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Why did you become Buddhist? Did it change your life?
Why did you become Buddhist? Did it change your life? In what way?
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I settled for the Tradition of Theravada, and Took Refuge officially, in 2008.
It has changed my life, for the better.
In too many ways to mention!:D
Would you care to describe some of the ways it changed your life?
Just when I thought I had learned and understood the height of science, philosophy, quantum physics, and metaphysics (beyond what less than 1% of the population is even aware of, advanced and esoteric), I arrived in my Philosophy of Religions college course (I am extremely anti-theist btw), and we reached the topic of Buddhism. My college professor was teaching and having a discourse about the big metaphysical questions and this is what happened.
As he was talking about these big philosophical questions (God, nature of reality, afterlife), I sat there arrogantly thinking, "Pssh, I already know all the answers to this." And then he told us the Buddha's response to these questions: "He would turn and look at you in silence." That's when it when it struck me and I realized that Buddha not only taught the advanced philosophical teachings I already knew, but he was FAR beyond that.
I realized that despite my advanced understanding, even I tended to cling to certain ideas, speculation, and belief. But Buddha said ALL beliefs are barriers to knowing the truth. Just be silent and know.
.
I don't know that I've "officially" taken refuge, but I suppose by default I have. How has it changed my life? Oy veh... that's a big one. Let's just say that there's very little about my outlook that hasn't changed. I still have the same basic life. I still go to the grocery store and I still pay my bills and I still play with my dogs. But my outlook is very different than it used to be. And I hope my behavior and my interpersonal dealings have changed a lot too.
Mtns
I've had 3-4 years of misery, anticipated by a depressing teenage years.
but, somehow i got better.
I was doing alot of thinking about life, how one should approach it, making my own observations.
At one point, when i was about 27-28, I believed i was enlighten, or that i had the enlightenment within the reach of my hand.
Even tho i knew nothing of Buddhism.
In my very limited knowledge of it, I thought of Buddhism as just another religion.
I had no interest in it.
Until one day I was talking to my (soon to become wife) girl friend about the things that I had observe of life.
My wife is korean (I'm white), and she was familiar with Buddhism.
Every single thing that i was telling her, about emotions, about life, about concepts, about how human interact and act and why do they act a certain way, she told me it was very similar to Buddhism.
So I began to be interested in Buddhism.
I've read a few books, and every pages i turned i would find something that took me a long time to figure out.
I would just show a page to my wife and read it to her, and i will follow with something like:"see, it's just like when i say this or that, but they phrased it differently".
(I still had a strong ego
So from then on i figured, what is the point of figuring all of that stuff all by myself, it's like learning about mathematic, you can figure out a few concepts by yourself but you will progress much faster if you just go to mathematic course at the university.
So I figured i should take some course in the university of life, i will save alot of time.
How did i change?
I never get upset anymore.
Build up emotions are no longer there and no longer build up
You don't know me, so they would mean nothing to you, really....
But those very close to me, know well....:)
I can hardly remember how that felt like.
So far it has made a substantial change in how I view the world.
My life and beliefs were already along the lines of Buddhism, but I was completely unaware of it. I've led a fortunate life for 55 years with relatively little suffering, would have been even better had I known. But I had no idea until I read A New Earth and subsequently several Buddhist books, DVD's, etc. It was almost as if someone had created a philosophy tailor made for me, it made everything make more sense than ever, one 'a-ha' moment after another.
I have probably learned 1% of it, can see 10%, and I know the other 90% is out there now. I liken it to standing at the shore on the ocean - I can see everything at my feet very clearly, and I can see a long way out from the shore but not as clearly, and I know it goes on forever beyond what I can see (yet). I can't wait for the rest of my spiritual life.
BuddhaOdin, you ask many questions. Out of curiousity, do you consider yourself a Buddhist? If so, what sources do you use for learning Buddhism? Thanks.
I was raised Catholic by an uber strict Roman Catholic dad and a non-observant Jewish mother who converted to Catholicism to marry my dad (back then you had to convert - Catholicism was showing those Jewish roots LOL). I always questioned things. Not to upset people but I was quite a nosey child. The priests and nuns grew to regard me with suspicion but it was very innocent. When I was 17 we did a comparative religions course and Buddhism and Judaism were two of the religions we studied. Judaism was interesting from a heritage point of view, but Buddhism fascinated me because the monks were just so CALM. Nothing seemed to upset them. However I couldn't quite get my head around anatta (no self) so I kept reading about it and decided to use Buddhist meditations while exploring other faiths.
I was drawn to Celtic and Egyptian history and after meeting a woman who turned out to be a traditional Garderian Wiccan (this was pre-internet LOL), I was invited to meet and later join her coven. I remained Gardnerian Wiccan for 8 years before finding a Kemetic (Egyptian) temple and remained there till last year.
I have never stopped reading about Buddhism or using Buddhist meditation. But after leaving the Temple last year, I really asked myself what path was for me. I had sporadic periods of immersing myself in Buddhism and finding it to be very calming and centering - ironically, almost ALWAYS during a crisis, and then pulling back when things were fine. About four or five months ago, I decided to seriously study and follow Buddhism. I've had my hiccups but have also found this place and am learning from people here
The interesting thing is, I still believe in the Gods. True, it's hard to reconcile fully with my practise. But I've wondered if perhaps reaching Nibbana for me is being able to let go of that belief and just BE?
Respectfully,
Raven
PS - Odin is one of my Patrons.
Being that there are four stages of awakening (Nibbana being the last), you may at any time reach such a state that you let go of beliefs that you find to be incompatible with the self-knowledge you gain, or that you simply no longer feel you need. There are many more important things to abandon before this, the foremost of which is the illusion of "self".
Awakening is gradual and does take some time, but there's no rush in the abandonment of all of your "beliefs" right at the start. Simply understand the concepts taught in Buddhism and practice its teachings, and when the conditions are right you will simply know.
Do I seem Buddhist? I will answer you.
You seem to be a seeker - you remind me of me.
This has also been my experience.
Couldn't have said it better myself!
Again, likely not.
Then why I ask?
I am studying Buddhism - I have some books on Buddhism but I have not finished reading them.
Where did you get the idea I was saying, or even thinking, it was wrong to ask questions?
My heart opened at the first retreat I attended in 1982 and it completely terrified me, which is why it took me three years before I went to another retreat. I didn't have a teacher or community until meeting my partner and having relationships was crucial to my unfolding path.
My life continues to be blessed and changed by the dharma and I have a daily practice as well as several retreats throughout the year to keep my committments.
It is delightful to meet and share the path of practice with all of you here. May this forum continue to help all sentient beings until samsara is empty.