Discussion Getting into Buddhism. Any tips or things I should know?

[rewoplrig]

Getting into Buddhism. Any tips or things I should know?

 

[CacklingZombie]

What's your plan? Ever check out Ram Daas?

 

[ben_]

That's a very broad topic. But here's some random thoughts.

1) I don't seem to have enough attention to read books so I like books that you can open at a random page and read a part. One of them is Dhammapada. It's a collection of Buddha's quotes.

2) Eastern religions seem to be more syncretic than those in the western world. E.g. Zen/Chan Buddhism was influenced by taoism. So it might be a good idea to wander there as well. The two most popular taoism books, Tao Te Ching and Zhuangzi, are also the kind that can be read randomly, for which I like them a lot.

3) In some traditions, Japa Mala (meditation beads) is used. If you want one, don't buy it. Find beads and thread you like and buy those instead. Go to YouTube and learn how to make a mala, then make it. After couple failed attempts and one successful attempt, you'll have a beautiful thing, a new skill, and maybe also a conversation starter. It's very rewarding.

4) Again, I'm unable to read long books. I hate it when a book is unnecessarily verbose. Because of that, I like The Word of the Buddha by Nyanatiloka Mahathera. It's short and terse. You might often need to stop reading to think.

 

[rewoplrig]

What's your plan? Ever check out Ram Daas?

Right now I'm just studying basic principles as I'm unsure which type of Buddhism to follow. I was going to buy the Dhammapada and read that. I also started setting alarms to make a set schedule.

 

[Pluto]

I recommend this guy (Doug's Dharma) for scholarly information.

If the specific topic of Kenshō is of interest, I made a detailed post last year.

 

[avalokitesvara]

There's many kinds of buddhist practice with different interpretations of buddhas teachings. You may want to read some
books or attend meditation sessions or retreats from teachers of different schools in order to find one which you resonate with.

Essentially the Buddha taught that we suffer because we are attached to things that are impermanent. Either we love them and want them to stay, or we hate them and want them to go. Buddhist practice teaches us to accept things as they are without clinging or hatred. All the different types of meditation essentially boil down to this.

In the West there are many branches of Buddhist schools, some with more validity than others. For me its important to practice in an established school with teachers who are a part of a lineage that can be traced back centuries. This ensures the validity of the teacher and of the practice. If you live in a city you'll probably have plenty to choose from, if
not it might be more difficult.

When you are starting out you can read books and practice alone. Most bookshops will have a "religion and spirituality" section with some Buddhist texts and you can pick ones you like the look of. The Dhammapada is a great place to start.

I wouldn't recommend podcasts and guided meditation apps because you'll get some strange ideas in your head. It's best to find a community and teacher in real life. Sangha means community and is one of the three treasures of Buddhism, it is indispensable.

My personal journey started with reading the book "Zen Mind Beginner's Mind" by Shunryu Suzuki. This gives meditation instructions for zazen (zen meditation) and I just started with following those instructions and meditating by myself at home. 15 years later I am now living in a Zen monastery. For me Zen is the essential practice and gets to the core of Buddhism. It is completely simple and completely profound. So of course I recommend Zen.

 

[BreakBone2BreakBond]

Avoid the sex pests and you'll be fine.

 

[sinfonia]

Make sure your guru is a real bodhisatva (= enlightened master who wants to help other sentient beings reach nirvana) before you listen to their teachings. There are plenty of gurus who can you a good intellectual understanding of buddhism but very few who actually practice what they preach (at least in the West). For beginners I would recommend sticking with Shunryu Suzuki and Thich Nhat Hanh. Good luck on your journey!

 

[brittlemoth]

I second Thich Nhat Hanh. Thought I'm not a Buddhist anymore, I still view him and his teachings fondly. One of the few people who I think warrants the term bodhisattva.
I'll add that Buddhism is a wide and varied path. Don't be afraid to find a system that suits your individual interests. From Tibet to India and all over the world Buddhism has had an influence. The systems vary and the core truths of Buddhism can be found in various systems from Hinduism to even forms of satanism. I encourage you to explore and keep an open mind. I hope you find what you seek. I found the following books personally meaningful when I was more spiritual:

The Baghavad Gita (this is technically Hinduism but I find it reflects the core teachings of Buddhism)

Be Here Now (this is a broadly spiritual work but the writer was a practitioner of ashtanga yoga primarily)

Peace Is Every Step (Thich Nhat Hanh)

Also Thich Nhat Hanh's dharma talks are compiled in a podcast you can find for free online.

I wish you the best. Seeing people entering the path makes me envious in a sense when remembering my old wide eyed spiritualism.

 

[marios]

Getting into Buddhism. Any tips or things I should know?

i don't know where are you from but the western idea of buddhism isvery different from the buddhism they practice in myanmar, thailand and india.
over there women are in a lower spot for an example and can't even enter near the budda in many temples or enter the door of the temple if they are in their period.

