Buddhism

[Aysha]

I am not sure if this belongs here.

I have said this before.
I am very interested in Buddhism.
I am korean and it is my countries religion I guess.
I know nothing about my culture there as I was raised here in the US and have an American family. I have never met my korean family. And my mother has been missing since I was 5.
I just have read some things here and there and I like the whole idea and belief in Buddhism.
Its spiritual without giving your will to some unseen thing.
AM I correct there?

Is there like Buddism for dummies or something?

I know ananda may know alot about this.

Anyone know how I can start to learn and study the basics of Buddhism. I dont want to be thrown in the middle of a bunch of confusing literature.

I want to know how it works. What is the belief. What is expected.
And the meditations will help me greatly I think.

So if anyone knows like a site or soemwhere..anywhere I can begin a beginners Buddhism.
Sounds silly I know. Work with me here.

[Daisy09]

Hi Chiynita,

The minister at the UU church in Albany (where I go) is also the president of the UU Buddhist Fellowship, and an all-around good guy. I know he does some workshops etc. on Buddhist practice...he's extremely approachable and is always glad to share of himself. If you e-mailed him I'm sure he could point you in a good direction. Go to First Unitarian-Universalist Society of Albany and there's a link to his e-mail address.

Hope that helps,
Daisy

Oh, and he's REALLY into the meditation aspects of it...

[Daisy09]

...and believe it or not...

Amazon.com: Buddhism For Dummies (For Dummies (Religion & Spirituality)): Jonathan Landaw, Stephan Bodian: Books

[Aysha]

Originally Posted by Daisy09

...and believe it or not...

Amazon.com: Buddhism For Dummies (For Dummies (Religion & Spirituality)): Jonathan Landaw, Stephan Bodian: Books

LMAO..I was so kidding when I said that..LOL WHOA!

[ananda]

that truely was a good one LMAO

ok chi..well i hate to tell you that everything about buddhism will be confusing on the surface (sorry) or at least it was to me...

Like any dogma there are as many interpetations of the teachings as their are people practicing it.

For me practicing soto zen buddhism..the fundemental is "just sit". I really am not sure what book to recommend as "basic"

I got started by going to a class offered through the local city sorta like adult ed classes where a man who practiced buddhism gave a serious of classes on it that reveiwed basic tenants and focused on how to sit (meditate).

After the class we were then encouraged to sit with the local zen group which met at 5:30am several days a week. Those were just sitting mediation and one evening a week we would read from any buddhist book that happened to catch our fancy after a 40 minite sit.

tell me where you live (by pm) and i'll seee if i can locate a center close to you taht might do this sort of thing.

[paulmh]

I googled buddhism and recovery, lots of interesting stuff (I've always been a fan of people like Bill Alexander and William Griffin, but it's a kinda academic interest, I haven't EVER tried to learn how to meditate!) - I came across this -

http://www.buddhistrecovery.com/docs/AddictionToday.pdf

It's only short and I found it informative

(many thanks for the Buddhism for Dummies the wife is getting that for her birthday..)

[Katie09]

Hi Chi,

I found this and it's called "Beginners Guide to Buddhism." I think I'll read it too as I am interested in learning more myself...

Beginners guide to Buddhism

[evmdimples]

Chi, I've been trying to understand basic buddhist principles for a long time. It's through recovery that it begins to make sense to me. (I do use some basic 12-step principles as my path; even as an agnostic I find I can make it work for me.)

Deepak Chopra wrote a book about the Buddha, called Buddha, A story of Enlightenment. It's based on the life of the Buddha and is a good introduction to his life and the ideas that eventually became buddhism. There's another book I've tried to understand for a long time, and have just now been able to "get" (via recovery plan); it's called Return to Silence, Zen Practice in Daily Life. I find it better to read it slowly, taking it one chapter (or paragraph !) at a time. "The Power of Now" by Eckert Tolle helped me understand the concept, and achieve, "being in the moment" which is one of the most basic of buddhist principles. I'm currently looking at incorporating buddhist meditation as part of my recovery practice.

I find buddhism to be a great complement to recovery.

Good luck!

[digderidoo]

Buddhism is an excellent tool to be used in recovery. I have been looking into it and how it relates to recovery, i've also been thinking about meditation.

