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Tips/experience with keeping a Buddhist notebook?
This is an idea I've meant to get going a few times in the past, but never got anywhere with. Basically, I'm a very text-oriented person who likes having lists and references and all that jazz. I always keep an index card on me with the basic stuff (4NT, N8P, 5 hindrances) so that I can do a once-over and make sure I'm not missing anything, but I'd really like to have something bulkier. Specifically, I've got a 1.5" binder with more than 20 blank tabs, and just the sight of it makes me salivate.
Right now, all I've got in there is a marked up copy of Accesstoinsight's Introduction, and I really dig it, so I'll probably go through the site and find some more of the general purpose articles. I also like attempting to read suttas, so I'll probably grab some stuff from the Sutta Pitaka. Basically, anything I can print and probably read several times over without getting bored is worth it (it occurs to me the Dhammapada would be a good next choice). Alternatively, anything that fits my personality style, which really digs organization/hierarchies/lists/etc would be excellent, though I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking for there.
Also, for any other OCD-esque organizers out there: Any idea how I should work those tabs? Right now (in pencil), I just have the first one labeled "Introduction," but I'm not sure I like that -- organizing the whole thing by difficulty/experience level doesn't sound like it'll scale well. I might do sources (some will undoubtedly be way bulkier than others), though I'm not so sure. Otherwise, the obvious choice would be "subject matter," but I'd have a hard time coming up with categories that are the right level of specificity.
Thoughts? Experiences? Hugs?
Right now, all I've got in there is a marked up copy of Accesstoinsight's Introduction, and I really dig it, so I'll probably go through the site and find some more of the general purpose articles. I also like attempting to read suttas, so I'll probably grab some stuff from the Sutta Pitaka. Basically, anything I can print and probably read several times over without getting bored is worth it (it occurs to me the Dhammapada would be a good next choice). Alternatively, anything that fits my personality style, which really digs organization/hierarchies/lists/etc would be excellent, though I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking for there.
Also, for any other OCD-esque organizers out there: Any idea how I should work those tabs? Right now (in pencil), I just have the first one labeled "Introduction," but I'm not sure I like that -- organizing the whole thing by difficulty/experience level doesn't sound like it'll scale well. I might do sources (some will undoubtedly be way bulkier than others), though I'm not so sure. Otherwise, the obvious choice would be "subject matter," but I'd have a hard time coming up with categories that are the right level of specificity.
Thoughts? Experiences? Hugs?
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Comments
One of my favorite books is The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva. "If I have any understanding of compassion and the practice of the bodhisattva path, it is entirely on the basis of this text that I possess it." - H.H. the Dalai Lama
Hugs
I did this years ago, the problem I found was that it was difficult to decide what to put in and not to put in, and in the end I didn't actually look at it all that much. These days I tend to rely on a small "reference" collection of what I consider to be essential Buddhist texts and books.
P
I like your idea. I hope it works out for you. I know that in my personal path, I would want to dedicate one tab to each of the eight precepts. I'm working on studying those more in depth right now. Plus, YOU HAVE TWENTY TABS and that is awesome.
my suggestion for you though, get a binder with tabs that you can change. most just have a plastic sheath where you can slip in a card. this way you can try out a few different organization techniques and rearrange to your little ocd heart's delight.
i think if i had to rip out all of the pages and arrange them in an order, my groupings would end up being:
techniques- different explanations of meditations that i liked enough to write down
diagrams- i have diagrams explaining ichinen sanzen, the gohonzon, depictions of dharma wheels i enjoy, etc.
concepts- explanations of the eightfold path, for example
the gosho- a specific book titled "The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin" that is important for Nichiren buddhists to read. i'm sure you must have read some book or sutra several times now and find that you might quote this more than others.
quotes- random little explanations or quotes or whatever. sometimes even from people on forums
just keep in mind that it doesn't have to be taken too seriously. it's not like you are compiling your memoir or manifesto, haha. all it is is a compilation with the sole purpose of helping you along your path. anything helpful belongs
(I have 3 "layers" of tabs: 5 tabs, then 8 tabs, then 5 tabs)
First five tabs: Introductions, Meditation Exercises, blank, blank, blank
General purpose things. Inspired by an earlier post, I think it'd make sense to have one of them be lined paper personal notes. The rest, I'm waiting to see what I think up.
Next eight tabs: Noble Eightfold Path
It seemed obvious because of the number, but I didn't think I needed eight dedicated sections for each spoke of the Eightfold Path. But then I realized I was thinking too narrow: Instead of just dedicating those sections to their respective spokes, I've started organizing articles by which spoke they most help with. For example, I have an article on Pride and Conceit that discusses how those two things influence our actions, so I sorted it under Right Intention. It's a neat exercise in itself, because it really makes me mull over how the article relates to Buddhist practice. For those wondering, for Right Meditation/Concentration/What-have-you I put articles about meditation, while the earlier Meditation Exercises tab contains actual meditation routines (or will, once I have more than a couple).
Next Five tabs: Sutta Pitaka
I'm a nerd and like reading the source materials, so this just snapped once I began browsing through Access to Insight's Tipitaka for print-worthy materials. The Sutta Pitaka has the most readily graspable materials in the Tipitaka, and happens to have five divisions. I may eventually migrate this over to a pure Tipitaka binder, another project I've wanted to pursue, but for now this is handy enough.
Replies!
Aye, that's the hope. I can't say whether it's improving my practice yet, but I'm definitely finding myself curling up with my binder at night and being more engrossed with the material.
Luckily, it's a large binder, so it's at least mostly empty. Or mostly not full.
I dig where you're coming from. I won't stop carrying my index card with brief reference materials on it, but this feels like a nice supplement to that. That said, my fervor could very well die down in due time, and no doubt I should keep a smaller, more valued collection of the best stuff that I find.
As noted, I did just that. Good luck in your studying
I'm actually not to visual (I'm more of an auditory/textual person), but as an Education major, I have to give kudos to you for fitting resources to your style!
Thank you for sharing your organization
Thanks and good luck, everyone