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Finding a Vihara when you can't drive
The_Fruit_Punch_Wiza
Veteran
I cannot drive, and I want to find a vihara near me that I can go to regularly, but I cannot seem to find any.
I am really shy and I am afraid of talking at random to strangers on normal terms. I do not know what to expect, but I really want to be an active part of the Sangha and I want to find a teacher I can trust.
Is there a way I can talk to a Bhikku or a Bhikkuni online maybe?
I have a feeling that even if I were to find an address for a Bhikku or Bhikkuni I wouldn't know what to say, what to ask. I'm conflicted. Can someone explain to me what is a good thing to do about this?
I am really shy and I am afraid of talking at random to strangers on normal terms. I do not know what to expect, but I really want to be an active part of the Sangha and I want to find a teacher I can trust.
Is there a way I can talk to a Bhikku or a Bhikkuni online maybe?
I have a feeling that even if I were to find an address for a Bhikku or Bhikkuni I wouldn't know what to say, what to ask. I'm conflicted. Can someone explain to me what is a good thing to do about this?
0
Comments
It also might be possible for them to arrange for you to get a lift from someone else nearby who attends their talks.
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http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/index.php
I used that but found that the nearest Vihara is a long ways away! because I cannot drive, it's an hour away.
Don't you have a public transport system where you live? I don't have a car here in the UK and it takes at least 2 hours by foot and public transport to get to the centres I attend myself.
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We are a sangha of sorts.
But I would also recommend that you perhaps visit this fellow Buddhist website:
Many here, frequent that one, and vice-versa...
it's called 'Dhammawheel' and has many Bikkhus and Bikkhunis who I am sure would be very pleased to help and support you.
- Hsi Lai Temple (USA, Hacienda Heights, California) (North American Headquarters)
- Hsi Fang Temple (USA, San Diego, California)
- American Buddhist Cultural Association (USA, San Francisco, California)
- Guam Buddhist Association (USA, Guam)
- Lian Hua Temple (USA, Las Vegas, Nevada)
- Guang Ming Temple (USA, Orlando, Florida)
- San Bao Temple (USA, San Francisco, California)
- Chung Mei Temple (USA, Houston, Texas)
- Light of Buddha Temple (USA, Oakland, California)
- Greater Boston Buddhist Cultural Center (USA, Cambridge, Massachusetts)
- International Buddhist Progress Society Edmonton (Canada, Edmonton, Alberta)
- Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto (Canada, Toronto, Ontario)
- International Buddhist Progress Society of Ottawa (Canada, Ottawa)
- BLIA Vancouver (Canada, Richmond, British Columbia)
- NJ Buddhist Culture Center (USA, Edison, New Jersey)
- IBPS New York (USA, New York)
- BLIA Dallas (USA, Dallas, Texas)
- Buddha's Light Young Adult Division of Dallas (USA, Dallas, Texas)
- lnternational Buddhist Progress Society (USA, Austin, Texas)
- BLIA North Carolina (USA, Raleigh, North Carolina)
- Fo Guang Shan St. Louis Buddhist Center (USA, St. Louis, Missouri)
- Denver Buddhist Cultural Society (USA, Denver, Colorado)
- IBPS Chicago (Naperville, Illinois) www.ibpschicago.org
I am sure they can do similar car pool arrangements, you should probably talke to one of the venerables there first.Women can become enlightened.
Position isn't anything more than a label smacked on a person to make them feel accomplished. But to answer your question, yes, they do. There's no higher position than to be free from Samsara.
I am a woman, and I don't doubt that.
In Tibetan Buddhism, like men, women can become Lamas. In fact the nun in charge of the UK London centre - Lama Zangmo - was officially made a lama after completing 12 years in closed retreat.
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(O_o) The nearest Vihara an hour away taking a bus to a certain point and it doesn't get me all the way there, and if I were to walk from that point it'd be 3 and a half hours to get to a Vihara. That's unreasonable. :crazy:
Not waiting for the next life either.
That's worse than 3 hours.
Hehehehhehe! Yes, indeed.
Don't have one.
That might work, or maybe I can try and see if anyone might carpool and I can hitch a ride...:)
NUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!! :eekblue:
Dont take me to serious, even I seem to be right ;-) Just do it!
The monastery I have been going to for the last 20 years is a 3 hour highway drive away. Our sangha was always sharing rides. Almost all centers will understand you being shy and wanting to just come in and test the waters without being accosted. No matter which group, I have found buddhists to be a friendly and congenial lot.
I would suggest learning to drive if it is at all possible. I didn't learn until I was in my mid-thirties. It opened a lot of doors for me. Even if you can't afford your own car, it allows you to rent a car to go to special events. This doesn't help you right away, but if you get a learner's permit now then before you know it you will be able to get around on your own. Another option for the non-winter months is a scooter, as long as you don't need to do highway driving. Vespas and Honda scooters are not terribly expensive and cost almost nothing in gas.
Sounds right, I think I know which one you're talking about too.
VERY friendly and congenial. I just don't need to find myself getting lost again.
I've actually thought about the scooter, but not about the car driving. It's something I definitely don't want to do, because I have had quite a bit of issues with driving.
I have actually no idea about Theravadin centers even in my own town, let alone DC. I am just saying that all dharma centers have the same issues with accessibility, so the one you are mentioning that is an hour away is bound to be open to a polite request for a carpool. :-)
While you have not asked about them, the only Tibetan Buddhist center in the DC area I can recommend without reservations is the Sakya center:
Sakya Phuntsok Ling
354 Prelude Drive
Silver Spring, MD 20901
(301) 592-9286
It is under the direction of Khenpo Kalsang Gyaltsen. While I have not received teachings from him, he translated during some teachings I received from Her Eminence Jetsun Kusho Luding. He is very warm and approachable. He doesn't pretend to be anything special or make claims to have important visions or require deference because of someone he is alleged to be in a past life. He has on the contrary devoted his life to scholarship and practice, producing an excellent translation and commentary on Shantideva's Bodhicharyavatara.
That's an enigmatic response. You have claimed in other threads that you were open-minded and just looking for clarity. If that isn't the case, please do let us know so I don't waste my time on discussions that are not in good faith.
All the best!
Respectfully to you both,
Jeffrey