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How to start?
I want to study this... For the past years I have felt lost. I need something to help me direct my life and feel happy again. I have read about Buddhism...I know what this consists of....but I am confused and I dont know where to start. I know a girl who has a shrine or something...I dont know what books to look at to help teach me and I dont think there is anything in my area so I can learn about this with other people. HELP HELP!
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One piece of advice I have is to find a beginner's book, like the books by Lama Surya Das, and start exploring. One book that really helped me was 'Zen Mind, Beginner Mind' - by Shunryu Suzuki. There are many schools of Buddhism but all of them have the same core message.
Any questions you may have - the people here will always try their hardest to help you.
Good luck!
Personally, I would suggest going here for starters:
Beginnings
Also, a few sites I have found with useful reading material:
Here is a link to a variety of Sutras from the Mahayana tradition:
Mahayana Buddhist Sutras
Here is a link to a variety of Suttas, books, and essays from the Theravada tradition:
A Theravada Library
Here is a link to a site focusing on the Buddhism of Sri Lanka:
Metta Net
Here is a link to a variety of teachings by Burmese monastics:
The Dhamma
Here is a link to yet more Burmese teachings:
eDhamma
Here is a link to a dictionary of Pali proper names:
Pali Proper Names
Here is a link to a dictionary of Pali terms and doctrines:
Pali Terms and Doctrines
Here is a link to another good site I found:
Kalachakra Net
Here is a link to a gigantic collection of books, Suttas, and essays to read:
Buddhasasana
Here is a link to another large collection of books, articles, essays, etc:
Sacred Texts: Buddhism
And a few sites with audio Dhamma talks to listen to:
Dhamma talks by Venerable Bhikkhu Khemasanto of Dhammasala Forest Monastery:
Dhammsala
Dhamma talks by Thanissaro Bhikkhu of Wat Metta Forest Monastery:
Metta Forest
These Dhamma talks of Than Acharn Maha Boowa have been translated by a Thai Bhikkhu into English:
Luangta
Here are some audio archives of the Majhima Nikaya class given by Bhikku Bodhi:
Bodhi Monastery
Dhamma talks from the Buddhist Society of Western Australia:
Buddhist Society of Western Australia
Dhamma talks in Thai Forest Tradition:
Dhamma Talks
Buddhanet Audio - This is a mixed collection of Audio Dharma talks by Buddhist teachers of various traditions:
Buddha Net
Audio Dharma - Site containing hundreds of dhamma talks:
Audio Dharma
Sayalay Dipankara's Dhamma talks:
Cakkavala 1
Abhidhamma Talks by Sayalay Susila:
Cakkavala 2
Dhamma talks by various teachers including Ven U Pandita and Ven U Silananda:
Tathagata
Dhamma talks by various teachers:
Dharma Stream
Sadhu! dhamma talks:
Sadhu! Dhamma Talks
Translated talks by Harada Tangen-roshi:
Mahajana
Lam Rim, Tibetan Buddhist Internet Radio:
Lam Rim
I hope you find these helpful.
Enjoy
Jason
Hello, and welcome, Stacylin!!
My my my my. So many books ABOUT Buddhism.
All of the basic teachings in broad, very readable and understandable strokes are contained in The Dhammapada.
And it is actual Buddhist Sutra.
gassho
-fa dao-
Isn't this a little faux naif? The Dhammapada is not a guide to practice so much as an outline of world-view.
I would venture to guess that your own belief structure and practice, TexZen, will be based on other, later teachings of your chosen school/lineage which are (at least in part) written down to be read.
Additionally, of course, the Buddha Shakyamuni preached and taught much, much more than the verses of the Dhammapada. It is not a limiting "gospel".
You can marvel at the complexity and the intricacy of it, or just see it in it's simple splendour....
I am a person of simple tastes... if all of the above seems daunting and confusing, Just try going to your local library, or visiting a bookshop and flicking through a couple of books on Buddhism...
Look for authors such as Thich Naht Hahn, Lama Surya Das, Sogyal Rinpoche and of course, His Holiness the Dalai Lama....Pick a book which speaks to you in a language you can absorb for the moment you are at.....
