hi to @yagr nice yo see you round these parts again, best wishes to you and your wife.
Online is not the way brah, but yeah I guess sometimes you gotta no choices.
Find a teacher, in person. Or travel TO take teachings in person.
By practicing on your own, you will have developed a lot of false concepts that the teacher will have to undo.
This occurs on a subtle level, largely as a result of YOU observing them. You pick up SO MUCH understanding by observing how your teacher navigates through situations. This is a subtle kind of learning that far exceeds anything you can learn from books.
Online is no better than books.
And books are not adequate.
Buddhism is essentially an experiential endeavour .. not an intellectual endeavour.
Or at least attend some retreats where you can get face-to-face advice and support on practice in general, and meditation in particular.
Ajahn Brahm is entertaining, lots of talks on Youtube.
@FoibleFull, I completely disagree.
I hotly dispute your observations and I take great offence at your comments.
Why "great offence"?
I wondered that too
Possibly.
It is also true that a lot of 'teachers' are not fit for purpose. You might well be better off with a book and cushion. Most of the 'teachers' I have had contact with needed a subtle teaching that only the enlightened can provide, despite the ostensible interaction. [spoiler alert] Not all Dharma teachers are enlightened.
Sure, but there is no substitute for face-to-face contact with other Buddhists, and going on retreat can be a life-changing experience.
Lack of money for retreat or fees? No reason at all ...
http://theofferingbowl.com/index.php/sign-up