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What tradition (if any) do you follow?
Hi all
Just curious to know the following about the regular folk who post on this site.
Reckon we've done this before but I am curious to know again.
- Do you consider yourself Buddhist?
- If no, what? Do you mix Buddhism with another religion?
- If yes, what tradition(s) do you primarily follow?
I'll start...
- Yes
- N/A
- Pure Land Buddhism with a sprinkling of Theravadan
3
Comments
I consider myself a seeker with strong buddhist leanings. I’m reluctant to call myself a Buddhist really because my ideas and commitments are not mainly buddhist.
I’ve become more a perennialist over the past two years, that is, I believe that all traditions and religions contain a core of the same feeling and goal. Primarily I look at Advaita Vedanta and Taoism as well as Buddhism.
My buddhism goes primarily to Thai Forest Theravada and Vietnamese Zen (Thich Nhat Hanh), although I am planning a visit to Dzogchen because I’ve heard it is very similar to Advaita Vedanta.
I’ve found Samaneri Jayasara’s YouTube channel to have been right up my street. She tackles a range of traditions in a perennialist way which I find very appealing.
Hi Bunks,
Both schools I see as complementary. While the Thai Forest is very direct with "simple, crispy clear instructions", the Zen school does give me a few insights which, while challenging and mind boogling, have aided the first ones practice, and viceversa. The discipline stressed by the Thai Forest Tradition has been essential to even be able to practice shikantaza. What I miss sometimes is maybe a sangha that shares the same time-zone and geography to discuss and talk.
Lanzarote has two Buddhist centres, both Gelug. Don't know if it is better to frequent them to have some contact or if it is better not to keep mixing the ingredients in the mind's pot and also, potentially, disturb others practice as I have no intention to practice Vajrayana. They say Buddhism without a teacher can become like a messy garden. You attend the front display and let certain weeds proliferate and then adjust them to your needs, which at the end can hinder the path.
That’s interesting @Kotishka, I started out by studying at a Gelug temple. I found them to be very hospitable and good places to learn the basics, although not very focussed on practice outside of the monastic circle. There were puja’s you could attend but there wasn’t any meditative sitting.
1: Yes
2: I'm keen on some aspects of Mahayana, and I find myself occasionally harking back to Catholicism - not always in a good way, more of a critique - it was after all, a habit of a lifetime...
3: Probably Theravadin, but I'm open to other aspects and views...
Yes
If no, what? Do you mix Buddhism with another religion?
No
If yes, what tradition(s) do you primarily follow?
Ch'an actually
I don't trust. Expanding beyond the core of 4NT and 8FP feels like softer sand as a foundation for now. I feel stable on this footing and trust in it based on my experience so far. I can use it to find more truth for now.
I used to be more hotly persuant of Tendai Buddhism. I've found Chán to be a more accomodating path, almost like it's "default Buddhism." There are no big expectations that you'll have to pin your life, rhetorically-speaking, to any one set of sūtras or śāstras, the teachers are often more open-minded and less doctrinaire, etc. I don't regret my time spent in Tendai training at all. The abbot of the temple I visit, Cham Shan, has a dharma transmission associated with the Tendai sect too, so I haven't wandered far.
I guess going with the flow of what tickles my fancy.. I'm partial to Theravadin Mahayana Vajayana, and Banana ....
Thus have I heard ...All roads lead to Rome...well eventually..
I do consider myself a Buddhist
I started my Buddhism with a heavy dose of Gelug Tibetan Buddhism for many years, then drifted away and when I came back to it I had changed enough that many things about it no longer appealed to me. I then spent a couple years with a western Theravada group but also was allergic to certain aspects. So now I practice a mishmash of mainly western Theravada with a healthy mix of modern positive psychology/spirituality. I'm on my own path now, away from any group, I listen to a few hours of Buddhist and psychology podcasts while working to keep connected.
Hi all as well.
I do consider myself Buddhist but other ways have blended in. Taoism in a large way and in another way, Hinduism.
I mainly align with Zen, but Zen has many branches as well. I have taken refuge within the Plum Village tradition of Zen and taken the Five Mindfulness Trainings on the one hand and started training in Karate again on the other. My daughter chose that over dancing and my wife talked me into joining as a family. Karate has its roots in Zen which is why I used that as an option.
Hi all,
1 -Yes, not a "good" one, but a Buddhist all the same.
2 - I was born and raised Catholic and it does flavour my Buddhism. The first book I ever read was "Living Buddha, Living Christ" and then "Awakening The Buddha Within" TNH heavily influences my practice, as does Lama Surya Das and I follow both their accounts on Instagram.
3 - I am a mix of Tibetan and Zen as I consider TNH and Lama Surya Das my teachers. I have also undergone Green Tara Empowerment and took formal Boddhisattva vows last year. I found it profound and highly meaningful to me.
1 - Taking a break but still practicing mindfulness, giving feelings and thoughts gentleness, and trying to find out how to live each day, which includes compensating for: agitation/sloth, remorse, ill will, and craving/priorities
2 - I feel caution to look for syncretism. I get too much in my head and need to go into physical exertion.
3 - a Tibetan tradition and I still feel recollection to teachings about the interpenetration of worlds
Ah ha! Flexibility. Physical exertion is all around us. Very real, intense and modifying. For example my resident elderly fell on the top of the steep steps today with only a mad lobster to pull her up. Luckily screaming and swearing for help brought her up. She is safely in bed having dementia nightmares.
Physical pain, intense trauma, respond well to counter irritants such as Buddhist Prostrations, speed walking or even 'will movement' overcoming stagnating emotion with will power/exertion.
All practice.
@lobster you do good work, and bring a smile to this little world while doing it.
I suppose to be honest "seeker" is the best description. Buddhism has been and remains the largest influence but I am very drawn to Modern Druidry.
@rocala
… how about the best of both …
https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/the-green-buddha/
I'm a little late answering this question.
The time is always later than we think or just right, dependent on the tradition. Personally I like all facets of the jewelled sangha. A real potential inspiration.
How fortunate that online adepts can adapt our behavour just by example and talks. The dharma has so much to offer …
Better late than never
It’s funny how the Thai Forest tradition has turned out to be quite influential in this poll.
Thanks, @Bunks
1.) Yes
2.) N/A
3.) Tibetan (His Holiness The Dalai Lama said I could consider myself His student) and Zen. I tend to fluctuate between those two.
I think its down to earth nature and simple instructions to remain in the present moment appeal to Westerners.
Some of the other traditions probably feel a little mystic or difficult to understand.
I made this. I don't know if it's totally right, but I counted up what everyone said.
Nice work
Banana haha
Do you consider yourself Buddhist?
Yes
If yes, what tradition(s) do you primarily follow?
I am following the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh and Plum Village so I guess this is mainly from a Mahayana perspective, that draws elements from Zen and Theravada.
It’s a very good way to come into Buddhism, there are quite a few people here who follow Thay’s teaching. Have you tried the Plum Village app, it’s very good.
Yeah the App is great, I also try and partake as much as I can in some online Sanghas through Plum Village. They have a great network built up.