So where do you exactly start?

tickingcounter

So I am new and know nothing about Buddhism except that I know things aren't working right in my life and I need to broaden my mind. If I wanted to research this and eventually become Buddhist... where would I start?

Valtiel

Hi, :wavey:

I would start here: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/truths.html
And for meditation: http://video.google.de/videoplay?docid=-3529760254352711693#

tickingcounter

Sounds good! I was planning on browsing Books a Million tomorrow for some books but have yet to get there as I have to get my paycheck first!

Valtiel

I would take a look at this Thread too then: http://newbuddhist.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14

There's lots available for free online too though. http://www.what-buddha-taught.net/ < I would suggest Ajahn Chah personally although there are many good reads on this website. The other website I linked to, accesstoinsight, contains a good chunk of the Pali Canon, too, if you're looking for scripture.

tickingcounter

I would love to read some scriptures definitely... I will look through these and hopefully have an idea of what I should look for at the book store. I have a hard time reading on the internet so I either have to print it OR just suck it up. Nothing beats a book that you can put up on your shelf

GuyC

Hi Tickingcounter,

If you are a westerner who is new to Buddhism I would recommend two books which I have found particularly helpful. One is on meditation, one is a collection of short stories illustrating Buddhist themes.

Meditation: "Happiness Through Meditation" - Ajahn Brahm

Short Stories: "Opening the Door of Your Heart" - Ajahn Brahm

There is also a youtube channel with many of his talks: http://www.youtube.com/user/BuddhistSocietyWA

Also I highly recommend this question and answer series by Ajahn Jayasaro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keVDt96ufEo

I recommend Ajahn Brahm (who was trained by the famous Ajahn Chah, who Valtiel mentioned) highly because he has extensive experience both as a meditator and as a teacher, plus he is a westerner so he can relate to us well. Also, he's my favourite monk because he's just so friendly all the time and really practices what he preaches.

There are a lot of really good teachers out there. I recommend you look around and see what each of them has to offer, what their teaching style is and how well it suits you. There is no reason you need to choose one teacher and listen to them only. However, the best teacher of all is the Buddha himself. So, like Valtiel has suggested, have a read of the Pali Suttas and see what they have to say. You will start to know who is a good teacher by how well they can relate the Buddha's original teachings to a modern audience.

Admittedly, I am highly biased towards the teachers who come from the so-called "Thai Forest Tradition" but there are plenty of other good teachers in other schools of Buddhism, so browse around and see what works for you.

With Metta,

Guy

johnathan

I found these sites to be highly useful:

http://www.justbegood.net/Downloads.htm

http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma5/ebooks.html

http://www.buddhanet.net/budsas/ebud/ebidx.htm

mikaakim

I started looking at Buddhism last Friday... Today my wife asked me, if I wanted to be Buddhist. (We have been attending a catholic church)

I responded with..."I think so"

The members of this forum has the answers to so many questions, I advise asking what you need answered here.

I consider myself a Buddhist as of TODAY, as today I decided to take refuge in Buddhas teachings.

For those who have followed me this week on here, they will know what I mean when I say... I am not afraid today as I was last week.

With kindness

Richard

GuyC

I consider myself a Buddhist as of TODAY, as today I decided to take refuge in Buddhas teachings.

Welcome to the big happy family Richard.

FoibleFull

Things weren't working well in my life, either.

I started Beginner's Class at a local dharma centre. Just went every week and listened. Had the occasional question about technique. Didn't ask questions about theory because I figured confusion was okay, knowledge came from experience, and it would all eventually sort itself out. Went home and did the things they told us about (meditation, offerings, etc). I think I finally decided that I was a Buddhist after I had been attending for about 6 years ... still have unanswered questions but not concerned about it.

Mountains

Pema Chödrön has a wonderful book entitled "Start Where You Are" - could there be a better place to start?

Mtns

Javelin

Start simply by letting go. Admit that in truth, you don't 'know' anything about life. That what you've been taught, and what you've heard of scientific discovery, and all else is at some point in you 'belief' rather than seeing the truth for yourself.

Continue by not-thinking. Observe; see how things are in their immediacy from moment to moment. Ask of yourself what they are, what they do, what their nature is. The basic nature of one thing is the basic nature of all things, and nothing exists without its supports (no fire without oxygen, a fuel source, etc.). This is not to say that thought does not occur, but that you are walking through life mindfully, processing what 'is' of your own accord, coming to your own conclusions.

It is very beneficial to study the Dharma/Dhamma, of any tradition. They are all guides, each pointing toward the same basic reality that our minds of tendency shy away from. We do not want to not-exist, to have unfulfilled desire, to be put into situations beyond our control....why? To begin, we start at the beginning; where thought itself arises. This is the deepest we can go, for our entire understanding of life is based on how we think, and more importantly why we perceive our world as we do.

Good luck!

Namaste

Palzang

http://www.ustream.tv/palyulmedia

Palzang