 

[AuroraB]

Right now I'm just studying basic principles as I'm unsure which type of Buddhism to follow. I was going to buy the Dhammapada and read that. I also started setting alarms to make a set schedule.

You can listen to Dharma talks on Audio Dharma, Dharma Seed, Spirit Rock websites. Here's the big idea. 1-Suffering exists. 2- There is an end to Suffering. 3- Suffering is caused by aversion and craving. 4-Getting neutral in the mind (via meditation and the eightfold path, google it) calms aversion and craving and therefore suffering ends.

There's many kinds of buddhist practice with different interpretations of buddhas teachings. You may want to read some
books or attend meditation sessions or retreats from teachers of different schools in order to find one which you resonate with.

Essentially the Buddha taught that we suffer because we are attached to things that are impermanent. Either we love them and want them to stay, or we hate them and want them to go. Buddhist practice teaches us to accept things as they are without clinging or hatred. All the different types of meditation essentially boil down to this.

In the West there are many branches of Buddhist schools, some with more validity than others. For me its important to practice in an established school with teachers who are a part of a lineage that can be traced back centuries. This ensures the validity of the teacher and of the practice. If you live in a city you'll probably have plenty to choose from, if
not it might be more difficult.

When you are starting out you can read books and practice alone. Most bookshops will have a "religion and spirituality" section with some Buddhist texts and you can pick ones you like the look of. The Dhammapada is a great place to start.

I wouldn't recommend podcasts and guided meditation apps because you'll get some strange ideas in your head. It's best to find a community and teacher in real life. Sangha means community and is one of the three treasures of Buddhism, it is indispensable.

My personal journey started with reading the book "Zen Mind Beginner's Mind" by Shunryu Suzuki. This gives meditation instructions for zazen (zen meditation) and I just started with following those instructions and meditating by myself at home. 15 years later I am now living in a Zen monastery. For me Zen is the essential practice and gets to the core of Buddhism. It is completely simple and completely profound. So of course I recommend Zen.

Excellent advice overall. There are some good resources for podcasts I listed in another reply. I dig Vipassana or "Insight Meditation" as a beginning place to learn- it's really easy to understand.

There's many kinds of buddhist practice with different interpretations of buddhas teachings. You may want to read some
books or attend meditation sessions or retreats from teachers of different schools in order to find one which you resonate with.

Essentially the Buddha taught that we suffer because we are attached to things that are impermanent. Either we love them and want them to stay, or we hate them and want them to go. Buddhist practice teaches us to accept things as they are without clinging or hatred. All the different types of meditation essentially boil down to this.

In the West there are many branches of Buddhist schools, some with more validity than others. For me its important to practice in an established school with teachers who are a part of a lineage that can be traced back centuries. This ensures the validity of the teacher and of the practice. If you live in a city you'll probably have plenty to choose from, if
not it might be more difficult.

When you are starting out you can read books and practice alone. Most bookshops will have a "religion and spirituality" section with some Buddhist texts and you can pick ones you like the look of. The Dhammapada is a great place to start.

I wouldn't recommend podcasts and guided meditation apps because you'll get some strange ideas in your head. It's best to find a community and teacher in real life. Sangha means community and is one of the three treasures of Buddhism, it is indispensable.

My personal journey started with reading the book "Zen Mind Beginner's Mind" by Shunryu Suzuki. This gives meditation instructions for zazen (zen meditation) and I just started with following those instructions and meditating by myself at home. 15 years later I am now living in a Zen monastery. For me Zen is the essential practice and gets to the core of Buddhism. It is completely simple and completely profound. So of course I recommend Zen.

Excellent advice overall. There are some good resources for podcasts I listed in another reply. I dig Vipassana or "Insight Meditation" as a beginning place to learn- it's really easy to understand.

There's many kinds of buddhist practice with different interpretations of buddhas teachings. You may want to read some
books or attend meditation sessions or retreats from teachers of different schools in order to find one which you resonate with.

Essentially the Buddha taught that we suffer because we are attached to things that are impermanent. Either we love them and want them to stay, or we hate them and want them to go. Buddhist practice teaches us to accept things as they are without clinging or hatred. All the different types of meditation essentially boil down to this.

In the West there are many branches of Buddhist schools, some with more validity than others. For me its important to practice in an established school with teachers who are a part of a lineage that can be traced back centuries. This ensures the validity of the teacher and of the practice. If you live in a city you'll probably have plenty to choose from, if
not it might be more difficult.

When you are starting out you can read books and practice alone. Most bookshops will have a "religion and spirituality" section with some Buddhist texts and you can pick ones you like the look of. The Dhammapada is a great place to start.

I wouldn't recommend podcasts and guided meditation apps because you'll get some strange ideas in your head. It's best to find a community and teacher in real life. Sangha means community and is one of the three treasures of Buddhism, it is indispensable.

