What Buddhist tradition do you follow?

Dazza

Hi everyone,

As a newbie I would like to know a bit more about the members here and about different traditions.

So my question is:

What tradition do you practice/follow and why have you chosen that particular tradition?

Look forward to your replies, Many thanks............

Jeffrey

I am following Karma Kagyu of Tibetan buddhism. The reason is because I tried a long distance course of a Lama in that tradition and although the teachings challenged my assumptions there was something about them in that once I worked through examining my own assumptions the teachings given to me seemed quite accurate. I have some mental stress and so forth dealing with anxiety. The teachings have helped me to have the courage to feel that anxiety rather than struggle against it trying to make it stop. I have also found in those times when I am not anxious that it is also of value to notice my own feelings and thoughts. I still have some questions but I meditate each day and read something.

Engyo

Hi, Dazza -

I am a Nichiren Buddhist. I practice with the Nichiren Shu school. Chanting practice is more accessible to me than silent sitting meditation is, generally.

sukhita

My practice is based on the Theravada tradition. Essentially, at the core of my practice is the "Four Noble Truths" and "Eightfold Path" as contained in the Sutta Pitaka of the Pali Canon (Tipataka). Why this tradition? I think it is the closest to what the Buddha taught... but this is just my opinion and I'm not making any claim here.

Invincible_summer

I'm not an "official" Buddhist yet, but I think I identify more with Ch'an/Zen and "modernist" Pure Land. I really like the concept of having Buddhahood somewhere within the recesses of ourselves. As for Pure Land, it has a very un-pretentious, egalitarian sort of bent to it where anyone can be aided by Amida, not just monastics or whomever. I especially like the modernist takes on Pure Land where the goal is to help build a "pure land" here on earth.

Not making any judgments about other schools of Buddhism, just stating my thoughts. That's what I love about Buddhism... the various schools of thought are all different in their own right, but held together by a strong foundation in the 4NT

TheJourney

I wouldn't give myself a label just yet. I'm pretty sure I would fall under mahayana, and i've been trying to learn zen as it seems to be a useful practice. Consciousness only makes a lot of sense, as does pure land. I also like the idea of trying to create a pure land, or as close to it as we can, here and now.

caz

Im a practitoner In the New Kadampa Tradition, My practise consists of Lamrim ( Stages of the path ) Lojong ( Higher Lamrim trainings ) and Some lower Tantra practise.

Kundo

Namaste,

To be honest I don't know what tradition I follow. A lot of my practises derive from what Lama Surya Das has taught so I'd have to say Tibetan Buddhism.

But I like a lot of the Zen practises too. I especially find the walking meditation very helpful as I can do it while at work.

In metta,
Raven

ShiftPlusOne

I am starting my own school.

(No, not really.) Since dharma can be found inside ourselves, I don't think there's a need to focus on any one tradition.

Mountains

I (try at least) to follow the Noble Eightfold Path. All the rest is window dressing to some degree or other. I guess that makes me a fundamentalist, eh? First time for everything!

Gecko

I'm (supposed to be consistently) practicing in Kung Fu which has a strong Chan flavour to it, so I have a strong attraction to Chan Buddhism. I have a very romantic and hardcore view on practice - meditating semi-naked under waterfalls, sitting rock-still and silent for hours, wandering-martial-monk a la Kwai Chang Cain...

However, there's no real sangha around here the I can go and sit with, and I'm a bit hesitant about the other traditions' secular/institutionalised vinaya stuff. I'm investigating a western-flavoured group, and while the people I've met in it are pretty cool, I still have reservations about the order- especially considering the down-up-down-up history of the group, and my lack of experience with the dharma to make an informed choice...

So I'm trying to stick with the fundamentals, as Mountains above says, and give the other traditions a thorough testing

PietroPumokin

i am azen buddhist, most of the time, we practice going forht on the toilet seat, it's really fun, we just sit and poractice X all day as much as we can, right on the toilet seat, and if nothing good comes of it, no problem, good or bad, it's same difference. here in Zen we poop the great poop of the buddha ancestors even if we are dunces which we usually are and that is the point. you just have to retard yourself, and even your spirit. spit on your spirit!!! split on your parrot.... i chose zen because it's not carnivorous like most animals. don't eat meat. it's unwholesome. the karma of zen is unwholesome too if you don't life your toilet seat. zen meat does not exist. this is a matter of fact in my day!! the cows are buddhas too, and so are the chickens- though not all meat is unwholesome. in spanish, one word for food is alimento. in buddhadharma, food is what goes in your stomach to feed you, to AILMENT YOU. it's all good in nirvana. just don't wake up the buddha cause he's SLEEPINg. HAHA, GET IT? i dont either hahahahahahahaha wait i do haha no i dont
hahaha

Kundo

Gecko wrote: »

I'm (supposed to be consistently) practicing in Kung Fu which has a strong Chan flavour to it, so I have a strong attraction to Chan Buddhism. I have a very romantic and hardcore view on practice - meditating semi-naked under waterfalls, sitting rock-still and silent for hours, wandering-martial-monk a la Kwai Chang Cain...

In Kakadu? :P

In metta,
Raven

Gecko

..Whut? Is 'toilet seat' a filter-word?

split on your parrot

I know it's a typo - but I cracked up imagining that in kung fu practice

I don't get the sleeping Buddha one either

Gecko

dhammachick wrote: »

In Kakadu? :P

LOL! Perhaps not under Jim Jim falls, unless I'm ready to enter paranirvana - that would be a little too hardcore

I still harbour a secret wanderlust-romantic-Buddhist-ninja, and it would be awesome to travel around, taking in the sights, meditating in weird wacky places, and doing the kung fu forms silhouetted by the setting sun... :wtf:

PietroPumokin

Gecko wrote: »

..Whut? Is 'toilet seat' a filter-word?


I know it's a typo - but I cracked up imagining that in kung fu practice

I don't get the sleeping Buddha one either

buddha means in indian, "awakened one"
what would a sleeping buddha dream about?

Gecko

Ah, I was overthinking.

pineblossom

Dazza wrote: »

Hi everyone,

As a newbie I would like to know a bit more about the members here and about different traditions.

So my question is:

What tradition do you practice/follow and why have you chosen that particular tradition?

Look forward to your replies, Many thanks............

I follow Tibetan Buddhism in the Geluk tradition only because it was the nearest centre which offered in depth teachings.

zider_red

Sakya, though I do sometimes attend a Gelug group.

seeker242

Zen, because it says "stop philosophizing and just sit there"

shenpennangwa

Nyingma primarily but I also have teachers in the 3 other major traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.
One of the main reasons I am a Nyingmapa is the "open canon" and the inclusion of all the methods and philosophical viewpoints of the other Tibetan lineages as well as Mahayana and Theravada.

rachMiel

i'm a student of Anam Thubten Rinpoche, who received his training in the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, though his teaching approach is quite eclectic.

nanadhaja

Theravada for me.Possibly because of the years I have spent in Thailand,this was the one I got to see and practice the most.
I was first drawn to buddhism after going to hear HHDL speak and saw how logical everything was.