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No sangha in my area?
in Sanghas
I've been reading about Buddhism for a while but I've come across a problem... I live on a small island. The only Sangha on the entire island is a group for Shambhala, which I've decided isn't for me. Have any of you experienced following the teachings of the Buddha without a physical group or place? I'm feeling stuck and like books can only take me so far.
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Comments
There's lots of teachings online, and of course discussion forums like this. Which tradition appeals to you? One option might be to travel and do a beginners retreat somewhere, that would give you an an idea of what Buddhist practice is about.
This site might be helpful: http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/
Not all groups are on there, but the ones that are should know what else is going on in their particular area.
Where is this 'small island' located....? Maybe we can help with regard to a closer group on the mainland....
A repetition of my tale:
Once upon a time, a long time ago, I became fascinated by Hinduism. I would get up at 3:30 in the morning to read one thing or another about this compelling topic (I had to be at work by 7:30). I had no friends or acquaintances who were as interested as I was. I felt like an island surrounded by an endless sea.
But one day, after I figure I had read some 500,000 pages, the thought hit me like a thunderbolt: "If they (all those gurus and swamis and saints and holy people) could do this, then so could I." The thought left me embarrassed at my audacity: Who the hell was I to compare myself with all that much-adored spirituality?! This was apostasy of some sort. But the thought couldn't be un-thought. It nagged... and I realized I was going to have to do something about it: Right, wrong or indifferent -- put up or shut up!
Hard on the heels of my apostasy came a second thought I couldn't un-think: I wanted to know whether spiritual life were bullshit or not. I didn't want to know for anyone else. I didn't want to convince anyone else. I just wanted to know for me.
So I went out to the garbage cans outside the apartment I was living in, salvaged an old wooden milk crate, put a piece of orange cloth over it, placed a picture and an incense burner and and small bowl of water and ... every day for ten or fifteen minutes, I would cross my legs and ... ummm ... well, I didn't know what the hell I was doing. I just sat there and wondered why, if I were doing this for God (Hindus don't shy from the word "God"), how come he made my knees hurt so badly? Every day, good mood or bad, I did this. I suppose I was waiting for some sort of shazzam moment, but of course it never came. I sat anyway, no matter how ridiculous the whole thing might seem.
One thing led to another and I ended up practicing Zen Buddhism. It didn't come together overnight. I still felt a bit island-ish, but, with what might pass for patience or pig-headedness or something, I just kept going. I can't begin to count the times I thought I must be doing something "wrong." I still wasn't as kool as all the kool people who seemed to populate the Zen Buddhist realm.
Sorry for so much talk. I guess I just mean keep on keepin' on. Search the Internet, read books, consider trying some sort of meditation practice and do your absolute best not to imagine you are doing something "wrong." How in heaven's name could anyone ever be "wrong" about his or her own life? Fall down? Sure. Skin your mental knees? Sure. Enter realms of wondrous ease? Sure. But "wrong?" I'm sorry, but that is not possible.
Best wishes.
Hello
I don't trust your decision.
Why is it not a partial solution for now? How many times have you visited? What is wrong with their meditation practice?
Reading is the extent of your commitment?
On your island can you build a raft or swim to the mainland?
Would you consider some ongoing online guidance from a qualified Buddhist teacher?
There are a few online/home study programs I know about, but they are in the Tibetan tradition (not sure if that's your thing). However, I'm sure there are similar programs online in various traditions..
@theteenagebuddhist
To live on a small island in a non Buddhist area and happen to have a Shambala group on it, is lucky.
Books are helpful as a Sangha is helpful but neither can do your actual practice for you.
With a Sangha or without a Sangha, trying to alter the course of your own conditioning will be a difficult process. What form of practice are you interested in?
Regardless of all of this, remember that there is no place you can ever practice except where ever you are now in this fleeting moment.
Good luck