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Can I become a Buddhist without going to a temple?
I don't think it's possible for me to visit one. The nearest temple to me is a very long ways away but I'm very interested in becoming a Buddhist. So can I practice alone and consider myself a Buddhist without the assistance of a monk?
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To be a "Buddhist" is simply to have the Buddha, his Dharma and the Sangha as your refuges that you turn to in order to navigate life and seek peace for yourself and all beings. Don't worry about a physical school unless/until you have difficulties with your practice that you can't overcome without help. You could go all the way without ever setting foot in a physical Buddhist structure.
I like to recommend these two Buddhist sites:
http://www.BuddhaNet.net for all schools
http://www.accesstoinsight.org for Theravada, also Pali Canon (Tipitaka) scriptures
I am part of a home study program called "The Dharma Path Program". I will put the info below. By no means is this the only way, but one option that you may find of help.
The Dharma Path Program
Building a Stable Foundation of Dharma Practice
The Dharma Path is a program of progressive stages of meditation and contemplation for serious practitioners of meditation in the lay community. Participating in this program will result in significant personal development in meditation, along with a deep understanding of the fundamental contemplations of Tibetan Buddhism.
Lama Norlha Rinpoche has designed the program to allow those unable to participate in long term retreats to make steady progress on the path and qualify for advanced teachings. It is also an excellent preparation for those who aspire to do a three-year retreat.
Daily Commitment
Participation in the program will require listening to specified teachings by Lama Norlha Rinpoche and other teachers, reading the required text, and application of the teachings through contemplation and meditation on a daily basis. For those with a typical work week, the daily commitment would be one hour a day of practice on workdays, and two hours a day on two days off, making nine hours of practice per week. The nine hours a week can also be structured differently, according to individual schedules.
Each participant will be assigned a mentor who is a KTC retreat graduate. The mentor will be available to answer questions and offer guidance. Students are to meet with their mentor at designated points in the program, and demonstrate their mastery of the material. Mentors are also generally available by email and phone in order to answer students’ questions about the program.
Participants are required to keep an accurate record of their practice hours. Please download our Dharma Path Time Sheet for this purpose.
FAQ’s
1. How do I start?
Complete our Dharma Path Registration Form. Include a registration fee of $150 payable to Kagyu Thubten Chöling or KTC. Return both to:
Kagyu Thubten Chöling Monastery
Dharma Path Program
245 Sheafe Road
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
2. How do I arrange for my meeting with my mentor?
After you send in your registration, we will contact you regarding these meetings. The email address for the Dharma Path Program is ktcdharmapath@yahoo.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
3. What if I live far away from the Monastery?
Your consultations with your mentor can occur by phone or email. There are a few occasions when you will need to arrange a trip to the monastery to receive an empowerment. If you foresee difficulties with traveling to the monastery, speak to your mentor about your options.
4. What if I have already started other dharma practices such as Ngondro?
Speak to your mentor about how to integrate Dharma Path practice with your existing practice.
5. What if I can’t keep the daily commitment?
It is crucial to your success in the program to keep the daily commitment to the best of your ability.
Thanks for sharing!
The Theravada Thai Forest tradition has some excellent teachers who give Dhamma talks to the lay community.
Personally I think its important to have some offline interaction with other Buddhists at a centre or monastery,whatever the tradition, even if because of distances, it only takes place on the occasional weekend or at one's holiday time.
Theravada monasteries are donation only for whatever you can afford, and have free accomodation and teachings.
It used to take me several hours travelling to go to stay at my centre of choice when I first became a Buddhist.
I think the problem is that if one has never had face-to-face contact with sangha there's always the possibility of making up ones own version of the teachings and also going astray with one's meditation practice. Its always good to have personal chats and advice from teachers/abbots/senior monks and nuns.
Most places whatever the tradition, also have family times at some part of the year too, when parents can stay with their children and take part in play activities and so on.
I'm leaning towards Theravada, for those who were asking.
The Lotus Sutra states that those who read it and can take faith in just one sentence, are certain to attain Annutara-Samyak-Sambodhi.
Practices not based on the Lotus will not lead to complete awakening [in Mappo].
The Immeasurable Meanings Sutra (which served as an introduction for the Lotus Sutra) states:
"in these more than forty years [since I began teaching], I have not yet revealed the truth."
The Lotus states:
"The World-Honored One has long expounded his doctrines and now must reveal the truth." - Ch 2
"Honestly discarding expedient means, I will preach only the unsurpassed way."
- Ch 2
"For long he remained silent regarding the essential, in no hurry to speak of it at once." - Ch 5
"Among all the rivers, streams, and other bodies of water, for example, the ocean is foremost. And this Lotus Sutra is likewise, being the most profound and greatest of the sutras preached by the Thus Come Ones." - Ch 23
Ch 16 states:
"In all the worlds the heavenly and human beings and asuras all believe that the present Shakyamuni Buddha, after leaving the palace of the Shakyas, seated himself in the place of practice not far from the city of Gaya and there attained annuttara-samyak-sambodhi [complete awakening]. But good men, it has been immeasurable, boundless hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, millions of nayutas of kalpas since I in fact attained Buddhahood."
Follow the Law and not persons, the Sutras themselves reveal the truth (and state which is supreme).
If you wish to follow the direct path to Enlightenment, study the Lotus Sutra, take faith in it and chant Namu-myoho-renge-kyo!
