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Just a quick question

SppircaSppirca
edited January 2010 in Buddhism Basics
This is my first real post on here and I just wondered something really.

I've only been reading about Buddhism for a while, but I find myself a bit bogged down by some of the terms in some places. From what I've read so far, the majority of the important aspects seem to stem mostly from the Four noble truths, so that is what I'm focusing on for now. Does that sound like a good place to start do people think?

It just seems to me that there is so much to think about in those four points that anything else might be getting ahead of myself!

Cheers :)

Comments

  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited January 2010
    well hello there!

    A good place to start?
    I would venture to opine that it is THE very best place - and maybe even the ONLY place - to start.
    It is after all, the subject of the very first lesson, the Buddha gave his very first Sangha, and one could arguably state that all subsequent teachings flow back, stream-like, to this teaching.
    Base your practice on the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path and the Five precepts.

    Simplify.
    Be aware, present and Mindul.

    That should keep you occupied for a good while!

    Welcome!
  • ValtielValtiel Veteran
    edited January 2010
    It is a good place to start--everything branches off from it, or perhaps I should say is contained within it.

    As for where to go next - well, what attracted you to Buddhism? What do you wish to get out of Buddhism?

    As a start, this is one of my favourite dhamma talks: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/chah/atasteof.html#middle

    It's clear and straightforward and basically explains the 4NTs and summarizes the core of Buddhism. :)
  • SppircaSppirca
    edited January 2010
    Thanks, good to know I'm on the right lines!

    What originally attracted me was actually that I stumbled across a translation of the heart sutra and gave it a read. I liked and agreed with what I read so I looked into things a bit further and liked it even more. :)

    In regards to what I want out of it, just happiness really. I often have a tendency to overthink things, so coming to a better understanding of myself and how the things around me affect me seems like sense to me!

    And that article seems really useful, thanks!
  • PalzangPalzang Veteran
    edited January 2010
    Well, happiness is what all sentient beings want. The problem is how to get it! Which is what the Buddha taught, lasting happiness.

    Palzang
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited January 2010
    I would also start with a meditation practice. And importantly whatever you read about see if it is true in your own life.
  • SppircaSppirca
    edited January 2010
    @ Jeffrey,

    I'm definitely trying to put things into relation with how they fit with my own life and experience. If they don't suit me right now or a concept is just a bit beyond me, I'm just putting it aside for now. In time hopefully these things will start to make more sense as I grow. And as far as meditation goes I've been dabbling for a while, starting to do it for slightly longer stretches now, my problem is concentration though :p
  • ericpeaseericpease
    edited January 2010
    I started by joining a temple and the monk there taught me well.

    but you'll have to find out which type of buddhism you would like to be in first now THATS WHERE TO START

    Im in a Nichiren temple but practice both Nichiren and Zen

    If you live in the country or a town like place or the outskirts of a city...try to find out online or some way about what, if any, buddhist temples are in your area

    and say u like zen but there is only a nichiren, go to the nichiren to get started and involved, all buddhist fields are "friends" and essentially the same, they just vary on what country there from and how they practice...from chantin, to praying, to meditation

    but all those practices lead to the same goal
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