How to get back into Buddhism

Now-Is-reality

Alright... So I want to get back into buddhism, although it has been quite sometime since I actually have practiced. I didn't think I would forget about all that I had learned and all the insight I had gained from my practice, and yet Buddhism now feels only a little close and mostly foreign and confusing.

Problem now, and why I gave up buddhism, is my Boyfriend. I know that's so silly. And it wasn't even intentional, I just eventually stopped practicing over time and I noticed a lot of changes in myself from this. Anyway I am not sure I really want to tell my boyfriend about my beliefs, this may be a bit weird and I don't want to lose him. (Yeah, yeah... buddhism, no attachment... bleh )

But anyway... anyone have any ideas for how to ease back into buddhism? :-/

Floating_Abu

Eightfold Path is enough. Find a time and place to do a little sitting, meditation. Over time and that will grow and will be hugely beneficial.

Best wishes,
Abu

compassionate_warrior

What do you mean by "practice", NIR? If you continued to be kind to people, that is practice. If you avoided killing, that is practice. If you were thoughtful in your speech and mindful of your actions, that is practice. Do you mean you quit meditating? You can still be a practicing Buddhist without meditating regularly. Maybe you've been into Buddhism all along; maybe you never left.

PietroPumokin

you have the desire, now let your desire express itself through the manifold paths you know buddhism offers you, you only have to take the step , deviant grasshopper , jump into the pond !!!!!!!!

[DeletedUser]

There is neither entrance nor exit. Just naturally be at ease

Davy

Read this book. Could be called Modern Buddhism Wisdom... on 74 cents
Read the reviews. One says this is an incredible master piece. i agree.
It starts right out talking about Compassion, Attention and Gratitude.
http://www.amazon.com/How-Want-What-You-Have/dp/0380726823/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1290696793&sr=8-1

thickpaper

Now-Is-reality wrote: »

Alright... So I want to get back into buddhism, although it has been quite sometime since I actually have practiced. I didn't think I would forget about all that I had learned and all the insight I had gained from my practice, and yet Buddhism now feels only a little close and mostly foreign and confusing.

Problem now, and why I gave up buddhism, is my Boyfriend. I know that's so silly. And it wasn't even intentional, I just eventually stopped practicing over time and I noticed a lot of changes in myself from this. Anyway I am not sure I really want to tell my boyfriend about my beliefs, this may be a bit weird and I don't want to lose him. (Yeah, yeah... buddhism, no attachment... bleh )

But anyway... anyone have any ideas for how to ease back into buddhism? :-/

1. First you must cleanse your body of all impurities, for no less than 40 days.
2. Then you must be able to meditate into the singlepointed void of nothingness.
3. Then, when there, you must construct the world anew, inside the empty realm, past the stream so few step in.
4. And only then will you be ready to get down and go to town on the Four Noble Truths, aim to understand the first three totally and to practice the last one diligently.

BTW If you are in a hurry you can skip the first three suggestions and jump in at the last.



me say namaste

Floating_Abu

thickpaper wrote: »

[*]And only then will you be ready to get down and go to town on the Four Noble Truths, aim to understand the first three totally and to practice the last one diligently.

BTW If you are in a hurry you can skip the first three suggestions and jump in at the last.

The Four Noble Truths are a lifetime's reflection. It is not just a matter of realising the Four Noble Truths, the three aspects, and twelve stages and becoming an arahant on one retreat — and then going onto something advanced. The Four Noble Truths are not easy like that. They require an ongoing attitude of vigilance and they provide the context for a lifetime of examination

The Four Noble Truths

TheDoctorDonna

Is your Boyfriend activly opposed to the Buddist path, or did you just get caught up in life and not meditate for a while?

It is very normal for people to have a bit of a skip and bounce relationship to the Teachings due to the presures of life, so don't beat yourself up , just ease back into it.

SomeSayInFire

Now-Is-reality wrote: »

Alright... So I want to get back into buddhism, although it has been quite sometime since I actually have practiced. I didn't think I would forget about all that I had learned and all the insight I had gained from my practice, and yet Buddhism now feels only a little close and mostly foreign and confusing.

Problem now, and why I gave up buddhism, is my Boyfriend. I know that's so silly. And it wasn't even intentional, I just eventually stopped practicing over time and I noticed a lot of changes in myself from this. Anyway I am not sure I really want to tell my boyfriend about my beliefs, this may be a bit weird and I don't want to lose him. (Yeah, yeah... buddhism, no attachment... bleh )

But anyway... anyone have any ideas for how to ease back into buddhism? :-/

I know exactly how you feel, I'm going through the exact same thing right now, and almost for the same reason. It feels like I forgot basically everything I knew, not that I knew all that much. But theres an endless amount to learn so every bit I lost feeels like a major setback.

I'm just starting off from scratch, meditating and being mindful of everything I'm doing. I've just started like I did when I found out about it in the first place.