What made you 'go buddhist'?

Silmanarmo

I have recently looked into Buddhism after numerous people kept asking me if I was Buddhist.

Not because of the way I dress or look, but the way I act, believe and think I grew up in a VERY roman catholic family. It never really felt right for me. All through high school and my first couple years of college (i'm 20) people always asked if I was a Buddhist I never knew what Buddhism was. i didn't know what a Buddhist believed in or how they lived their lives. Until about two months ago I didn't even know I was a Buddhist at heart

So, I want to know how some of you lovely people became, found, or (insert any word here) Buddhism.:rolleyes:

GuyC

Four Noble Truths.

SyntheticKinetic

Same as you. I didn't know a thing about Buddhism, then one day I stumbled on the four noble truths and eight fold path. To me, it just made sense.

TheJourney

When I discovered that the buddha is recorded to have had the same thoughts that i've been having. It's the only "religion" that you can actually basically figure out without anyone teaching you, cuz all you need to do is think about the nature of the world/reality.

BoricuaBuddhist

I slowly discovered that I was starting to lead an unwholesome life. I.e. being rude (and even nasty), lying, etc. I figured following the Eightfold Path might help with that.

heybai

For me it was a glacier thing, moving in tectonic time, slow and steady. Then came a final period of desperate confusion and suffering.

I took a leap across a crevasse.

RichardH

Thinking only went so far then started to go around in circles. The Buddha always represented wisdom, and he meditated, so I wanted to meditate like him. Then I met people who meditated like him who were very sane, wise, and joyful. It was a clear choice. It's been a long road and I'm still learning, but life has opened up, and I am very grateful.

thickpaper

Getting to grips with the four noble truths. I was asked this very question last night at a party, and that's the answer I gave. I don't really see how you can see those truths and what they mean and then not be a Buddhist? Does that happen often?

TheJourney

thickpaper wrote: »

Getting to grips with the four noble truths. I was asked this very question last night at a party, and that's the answer I gave. I don't really see how you can see those truths and what they mean and then not be a Buddhist? Does that happen often?

I think that it can happen with a misunderstanding of the truths, but I just don't see how you cannot want to pursue these truths. I'm sure it happens, and you can't look at yourself as above those who choose not to become buddhist, but once I understood the 4 truths I sure couldn't follow another religion.

unsui

I started a few years ago with Zen meditation to calm my mind (think monkey mind on steroids :eek:). I was more Zennist than Buddhist at that time. I had also read the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and the Five Lay Precepts, and thought of them as a guide to live by. I wasn't that interested in Enlightenment, just a way to try and find some peace in my life. Buddhism just seemed to make the most sense to me.

I got away from it for awhile when I let my life get too busy. Then, over the past year or so, I've had to deal with some personal issues and I started looking into Buddhism again, only a little deeper this time.

I'm not comfortable with saying, "I'm a Buddhist," at least not yet. I'm still investigating to see if it is the right path for me, and which, if any, tradition/school is the right mode of transportation for following that path.

NomaDBuddha

Silmanarmo wrote: »

So, I want to know how some of you lovely people became, found, or (insert any word here) Buddhism.:rolleyes:

Documentary about buddhism, movies with shaolin monks, Lobsang Rampa, martial arts and being friend-zoned really hard by one of my girlfriends made me look into buddhism.

Mountains

I guess I'd sort of always known something about it (not much), but it was a counselor who actually sort of pushed me over the edge with it. Well, perhaps I should say she skillfully guided me toward the edge, and I jumped when I realized what was on the other side. Once I started really reading about Buddhism, I came quickly to realize that I'd *always* been a Buddhist, I just didn't know it. Once I started practicing and meditating regularly, it really sort of took hold.

allanstevns

My girlfriend (now wife) told me. As we were getting to know each other, she one day told me that the "eclectic" spirituality I was practicing and my thoughts about life, was very similar to those of Buddhism - so I decided to investigate what this Buddhism was all about. And now, 6 years later, I still am...
I don't really like the term "Buddhist". Although I do use it, when talking about it, I prefer to just thinking of myself as a wanderer on the path of buddhadharma..... or life.

Much love

Samten

caz

I was born

Honden

Thich Nhat Hanh's book The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching.

heybai

Caz waz born.

Datz where all dis trouble startz from

VincentJG

My path towards Buddhism began after realizing the benefits of simple breathing meditation. Started reading about the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. The deeper I dove into the teachings, the more they just made perfect sense (which is something that no other religion has been able to do). And here I am, a relative newbie to the middle way.

FyreShaman

caz namyaw wrote: »

I was born

'I'? An 'I' was born? Tut Tut! LOL


In my case, a strange impulse in childhood which drew me to the Theosophical Society library as teen, then later as Buddhism impacted on English Lit as part of my degree, then martial arts and Zen, and for a long time since I have been Gelugpa, which seems in the Vajrayana to be a path complete with elements suited to my own weird mind.

de_void_of_meaning

Originally tuned into the spiritual aspects of life after watching Mr. Miyagi in original Karate Kid when I was 11 years old.

I thought that compassionate and nurturing aspects of Mr. Miyagi were really cool and noble.

I then started Karate soon after.

Then when 15/16, started smoking a little pot and turned into a bit of a hippy.
Smoking pot made me even more contemplative and I started reading books on all sorts of spirituality.

Then later on, when I was 18 or so, i dropped out completely and spent quiet a long period spending all my time reading books and learning.

Over the years I have been involved with people from several religions, however, many of these people proved over time to be dogmatic / preaching hypocrites / really bad bullies and manipulators.

These are the people I try and stay away from.

Over the years, I have been involved with people who are::eek:

Rastafarian
Jehovah Witness
Catholic Christian
Devotees to Sri Krsna (Hare Krsna)
Buddhist
Protestant Christian

Kundo

I was raise Roman Catholic by a Catholic father and a Jewish-converted-Catholic for marriage purposes, mother LOL In Yr 11 we studied comparative religions. Buddhism was one of them. I liked the message of the Buddha but questioned anatman so went onto Wicca and Paganism.

I found Buddhist meditation really helped me with my anger management "issues" and over time found that Buddhism was my rock in hard times. Late last year I decided to walk the walk as well as talk the talk and here I am. I am still struggling with anatman but it really does make sense. I still also have my belief in the Gods, but maybe for me, reaching enlightenment will include relinquishing those beliefs *shrugs* Who knows? For now, I try to follow Buddha's teachings and keep myself in check. The rest is dressing.

In metta,
Raven

Mountains

dhammachick wrote: »

I was raise Roman Catholic by a Catholic father and a Jewish-converted-Catholic for marriage purposes, mother

Oh you poor child....

Kundo

Mountains wrote: »

Oh you poor child....

ROFL. I found it gave me a good grounding for Paganism and being able to guilt trip my daughter ( j/k) :P

In metta,
Raven

Gecko

I'd have to concur with NomaD - martial arts (Kung Fu), any sort of documentaries/movies with Buddhism (esp. the 70s Kung Fu series and Buddha's Lost Children) and that darned dukkha...

But even before those, I was always perplexed about how people could act they way they did; my moral compass somewhat followed the Five Precepts.

Plus, I was offered cookies and fairy floss if I started to practice...