The Lotus states:
"It [the Lotus Sutra] will face much hostility in the world and be difficult to believe."
- Ch 14
"Among the sutras I have preached, now preach, and will preach, this Lotus Sutra is the most difficult to believe and the most difficult to understand."
- Ch 10
Take faith in the Buddha's golden words.
check out the www.accesstoinsight.org website for dhamma materials and much more.
The following books I have found to be quite indispensable:
What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula (a classic description of the Dhamma) available as a free download here: http://tinyurl.com/6du4r6z
The Meditative Mind by Daniel Goleman (a superb ecumenical meditation comparison)
The Heart of Buddhist Meditation by Nyanaponika Thera (thorough yet concise meditation handbook almost a mini version of the Visuddhimagga (see below))
Buddhaghosa's The Path of Purification (Visuddhimagga)Tr. Nanamoli (The most authoritative post-canonical meditation reference manual dated 5thC.c.e.)
Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana (An incredible piece of work, brings the Buddha's instruction to the 21stC. practitioner) available as a free download here:
http://www.urbandharma.org/pdf/mindfulness_in_plain_english.pdf
Awakening the Mind, Lightening the Heart by His Holiness the Dalai Lama (this & an abundance of other works all with an accessible yet profound depth to them) some of his works are available for free download:
http://www.lamayeshe.com/index.php?sect=author&id=9
http://bookyards.blogspot.com/2008/08/dalai-lama-ebooks-and-related-external.html
If you're strapped for cash and don't like or can't use ebooks there are even organisations out there that will post books for free. They may ask for a contribution or donation, though obviously that's between you, your bank balance and your conscience.
http://www.what-buddha-taught.net/Free_Dhamma_Books.htm
http://www.buddhachannel.tv/portail/spip.php?article5396
http://www.buddhanet.net/books/main.htm
http://www.budaedu.org/en/book/II-02main.php3
Hope this helps !
saying, "These are men of perverted views
who preach non-Buddhist doctrines!"
- Lotus Sutra Ch 13
"Since hatred and jealousy toward this sutra abound even when the Thus Come One is in the world, how much more will this be so after his passing?"
- Lotus Sutra Ch 10
Or if you wish to be cured, you just take the medicine. Chanting Namu-myoho-renge-kyo is to take the medicine prescribed by a great doctor (Shakyamuni Buddha).
The placebo affect of the other Sutras was enough to lead people in the Former and Middle Days of the Law to Buddhahood, but here in the Latter Day of the Law only the real medicine of the Lotus Sutra can cure people of their suffering and lead them to Buddhahood.
- Lotus Sutra Ch 13
I've had Jehovah's witnesses and Mormons who made more of an effort than you to speak from their own perspective.
Please kindly accept - even if you don't agree with it - that the Lotus Sutra is not the be all and end all of the Buddha's teachings. Some adhere to it, others do not. It doesn't make those who don't, wrong. It merely makes them doing something different to you.
And that's ok. It's allowed, it's acceptable and it is not to be scorned, criticised, condemned or looked down upon.
You have your thing, others have theirs.
Get over it.
You should accept and take faith in the Buddha's words if you wish to attain Buddhahood in this lifetime.
That wasn't so hard, was it?
You've just stated your personal opinion!
There is some ground for debate as to whether the Lotus sutra is the word of the Buddha. Many doubt in all sincerity that it is.
But if that is what you decide to believe, that's fine.
Others have different views.
And that's fine too.
Simply because you adhere to the teaching or principle of a particular sutra, does not mean you are either expected or required to quote this or use it as your mouthpiece.
In many ways, it's unacceptable, because it makes you sound indoctrinated and robotic.
There is no slandering, if the words are not accepted as those of the Buddha.
We accept and take faith in what is true for us.
It may not be for you, but that's just tough luck.
Accept that views and opinions differ, and that you may hold whatever views you wish.
but so can others.
Ch 2 of the Lotus states:
"If I used a lesser vehicle
to convert even one person,
I would be guilty of stinginess and greed."
and
"In the Buddha lands of the ten directions
there is only the Law of the one vehicle,
there are not two, there are not three,
except when the Buddha preaches so as an expedient means."
Ch 10 states:
"The sutras I have preached number immeasurable thousands, ten thousands millions, among the sutras I have
preached, now preach, and will preach, this Lotus Sutra is the most difficult to believe and the most
difficult to understand."
People did not believe it even when Shakyamuni spoke it, and 5000 people left, thinking they had already attained the unsurpassed way. Today in Mappo is much worse, but because it is the only Sutra that can lead people to Buddhahood, we must continue to preach it.
"If I used a lesser vehicle
to convert even one person,
I would be guilty of stinginess and greed."
Yes, the Dhammapada states something similar. (The Dhammapada precedes the Lotus sutra, you understand.....)
"One sentence of the Doctrine, which brings happiness to a person who understands, is better than one hundred stanzas consisting of meaningless words."
"The best of all paths is the Eightfold Path. The best of all truths are the Four Noble Truths. Non-attachment is the best of all states. The best of all men is the Seeing One (the Buddha)". "Easy to do are things that are hard and not beneficial to oneself, but very, very difficult, indeed, to do is that which is beneficial and good." It's not the only sutra. Sure it's good, but it's not unique. There's a whole load of other stuff.