My personal journey started with reading the book "Zen Mind Beginner's Mind" by Shunryu Suzuki. This gives meditation instructions for zazen (zen meditation) and I just started with following those instructions and meditating by myself at home. 15 years later I am now living in a Zen monastery. For me Zen is the essential practice and gets to the core of Buddhism. It is completely simple and completely profound. So of course I recommend Zen.

Excellent advice overall. There are some good resources for podcasts I listed in another reply. I dig Vipassana or "Insight Meditation" as a beginning place to learn- it's really easy to understand.

 

[ShatteredSerenity]

It can be really helpful to have a teacher, but it's not always easy to find one. Buddhist temples and monasteries are all different, where some have regular services open to the public like a church would, and others are a lot more closed and opaque. You can always self-teach, too, but as you get more advanced you'll probably wish you had a teacher because Buddhism is not easy. Some of the concepts are very subtle and difficult to grasp and apply to your life.

Different branches of Buddhism all have their own perspectives on meditation, but it's a central practice for many and it can be very helpful to become skilled at it. If you have a solid handle on basic meditation you can start to attend meditation retreats, there you can practice meditation and meet other people on the path to enlightenment.

You might bump into yoga people from time to time in your journey. Many of them see Buddhism as a form of yoga, and they talk about it as if they have deep knowledge of it, when in reality they probably just took some classes that skimmed the surface of it. They might even blend in some New Age mysticism. I think there's value in yoga, but I'd take anything they say about Buddhism with a grain of salt.

If you end up getting deep into meditation in can be extremely powerful, and you can literally rewire your brain. It can also feel really good, almost addictive. The branch of Buddhism I studied was the Thai Forest Tradition, which strives to revive early Buddhism with a heavy emphasis on using meditation to attain Nirvana. Basically you meditate in order to attain deeper and deeper states called jhanas. I think there are 8 janas if I recall correctly, and at each jhana you loose awareness of more distractions and become more aware of joy, equanimity, and subtler aspects of consciousness.

The deeper states of mediation can put you into altered states of conscious, it can feel a bit like taking LSD. When this happened to me I was blown away. Sounds would produce pleasant tingly sensations. I saw lights and felt bliss and calmness like I had never experienced before. When I wasn't meditating it became drastically easier to let things that bothered me go. For example I don't get frustrated at all with bad drivers anymore, I just feel a steady state of calmness no matter how bad traffic is.

You do need to be careful with these deeper states of meditation, because they can have dangerous side effects. It's something that's best to do with a teacher. When I meditated I sensitized myself to activity in my trigeminal nerve that happens all the time now, even though I no longer meditate. It feels like weird electrical tingly sensations in my face and teeth. I had to stop meditating because I started feeling intense pressure in my skull whenever I tried to meditate. People don't usually talk about the risks of meditation, but it's real and it's more well known in parts of the world where it's more common to do deep meditation.

 

[quietism]

My three favourite books about buddhism:

Gelder, Kiera Van. "The Buddha and the Borderline: My Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder through Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Buddhism and Online Dating," 2010. 283 pages.
Subhadramati. Not about Being Good: A Practical Guide to Buddhist Ethics. Cambridge, UK: Windhorse Publications, 2013. 173 pages.
Linehan, Marsha. Building a Life Worth Living: A Memoir. First edition. New York: Random House, 2020. 351 pages.

The first one is an autobiography, a striking account of recovery from BPD and extreme suicidality through buddhism. Very raw and honest, and many of its observations about society remain accurate 15 years since publication.

The second one is the only real "practical guide" out of the three. Lots of activities and easy to follow along without any gory bits. To quote the second one:

In practice, in the West at least, most people come to Buddhist centres primarily to learn to meditate. Many, at least at first, have no more than a passing interest in Buddhism. Others are quite definitely wary about anything that smacks of 'organized religion' [...] Before I say anything about meditation, I usually ask the people in the class what's motivated them to come along. And invariably, whatever time of year it is, whatever's going on outside, whatever news is in the papers, I get a similar set of responses to my question. Very occasionally someone says they have come to explore the spiritual dimension of life. Now and then there may be someone who has an inkling that meditation might help stop her getting so annoyed with her boss all the time. Nearly always someone will hesitantly admit that they've heard meditation can help with anxiety or depression, and several others will nod. But most of the people, most of the time, say they want to reduce stress and to feel calmer. They want to learn how to quieten their minds, especially amidst the frenetic pace of living in a big city.

The third one is an autobiography from Marsha Linehan, the creator of DBT. The second half covers how she incorporated buddhism into the practice. (The first book also has a lot of discussion about DBT, which in a way is a bit of a secular recreation of buddhist principles.

While two of them are autobiographies I think they serve to teach a lot about how the secular parts of buddhism can be useful in practice.