WOW!!!

Midpack

At age 55 I've "discovered" Buddhism. Western religion never made sense to me but I was pretty much unaware of Buddhism. It has been a life-changing experience, even early in my new spiritual journey!

I stumbled on to A New Earth and other Tolle books, which led me to Buddhism for Dummies, Mindfulness in Plain English, Pema Chodron and then Lama Surya Das and many online reads. I cannot get enough, I've had one "a-ha" moment after another and keep asking myself how did I live for 55 years so unaware? Amazing...

However, there don't seem to be any places within driving distance to further my journey, so I am confined to reading, although it has been enlightening and most enjoyable. I am thinking about finding a weekend or weeklong retreat on Buddhism nearby, but no luck so far.

I don't know if I will become a Buddhist or not, but I can't imagine not continuing my exploration of Buddhism in my remaining years.

Just introducing myself, and looking forward to reading, learning and if possible contributing eventually.

AllbuddhaBound

Welcome. You sound a lot like me. I found Buddhism in my fifties and have no regrets.

Dazzle

Hi Midpack - and welcome !

There's a worldwide search facility at the Buddhanet site which might be helpful for finding a centre.


Kind regards,

Dazzle




.

Treehugger

Try Jon Kabat-Zinn's book, "Wherever You Go, There You Are". Pretty straightforward mindfulness explanation. Also, try google mapping "meditation", "buddhist" or "yoga", and you might find some good results.

One doesn't need to be a Buddhist to enjoy the fruits of being alive and awake.

Welcome

sukhita

Midpack wrote: »

At age 55 I've "discovered" Buddhism.

I 'found' Buddhism at age 60 after reading a book by HHDL.

I don't know if I will become a Buddhist or not, but I can't imagine not continuing my exploration of Buddhism in my remaining years.

HHDL quote:

Don't try to use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist;
Use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are.

Welcome to the forum

upekka

i was a born buddhist (a buddhist born to a buddhist family)

but

i met Teaching of Buddha when i was 43

since then

life is getting pleasurable day by day

zendo

sukhita wrote: »

I 'found' Buddhism at age 60 after reading a book by HHDL.

HHDL quote:

Don't try to use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist;
Use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are.

Newcomers to the path might not be aware that "HHDL" stands for "His Holiness, the Dalai Lama."

Congratulations, Midpack! You have been given a great gift. Keep reading about Buddhism, and try to find a "sangha" (group of Buddhists) near you, for they can teach and support you in ways that books can't.

Also: start meditating as soon as you are ready, for this is the foundation of the Buddhist path. Just close your eyes for a few minutes each day, and still your mind. In conjunction with your reading and spending time with other Buddhists, this practice will be of great benefit to you.

Welcome!

Quiet_witness

Welcome! A week retreat would be nice.

Palzang

Hi Midpack. It doesn't matter at what age you start. You start where you are.

Since you live in NW Indiana, are you close enough to Chicago to go there for a center? There are a number of them in town of different flavors. There are, as Dazzle pointed out, places on the Internet where you can search for places near you. I would also point out Tricycle, Shambala.org, and snowlionpubs.org. Our temple in Maryland (maybe a bit of a drive for you!) does put video teachings by our teacher, Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo (a western tulku) online for free. There are about 200 presently available. You can find them here. You are fortunate that at the present time there is a lot of Dharma online.

Palzang

Floating_Abu

Welcome midpack, seems like you are in good company here.

gassho.

skydancer

Midpack wrote: »

At age 55 I've "discovered" Buddhism. Western religion never made sense to me but I was pretty much unaware of Buddhism. It has been a life-changing experience, even early in my new spiritual journey!

I stumbled on to A New Earth and other Tolle books, which led me to Buddhism for Dummies, Mindfulness in Plain English, Pema Chodron and then Lama Surya Das and many online reads. I cannot get enough, I've had one "a-ha" moment after another and keep asking myself how did I live for 55 years so unaware? Amazing...

However, there don't seem to be any places within driving distance to further my journey, so I am confined to reading, although it has been enlightening and most enjoyable. I am thinking about finding a weekend or weeklong retreat on Buddhism nearby, but no luck so far.

I don't know if I will become a Buddhist or not, but I can't imagine not continuing my exploration of Buddhism in my remaining years.

Just introducing myself, and looking forward to reading, learning and if possible contributing eventually.

Welcome--

Pema Chodren and Eckhart Tolle--great sources of wisdom. I'm your age. It doesn't matter what age you start each moment is an opportunity to awaken.

zendo

sky dancer wrote: »

each moment is an opportunity to awaken.

Words to live by!

Midpack

Palzang wrote: »

Since you live in NW Indiana, are you close enough to Chicago to go there for a center? There are a number of them in town of different flavors.

Chicago is about an hour away from my home, so I can certainly go there on an exception basis, but not sure I could manage weekly.

Thanks for your kind thoughts everyone. The journey has only begun...

Palzang

Yeah, I know it's a long haul from Gary, which is right over the line, up to the city. But maybe you could find a place you like and go there when you feel the need for some group practice or something.

Palzang