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Buddhist Sects
I am a person who is into Buddhism but not into any "Sect" of Buddhism.. I think there are many ways into liberation and dont think one sect is right and the other is wrong.. SHOULD I start practicing in a sect or can I just remain meditating, pondering, and reading? Can this lead to Nirvana?
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There are those more skilled than I am at addressing your question.
However, if I may make a comment.
I am interested in your use of the word 'into' - you are 'into' Buddhism but not 'into' any sect of Buddhism. I gain the impression you are grasping after something which you label Buddhism, but avoiding something you label 'sect'.
Perhaps it is best you join a Buddhist community where you might become more aware of your thinking here.
@SherabDorje Do I need to practice the sects to gain some experience? Isn't just researching enough?
You can do basic vipassana and shamatha based on research only. They are common to all schools and the real basis of Buddhist practice.
If I had a better understanding of what you mean by "sect" I would be able to answer better. There are "schools" that emphasize some things over others, but, again, I don't know of any specific "sects" that are far enough out of the "mainstream" to be called "sects".
It's like ice cream. Lots of flavors, but still just ice cream. Pralines and cream, Rum Raisin... (I met Baba Rum Raisin once...).
Seriously the benefit of the sects is that you one have a teacher. I can look in my book for why someone can benefit from a teacher (a thought out explanation), but I think its kind of aparent that a teacher might help particularly with buddhist meditation and dharma. Which is a little less obvious than 'how to roof a house'. There is a danger that the student will either have false views based upon misunderstandings for example. A teacher can point out your own wisdom for seeing reality. The second is that in a community you jump into a pool of energy that makes it easier for you. Its like yeah you can learn kung fu from the web at home but if you go to a gym that is going to help give you the energy to overcome obstacles.
It's best not to rush into anything too quickly and just focus on investigating the core teachings of the historical Buddha first. A good place to start looking at the basics is the big Buddhanet site.
http://www.buddhanet.net/
Kind wishes,
Dazzle
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A Sect is the same thing as a school or denomination.
Zen is a sect, Pure Land is a sect, Theravada is a sect, Tibetan is a sect....and most of these also have sub-sects.
The reasons are partly because there are so many suttas/sutras that we cannot embrace all of them...some still have never been translated into english which I suspect would be an issue for most people on this board. So each sect tends to find certain suttas/sutras that they feel contain the essence.
Another reason is cultural. As Buddhism moves into a new area, as it becomes established in that area it will take one certain cultural flavours.
Another is that individuals respond to different things.
Some want their Buddhism down to earth and "rational", some want it more mystical.
Some want multiple techniques, others love simplicity. Some like a moralistic approach, some a meditative, some a devotional.
For the most part, all the sects tend to get along very well, because we all agree on the basics, we just take slightly different routes to get to the destination. So there is nothing wrong with sectarianism in Buddhism. I think it is almost inevitable that at some point a person will gravitate to one tradition or another, and it can actually be difficult to be focused if you are straddling too many traditions.
Probably there is nothing wrong with a bit of mixing...lately I mix Soto and Shin and see them as entirely complimentary. some traditions don't really interest me at all, but that doesn't mean I think they are lesser or a problem in any way.
So sectarianism really only becomes a problem if we make it one. Otherwise I think we do best to actually pick a path that fits our situation. If the situation changes, maybe then you might wish to change paths...that's ok too although is not a decision that should be taken too lightly. Sometimes difficulties on any path are necessary for our development.
I say practice with a teacher/school if you find one that really connects with you, and if not, just continue to do what you're doing. I agree with Plato that learning by persuasion is much more preferable than learning by forcing, so forcing yourself into a sectarian framework that you're not comfortable with is counter-productive.
@Jeffrey I hold that sects are those schools or a community of Buddhists who think they can achieve Nirvana in that way that they think probable... e.g., Pure Land Buddhism thinks it can be done by being reborn in the pure land of Amitabha... This is my understanding....
@Dazzle I have studied The Buddha's life and teachings from many books...
And, I have a temperament like, there can be many ways to Nirvana - all are true
So what do I do?
I don't know really what you by 'practicing Dhamma'. Perhaps you are applying some of the virtues while abstaining from other behaviour. This is beneficial.
But I am concerned about your use of 'sect'. Sect has a very Western and negative meaning. While I am not denying there are sects within Buddhism, there are what are known as schools within Buddhism. Different schools follow a particular lineage of teaching. There are also broader traditions. Mahayana and Theravada are two traditions with each of which you will find schools. It can get quite complicated to the uninitiated.
The important thing is that each each follows a particular teaching pattern stretching back to the Buddha. If you are really interested in practicing Buddhism I would urge you to seek a well known tradition and school and setting into some regular teaching and practice.
May your journey bring peace to all you meet.
The following is just my opinion: The Buddha's teaching as we have it now has come down through the different "schools" or "sects" of Buddhism. Thus all the teachings available to us have been influenced by these different schools/sects in one way or another - making them "sectarian" in nature. Non-sectarian Buddhsim would then be the teachings as the Buddha taught it and not how it has been presented by the different schools/sects. Such "non-sectarian" Buddhism simply does not exist. If I'm off the mark here, I will appreciate the views of others.
Seconded.
... and thank you for not pointing out all my grammatical errors.
Even though I am primarily interest in the TFT, there is no reason why I can't read a book by the Dalai Lama or listen to a talk by a Zen teacher. Each tradition has its strong points. Don't worry about it too much, in the words of Ajahn Chah, "Try to be mindful and let things take their natural course".
Never. Too many English as second language people here. But the *asterisks instead of quotation marks* drives me absolutely stark raving mad.
Hi Nidish, just saw this here.... actually i replied you in the other thread already ...:p but just want to add, can you chant? do you believe in chanting? If yes, i want to recommend you chant OM MANI PADME HUNG... first as a beginning... just take some time in the morning, after you wake up, and before you sleep, chant this mantra maybe 108 times on a rosary then dedicate the merit so that all beings attain Buddhahood. Then after that pray that you can meet someone who can really guide you.
And yes, what the others say is very true: Cool down your urgency. Take time to read and learn first.
One good webpage is also http://www.accesstoinsight.org/
You can read about the Dhammapada, Lam-Rim etc
Lam-Rim website is
http://www.thubtenchodron.org/GradualPathToEnlightenment/articles_and_transcripts_of_teachings_on_lamrim.html
I also have a bit of a problem with the teacher/student aspect. I've read that a teacher is good as they guide you, and that reading of the texts alone means you have to interpret them without guidance which can lead to error. The problem I have is that if I allow another to guide me then I risk absorbing any baggage they may have, and if I allow them to interpret texts for me I risk acquiring a limited or even detrimental interpretation.
For me, I think it's better to have 5 different teachings on the same topic and contemplate them all than limit myself to one teaching and miss out on potential wisdom. Such an ability is a recent phenomena, for 2,500 years people practiced whichever form of Buddhism was available to them, in the internet age all are avaliable to learn from.