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Tell about your first encounter with the Sangha

jatijati
edited February 2010 in Buddhism Basics
Hi newbuddhisties ;)

A few weeks ago I had the courage to meet a Buddhist group in my hometown. And I'm curious to hear about your experiences with this particular step in your own life.

The background: I've been interested in Buddhism for several years, but it intensified two years ago. And it's nearly two years ago, that someone asked me, if I'm a Buddhist (because I wanted to see the Dalai Lama on his visit in Berlin), and I said: "No." Today I wouldn't say that I'm a Buddhist either, but I would explain it much more detailed ;)

Two years later I still wasn't sure, if I was ready to meet other people who are interested in Buddhism. My fear was, that I perhabs don't like them - does this make any sense to you? ;)

It turned out that the people in this local group are very nice and helpful. I meet them regularly now and I think that their insights and suggestions are very valuable for me. I don't agree with everything they say and think about Buddhism, but that's pretty normal, isn't it. Something I appreciate very much about Buddhas teachings is, that he taught to be sceptical and to think for yourself. I like that :)

A woman in this group told me, that it has taken her eight years, before she had the courage to meet other Buddhists. So, what about you? I'm very interested in your stories :)

Comments

  • nuageuxnuageux
    edited February 2010
    After much procrastination, I decided to meet my local buddhist group just over a year and a half ago. I'd been meditating on and off for a few years before - mostly inventing my own methods from bits and peices I'd read here and there, but I wanted to learn how to meditate "properly", or with some guidance. So my main reason for going was for meditation, though I was still interested in buddhism too.
    jati wrote: »
    Two years later I still wasn't sure, if I was ready to meet other people who are interested in Buddhism. My fear was, that I perhabs don't like them - does this make any sense to you? ;)

    I was more worried they wouldn't like me. ;) Or that somehow I wouldn't fit in. I couldn't have been more wrong - they're probably the most welcoming and friendly group of people I've ever met. I feel that it has made me aware of the importance of sanga.

    I moved away from the area about six months ago, and sadly haven't yet found a similar group that I can go to where I live now.

    I don't call myself a buddhist - I don't feel that I know enough about buddhist teachings at this point. But I agree with most of what I've heard about buddhist philosophies so far, and put into practice, it does seem to work very well. So I guess you could say that I lean towards buddhism. ;)
    jati wrote: »
    Something I appreciate very much about Buddhas teachings is, that he taught to be sceptical and to think for yourself. I like that :)

    I like that too. From what little I know about religion, you don't seem to find that in many religions.
  • PalzangPalzang Veteran
    edited February 2010
    I first encountered Buddhist (i.e. real, living Buddhism vs textbook Buddhism that left me cold) when I was in Japan in the Air Force in the early '70s. When I got back to the US, I couldn't wait to find a sangha to practice with. I was in grad school in Chicago and found a small Zen group on the north side of town that was run by a wonderful man who was a Jodo Shinshu priest but ran a Zen group for us gaijin. I felt right at home from the get-go and have never looked back since.

    Palzang
  • RayfieldNeelRayfieldNeel
    edited February 2010
    I've been fascinated by Buddhism for the better part of 25 years, on and off. I began experimenting with samatha, vipassana, and zazen a few years ago, learning from the written word and from podcasts, which have been a wonderful way to receive teachings from distant teachers of all kinds.

    Something personally painful happened to me a couple of years ago, painful enough to rock my notions about what is permanent and dependable in my life. Suddenly many of the readings and audio teachings that I'd been partaking of really came into focus and made sense. I can't say that they mitigated the pain, but they helped me to understand it and "make some space", if that makes any sense.

    I began looking for a sangha, because I felt like my practice in isolation may be lacking something. I've been meeting with a local Thich Nhat Hanh group for nearly a year, and have met with a local, (somewhat loosely organized) Soto Zen group a couple of times. It's an exercise in contrasts.. the TNH group is very social and touchy/feely (eg., the "Hugging Meditation" that was part of last Sunday's particular ritual), and the Zen group is sorta like "meditating alone, with other people". (in fairness, we do have a group reading after zazen, with some discussion).

    I feel like I've gotten a tangible benefit from being with groups..it's psychologically supportive, and keeps me motivated. :)

    Sorry, this became more wordy than I intended...
  • NiosNios Veteran
    edited February 2010
    My first encounter with a buddhist sangha wasn't actually that great. It was a Tibetan group and felt just like going to church and the monks were treated almost as "untouchable". I felt very uncomfortable around them and I really was not keen on the chanting at all. It was not what I was looking for. The only thing I did enjoy was the meditation.
    Luckily I wasn't deterred by this. I found a small zen group (thich nhat hanh) locally and enjoyed it. No chanting, no-one treated better than the other, all equal. The only down side was me being 20yrs younger than the youngest member there. :eek: :lol:
    This was when I really got going.
    Now I'm part of a Tendai group and chanting is par of the course, but I love it! :p Go figure!
    I suppose I have grown and left my prejudices at the door with my shoes :lol:

    Nios.
  • Floating_AbuFloating_Abu Veteran
    edited February 2010
    jati wrote: »
    Hi newbuddhisties ;)

    A few weeks ago I had the courage to meet a Buddhist group in my hometown. And I'm curious to hear about your experiences with this particular step in your own life.

    The background: I've been interested in Buddhism for several years, but it intensified two years ago. And it's nearly two years ago, that someone asked me, if I'm a Buddhist (because I wanted to see the Dalai Lama on his visit in Berlin), and I said: "No." Today I wouldn't say that I'm a Buddhist either, but I would explain it much more detailed ;)

    Two years later I still wasn't sure, if I was ready to meet other people who are interested in Buddhism. My fear was, that I perhabs don't like them - does this make any sense to you? ;)

    It turned out that the people in this local group are very nice and helpful. I meet them regularly now and I think that their insights and suggestions are very valuable for me. I don't agree with everything they say and think about Buddhism, but that's pretty normal, isn't it. Something I appreciate very much about Buddhas teachings is, that he taught to be sceptical and to think for yourself. I like that :)

    A woman in this group told me, that it has taken her eight years, before she had the courage to meet other Buddhists. So, what about you? I'm very interested in your stories :)

    Good for you, jati :)

    zendo06%201.jpg
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