An online approach
I am picking up reading material again and opening up to modifying my food intake to minimize meat consumption and I am looking for a local Sangha as well, because I've never been to one and I need to feel like I can learn to take better control of my emotions, because I have anger issues and I know I'm hurting the one closest to me, as well as myself. So practicing meditation and actually meeting practitioners of Buddhism could be a next step for me. Problem is that the community I've found that seems nice enough only seem to have events on the countryside even though even though they have two properties in the capital. I can't afford to travel there, especially not on a weekly basis. They also offer online participation for their meditations which is nice. I'd like to try that and do it regularly if it works, but I don't think I can become a part of a Sangha I don't meet in person and don't exchange thoughts and feelings with. I'm worried the possibilities are very limited to make real, live human interactions a part of this Sangha experience that I'm seeking. There are other lines and communities of course, but they're either Zen Buddhists practicing Zazen (I don't think the rigidity of it is for me, personally) or some offer all kinds of courses and pricey yearly tickets for their meditation events and it just rubs me the wrong way... So I guess my question is: am I approaching this wrong, looking for a group to meditate with that I could potentially become a more active part of? And if that's okay, how bad is it if almost all of it is just sitting in quiet through each others' screens? What is the experience I should be seeking as someone usually not very confident, just trying to get into practicing as a layperson? Thanks in advance.
Comments
You could also try volunteering with a Buddhist group… that way there might be less meditation but more being of service, and there would be no payment involved.
I'm not sure what volunteer work is there. Can ask, but due to my long work shifts my availability is rather limited. Not against the idea, but I'd rather have my wife's support in all this and I can imagine her reaction if I start off by providing unpaid labor to a religious group.
There are also small private meditation circles, not associated with a temple or organisation. When I was looking into group meditations I found a few larger organisations who would charge about 10 euros for a one hour session in a large shared space… this was too much for my budget… but I also found smaller circles who would operate from someone’s home, and these were usually free of charge. Local newspapers, ad boards in supermarkets, local magazines and websites were the places you could find them.
Hey Robin,
I applaud your wish to be part of a real life sangha.
The Chan group in my city also has a meditation center in the countryside, around 1.5 hours from the city. However, they make efforts for people to car-share whenever possible.
So, one practical solution might be:
Where there's a will, there's a way! Usually 😂
Thank you for the replies so far. I feel like the general idea is that one should indeed seek out offline connection with a Sangha and a primarily online experience would not be very sufficient. That might be the case. Well, the one I'm talking about is unfortunately 3,5 hours by train so it wouldn't be faster by car and I often barely have the time and energy to just go to the other side of the city. Car sharing would still cost me dearly this way, especially if I'd eventually want to support the Sangha as well. So I think the best way to go about it will be to attend online meditations, try to reach out to a member or two in between sessions and ask about their own offline communities, hopefully the'll be one nearby I can visit that the main group organizing these events wouldn't disapprove of. I certainly would want to avoid Sanghas where they are strict about what reading material and practices you're allowed to follow (from their own founder, no one else, etc) or where some current politics or xenophobia interfere with teachings and the general mood, but I could not decide for myself until I'm exposed to it, so all I have is what a few individuals write online about their own experiences and mostly not even that.
Well, when I was studying at the Tibetan Buddhist temple (of the Geluk school), they promoted the writings of the Rinpoche, but they didn’t restrict you from reading other authors.
3,5 hours by train is a long way, I would also look for closer options.
You could try this Cundi practice/sadhana. The only known mantra the Shakyamuni used and advocated before buddhism became a religious fracture and factionalism...
If you want some homework...
https://newbuddhist.com/discussion/22760/zen-enlightenment-in-this-lifetime/p1
And/Or you you could be 'a leaf on the wind'
https://www.treeleaf.org/
Thank you. Nice of you. Oh, I just noticed where you live. There must be a boom in looking for ways to de-stress right now.
I'm guessing he just moved in the hopes that he'll become a US citizen... 😏😂
Creative, @Lobster is. Hilarious one 😅
ALL insight, ALL growth, ALL movement towards enlightenment comes from training your mind, through meditation, TO become and reside in open awareness. That is just the start.
“You have to do your own work; Enlightened Ones will only show the way. Those who practise meditation will free themselves from the chains of death.” Dhammapada 20.276
The actual change starts when you begin to recapture that level of observational awareness when NOT meditating. It can take as long as 5 to 15 years to start to have the first wisps of insight which generate minor inner change. From there .. it just builds over time as you continue your daily meditation practice and work at developing non-meditative awareness. It IS worth it, but it's not a quick fix.
For a partial and quick fix, try cognitive behavioral therapy. You can change a negative reaction pattern in just weeks, depending on the nature and cause of the problem and on your own efforts.
For slow but thorough inner change .. Buddhism is the path. If you no sangha or teaching, do Vipassana meditation. It is the only form of Buddhism designed to work witout a teacher to coach your practice. I recommend "Mindfulness in Plain Engnlish" by Bhante Gunarata. Often available on amazon (although the back of the book asks you to GIVE it way when you are done with it .. and NOT sell it for profit!). But it is the best written guide I have run across in my 25 years of doing Buddhism.
However, a local teaching monk is ALWAYS the best coach. It doesn't matter which Buddhist discipline the monk has been trained in .. they all work, when done properly.