Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In Register
Examples: Monday, today, last week, Mar 26, 3/26/04
Welcome home! Please contact lincoln@icrontic.com if you have any difficulty logging in or using the site. New registrations must be manually approved which may take several days. Can't log in? Try clearing your browser's cookies.

New to this... and needing some help...

MangafairyMangafairy
edited May 2010 in Buddhism Basics
I'm not sure where to start really... I was brought up a Christian but I don't really believe in a God, I believe more it improving myself as a person (and if there were a God, I'm sure he'd let anyone who was a good person in no matter what religion!) But I like the idea of Buddhism, from what I've read I agree with an awful lot of it! But I'm not sure how important Rebirth is and such. I don't know if I view it quite right, I kind of picture tha you can get to a point where you are no longer 'suffering' in life and can be content with most things and understand. I'm not sure about what happens when you die, other than that you go back into the nutrient cycle and help new life grow.

How important is the idea of Rebirth? And is it the type I picture? Where you come back again a different person/animal or whatever and have forgotten everything? :S


I read that Theravada doesnt emphasise rebirth (but I dont know for sure or my sources reliability)...I hope I don't seem too stupid, and maybe if I can't believe in the rebirth side of it I can still follow the principles and be a good person... I think I'd be happy with just being kind

:)Thankyou

Comments

  • NiosNios Veteran
    edited May 2010
    Hi Mangafairy, and welcome :)

    It really depends on what tradition you follow and under whose guidence. Some will tell you it's important, some will not and some will go on and on and on and on and on... (just take a look around the forum!)

    For now, just keep on doing what you're doing :)

    Nios.
  • MangafairyMangafairy
    edited May 2010
    I don't know where to start, like and I'm sorry to phrase it like this, but the Buddhist version of the Ten Commandments... like I've read of The Four Noble Truths and The Five Precepts... but I'm never going to consider killing anyone and steal or lie, (I may fail and drink ocassionaly but not to some ridiculous excess that's near binge drinking). I suppose I nead something a bit more than those foundations, like an aim each day... that's how my brain workds, set a target sort of thing.

    I could try meditating, (I used to study Aikido) so I'm not terrible at it... altho I have fallen asleep before, if I'm not thinking I just fall asleep :D Bettwer work on that!
  • MangafairyMangafairy
    edited May 2010
    ...many people argue you can't clear your mind completely, but I'm able to think of nothing... just blank (perhaps that's not normal :D) or perhaps I just think I am :S
  • NiosNios Veteran
    edited May 2010
    Try finding a sangha (group of Buddhists) near by and join in. They are ususally friendly and understand that many people like to "test the water" before commiting. There's no pressure.
    There are some nice materials here http://www.buddhanet.net/

    Nios.
  • NiosNios Veteran
    edited May 2010
    Mangafairy wrote: »
    ...many people argue you can't clear your mind completely, but I'm able to think of nothing... just blank (perhaps that's not normal :D) or perhaps I just think I am :S

    Good for you :)
  • MangafairyMangafairy
    edited May 2010
    Nios wrote: »
    Good for you :)
    Mocking me? :D I just don't think it's really normal :/ Because everyone I've asked aren't able to...
  • NiosNios Veteran
    edited May 2010
    No, not mocking you. Not at all.
  • NiosNios Veteran
    edited May 2010
    Though you should know that the aim of meditation isn't to blank the mind, but to still the mind. So that one is more focused and clear.

    Nios.
  • MangafairyMangafairy
    edited May 2010
    Nios wrote: »
    Though you should know that the aim of meditation isn't to blank the mind, but to still the mind. So that one is more focused and clear.

    Nios.

    I didn't mind if you were... and it's definately not more focused just blank... If it's not blank then I just think about what I can hear and stuff. Maybe it will take a lot of practise!
  • NiosNios Veteran
    edited May 2010
    It takes a LOT of practice.
    Read this http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.118.than.html
    and this http://www.vipassana.com/meditation/anapanasati_meditation_on_breathing.php
    This is a good starting place.
  • MangafairyMangafairy
    edited May 2010
    Thanks, 'It is at this stage that the "signs" or mental images appear heralding the success of concentration.' Have you experienced this?
  • FoibleFullFoibleFull Canada Veteran
    edited May 2010
    Mangafairy wrote: »
    How important is the idea of Rebirth? And is it the type I picture? Where you come back again a different person/animal or whatever and have forgotten everything? :S


    :)Thankyou

    How important is the idea of Rebirth? Not at all.

    And I say this, coming from the Tibetan tradition in which rebirth is a big deal.

    If the idea of rebirth motivates you to do your practice, then it is a good thing (although there are many other motivators).
    If it helps you understand that what you do has consequences, then that doesn't hurt (although there are lots of ways to gain this understanding.
  • thickpaperthickpaper Veteran
    edited May 2010
    Mangafairy wrote: »
    But I'm not sure how important Rebirth is and such.....

    I'm not sure about what happens when you die, other than that you go back into the nutrient cycle and help new life grow.

    How important is the idea of Rebirth?

    Hi Mangafairy,

    It is a question often asked that you ask, I think there are three broad kinds of answer and you can choose either while still following Buddha Dharma.

    1) You can believe that rebirth is literal and Samara real, that the Buddha knew this and taught this throughout his life.

    2) You can believe that the Buddha was largely agnostic on the issue and as such realised it is a futile and necessarily fruitless discussion hence often appearing to rule out such questions.

    3) You can believe that the Buddha was actually convinced there was no rebirth and taught this, but that the message got distorted over the millennia.


    One of the many great things about dharma and Buddhism is that it can quite easily accommodate all three very considered but disparate views.


    So as for yourself, I guess you have a pscyological, philosophcial and spiritual project ahead to find out which one of those three makes sense.

    This realisation wont actually improve your undertsaning of dharma - this point is outside of Dharma - but it will allow you to know where you are and thus not get involved with internet fights about rebirth:)

    namaste
Sign In or Register to comment.