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Becoming a Buddhist?

maokomaoko
edited December 2010 in Buddhism Basics
Hi my name is Kerry and This year I experienced a car accident that made me realise that my life and what I was doing with it wasn't productive to my well being or life itself. After much consideration I decided I wanted to study Buddhism in 2011 to Start my life over and become a better person then I am now and achieve inner peace. But the problem is I don't know where to start... I live in Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia and I am just wondering what I must do to become a Buddhist. I am very eager to learn and am open to whatever. I just don't know where to start or how to go about it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou.

Comments

  • NidishNidish
    You don't need any ritual to become a Buddhist.. Just the mental acceptance is enough... And you can start with reading... You can try Walpola Rahula, Thich Nhat hanh, Dhammaananda, Narada Thera, among others to start(These are authors)...

    Best Of Luck!!!
    Nidish
  • PaisleyPaisley Explorer
    I've never gone to a temple and I've barely ever meditated (I keep meaning to do this but somehow never remember to, shame on me) but I have done reading on Buddhism and have mentally accepted that Buddhist is what I am. :)

    I'm a fan of Thich Nyat Hanh and Pema Chodron books. :)
  • CinorjerCinorjer Veteran
    Maoko, may I ask what you have read or heard about Buddhism that has sparked your interest?

    As for going it alone, keep it simple and basic. Know and try to live the precepts, see if there is a meditation class somewhere around you or do some simple breath counting meditation on your own, and begin by reading about the Buddha's life and the Noble Truths.

    There is a step called taking refuge in the Buddha that is a sort of public declaration, but it's your intentions and effort that count.
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited December 2010
    Maoko, welcome, and I'm very glad you survived the experience, and that it brought you a different beginning....

    When you first took your tiny baby steps, as a cute toddler, tell me.... did your mother enter you for the 10k marathon taking place that weekend?
    I guess not.
    Bit soon, huh?
    I mean, in time, with training, we could all probably do a 10k marathon.... but first you have to learn to use the legs efficiently, right? You have to grow, take things steady....
    Same with Buddhism.
    Do some on-line research, ask questions here, do some book reading, and enjoy what you absorb.
    Anything you don't get, just ask.
    Hey, there are some things we, as seasoned, well-worn and much-travelled Buddhists, don't 'get' either... and heck, we've run dozens of 10k marathons! :lol:

    but it never hurts to ask. Just sift through the answers, put them all together, and see what resonates.
    As for becoming a Buddhist....?
    "Intention is all".
    Sounds to me as if that's one thing you may well have managed to do already.... :cool:
  • genkakugenkaku Northampton, Mass. U.S.A. Veteran
    edited December 2010
    I tried becoming a Buddhist.

    Forty years later I realize it didn't work. :)
  • maokomaoko
    Thanks everyone :)
    I have always believed in Reincarnation and of Karma and after my accident I realised that I haven't being doing all the good I could be doing and I havent really been living my life/haven't found inner peace. I have read a little on Wikipedia and some sites.. But I want to know more. I want to learn more. I have started looking around for places I can meditate and Wednesday I have the night off work so I am thinking of travelling 2 hrs to the Gold Coast to go to a meditation Class at Diamond Way Buddhism. They said if I don't find what i'm looking for there they can help guide me to where what im looking for could be :)
    Does anyone have a good starting point like what I could start reading? Is it all online or do I have to buy the books? if so do you know where and what books to start off with :) ? Thankyou very much and I appreciate your help :)

    also nidish you have any book titles by those authors in particular or just anything wirtten by them :) ?
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    No I don't know which books you should read. If you give me your address I'll mail you one though of my books. PM me if this is urgent.
  • NidishNidish
    @Maoko Yes there are certain books.. But just anything by them would do... And those books are,
    What The Buddha Taught(This one actually "converted me into Buddhism" :D ) - Dr. Walpola Rahula
    The Miracle Of Mindfulness - Thich Nhat Hanh
    Buddhism in a Nutshell - Narada Thera
    The Eightfold Path For the House Keeper - Jack Kornfield
    The Four Noble Truths - Ajahn Sumedho
    What buddhists Believe - K. Sri Dhammaananda
    The above are my favourite, but still, there are a lot more... So you can start with one of these..

    And Try the following Web-sites
    www.what-Buddha-taught.net
    www.Accesstoinsight.com
    www.UrbanDHarma.org
    And this monk - YuttaDhammo - I have found very wise... his youtube channel:


    Best wishes,
    Nidish

    P.S:And if you want a really good article about Anatta(Doctrine of not-self) and Rebirth, please PM me... I found that article elsewhere in this same forum...
    P.S.S:@Federica I am not able to attach it as a file to this comment... It says Internal error, could not move the file...

  • footiamfootiam Veteran
    Hi my name is Kerry and This year I experienced a car accident that made me realise that my life and what I was doing with it wasn't productive to my well being or life itself. After much consideration I decided I wanted to study Buddhism in 2011 to Start my life over and become a better person then I am now and achieve inner peace. But the problem is I don't know where to start... I live in Sunshine Coast, QLD, Australia and I am just wondering what I must do to become a Buddhist. I am very eager to learn and am open to whatever. I just don't know where to start or how to go about it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou.
    I think it would be good to have an open mind and just read. I think it would be a good idea to read 'What Buddhist Believe' by the late Rev. Sri Dhammananda and maybe an reading online too would help. Maybe, you can check out www.GreatLiberation.org
  • RogerRoger
    edited December 2010
    It's easy maoko. There're tons of beginning Buddhist stuff on the net (see above links). You just start reading about it. When something stops making sense start reading something else. Gotta read about it THEN start acting on it too.

    It's easy to act, for instance, just make yourself smile at strangers; it's amazing how they react back (of course smile just enough - don't look like a weirdo!).

    Start doing good and nice things for people and treat yourself kindly. It's self-motivating pretty quickly if you're ready for the big B.
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