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Hello again
I was, until very recently, extremely interested in Buddhism but then, after dropping out of school and losing my job, I kinda fell into a depressed slump. But having reached a realization that I need to work on some things inside myself to get myself moving again, I decided to delve once more into Buddhism and was hoping someone could recommend me some forms of practice and/or reading material to get me back into the habit.
TL;DR I just got back into Buddhism and I need someone to tell me what to do again!
TL;DR I just got back into Buddhism and I need someone to tell me what to do again!
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Tara Brach has her own podcasts. I highly recommend them. It always helps me when I get off track on my practice for awhile to listen to a guided meditation, to meet with a group or listen to some dynamite teachings.
Wishing you success in your highest practice aspirations!
http://www.BuddhaNet.net and http://www.AccessToInsight.org
Edit: That is where most of my confusion comes from. I agree with the philosophy and ideals of buddhism, but I want to get to a point where I can successfully implement them into my life, but its quite difficult.
Dukkha is one of the most easily understood concepts. You could call it suffering, unsatisfactoriness, stress, and a variety of other English words; none of which is a perfect translation. Unsatisfactoriness or dissatisfaction is the best way to describe it. Think about it. Nothing is satisfactory or things would stay the same. Everything is changing constantly; we as humans are never satisfied, always wanting this or that, or something to stay the same or to change when we actually can't control it. The entire *universe* is changing from moment to moment; if anything was satisfactory, if anything was supposed to be the way it is, then all of this change would not occur.
Dukkha, or unsatisfactoriness, occurs because everything is Impermanent (Impermanence is another Buddhist concept). All is impermanent because everything is constantly changing. Change occurs through the process of Dependent Origination (which is "cause and effect"). Our Karma, or intentional thoughts/actions, can cause beneficial change if they are skillful actions; wholesome actions. Or they can lead to harm. We spend a great deal of time learning how to differentiate between skillful and unskillful karma, because our actions are how we directly affect our world.
So our own dukkha, or suffering, is caused by our minds trying to be in control of the uncontrollable. Conceiving of permanence in an impermanent reality. Craving, desiring, needing to continue to live and to get what it wants. Otherwise... suffering. Even joyful things have an element of suffering. You desire money; if you don't get it, you suffer. If you *do* get it, then you must protect it from theft, struggle with trying not to spend it all, and you of course want more. You always want more. If you have more money than God, then you'll want something else. It's an endless cycle of need; not need that is natural, but need that is born of our selfishness; selfishness born of ignorance of the true nature of all reality.
I've probably said too much. I ramble sometimes. Sorry.
I can imagine that, without a live teacher, it would be more difficult to learn the little things you can think and do through your day that are used to implement buddhism into your life. Therefore, I recommend finding a live teacher, or at least a sangha to hang out with.