The following websites proved simple and easy for me to understand - because I really am the kind of person who needs simplicity and teachings couched in 'easy to understand' terms....!
http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/buddhism/buddhism.html
http://www.buddhismtoday.com/index/index-eng1-beginners.htm
http://www.parami.org/buddhistanswers/index.htm
these three sites have been my constant companions - I hope you'll enjoy them....
take your time, enjoy yourself and don't put yourself under any pressure to conform, follow this, learn that or understand everything the first time you see it!
Love Fede
Since you asked, my practice is about 35 years old and started with reading Alan Watts and DT Suzuki when they were both still alive. FWIW - I started Zen and now practice Ch'an.
I offer my own experience -- which was that I waded through a lot of "About" and "How To" books before I started reading actual sutra. A start is a start no matter where you start -- but reading Dhammapada will help the new folks get a basic understanding of what they are practicing as they start to practice it.
Rather like the part of Driving School where you actually look at and use a car.
gassho
-fd-
I'm new to Buddhism, and to this forum ( This is my first post). Though I have greatly enjoyed following the posts on the forum as a whole for a little while, thank you all.
My question seems to fit on this thread, I hope that's ok. I have read a number of Introductions / Commentaries / Idiot's guides to / on Buddhism, and have found almost all helpful. I intend to continue reading these - but I have also very much enjoyed reading the sutras that are sometimes posted on links off these forums. Such as the sutras on the Access to Insight website to which Elohim posted links in the thread on Puggalavada, which I much enjoyed, thank you, it was (almost literally!) mind blowing.
I was wondering if anyone could recommend a suitable book(s) where I might find these. The web links are great but there are times when a book is a lot easier to cope with e.g. to read in bed! Also, it's difficult for me to tell what might be suitable for a beginner.
Thanks
Martin.
Your best bet may be to PM the authors of the relevant posts directly, in order to get faster responses/results.
Another good way may be to look in the 'Recommended reading thread' and see what's been touted there....
In either case, best of luck. Sorry I can't be more productive - I'm still at the "D'uh....?" stage myself....!! :crazy:
Jeez, Jason.
I think she wanted to 'start' - not write a thesis
-bf
Suitable books!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
I recommend these three collections of Suttas:
Link #1 Digha Nikaya
Link #2 Majjhima Nikaya
Link #3 Samyutta Nikaya
I personally feel that they are an excellent place to start.
The Majjhima Nikaya is my favorite.
Jason
Reading on the net can get kind of long and hard on the eyes, so if you are interested here are a few titles you can find at Barnes & Noble or Borders.
What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula
The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Idiot's Guide to Buddhism by Gary Gach
I've actually read these books and they offer very solid and basic information. It's a place to start. Another thing to try is meditating. If you type "Mindfulness of Breathing" in your web browser, it can give you something to start with. It is best to be taught by a teacher though. I've done an online course and a course with an instructor. Since I attend the temple I took the class at, I can always get feed back. The content wasn't much different if there isn't a Buddhist temple nearby.
Gives me some things to save my pennies for but knowing that the Middle Discourses has your stamp of approval lets me know where to start!
Thank you
Martin.
You're welcome.
Jason
I have "The Complete idiots Guide to Buddhism"(and trust me many on this site consider me one), it is okay, but the best you can do is go to buddhanet.net then look under "free e-books".
If you get through a quarter of those-you're doing really well!
regards,
Richard
;-)
P.S. Present company excepted, with respect to the crack about "most people on this site consider me a complete idiot..."
I would have to agree with you on buddhanet.net! Fantastic site and free!
Another real good reference is in the e-book section of buddhanet.net, the free e-book, "What Buddhists Believe."
Print a copy for yourself-it's good.
Cheers
Vipassana perhaps, http://www.dhamma.org/
they have retreats pretty much all over the world. Many other are good too.
reading is not so good, i see people give you links to endless reading material...
it's like reading about working out, it will not make you lose weight.