Kevin Griffin's, One Breath at a Time is an excellent book, he writes about his experiences as a Buddhist in recovery. I'm also currently reading The First and Last Freedom by Jiddu Krishnamurti, it's not about Buddhism, but great for spirituality.

Paul

[otterbearcat]

This may or may not answer your question...

Concerning meditation not just specifically Buddhism, I just got book called
"calming your anxious mind"

It is quite good if your interested in meditation.

(Social Anxiety played a role in my drinking)

There is also a social group on SR concerning Buddhism but it doesnt seem to be frequented that often.

[jade09]

There is a great book, or if you perfer you can get it on cd and put it on your ipod--by Pema Chodron called When Things Fall Apart...it has truly helped me in many different parts of my life. She has several books out there, they are all great...but this one really stuck and i find myself listening to it oftne---(i have enough reading to do for school, so i love books on tape )
good luck on the search...there's so much out there it will take you awhile to absorb anything

[Aysha]

Wow..Thx everyone.

Lots of great resources here.

I am going to look at them all and do some searching of my own.

nanda you can see my location. Thats where I live.
Thx again everyone.

[Zencat]

I have found that Thich Nhat Hanh's books to be easy to understand and follow as a practice of Buddhism.

[windysan]

I read the book Dharma Punx after getting cleaned up. Maybe it'll be what you're looking for.

Dharma Punx

[littlefish]

I rejected the form of organized religion that I experienced as a child.

I have been exploring Buddhism while working my second step in AA. I've ordered tons of books from amazon, (and a good thing is that amazon sells used books at a very good price!)

My meditation CD came in last week and I started using it. It was hard to do, yes, I completely failed at the second exercise which was: think nice thoughts about myself. What? Huh?
so, end of session.....I don't know how to think nice thoughts about myself. I drew a total blank. "Like myself?" Huh?

But, I'm going to stick with this despite feeling sometimes that I have no clue what I am doing when I try to meditate. I find so many connections between the 12 steps and Buddhism, as someone else pointed out, I am also reading Kevin Griffin's book.

someone mentioned: Pema Chodron's called When Things Fall Apart...When I wrote a letter to my best friend in the US, (I no longer live in US), that I quit drinking, she sent me that book!


I want to know how it works and what is the core of the belief system. Simply, and quickly. Being an alkie: I want it NOW. heee.

But, most people deeply into the faith won't answer that with "here is my belief in a nutshell"....because it is stressed in Buddhism that it is your personal journey and you have to create your own definition.

That is a big job, it is just what I felt in face of step two in AA: "What?! I have to define my own higher power for myself? Why can't you define it for me?" But, then I knew I would never accept anyone else's spirituality anyway. I put myself back at square one.

My own personal journey has been to read, read, read about Buddhism, and my next step is to try and find some retreat for learning more about meditation. Most Buddhist centers in my area are now closed for the summer, but, things will start again in mid-August and I am thinking of signing up for a couple of classes.

[Aysha]

I have been looking at that site buddhist recovery paulnm posted.
And the link katie sent was good for a quick in short run down.
I looked at the dummy version on that amazon link and it let me look in the pages. So I think I am going to start where dummies should. Witht the dummy book.
I am going to go see if Borders has any.
Thx everyone.

[Overman]

"Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" is an excellent primer on how to meditate.

[sfgirl]

Good Links—

Kevin Griffin - One Breath
Buddhism and the Twelve Steps
Buddhist Recovery - this link might list some meetings near you
also check Dharma Punx for meditation meetings, I don't know I know they have them in SF, and I think they have some all over the country you might have to email to ask if they have them in your area

if you explore all the links/meditations/talks Griffin has listed on his site it will keep you occupied for days. I think other authors, teachers that some have mentioned and some haven't are Pema Chodron, Thich Nhat Hanh, Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein, Stephen Levine (Noah's, author of Dharma Punx dad)

My favorite book on Buddhism although maybe not good for an overview: Everyday Zen by Charlotte Joko Beck

I loved Kevin Griffin's book, One Breath at a Time, and while it takes the 12 steps as a framework to describe Buddhism I don't think you have to be into the steps to appreciate or gain from the book.

[mistycshore]

Originally Posted by littlefish

I want to know how it works and what is the core of the belief system. Simply, and quickly. Being an alkie: I want it NOW. heee.

But, most people deeply into the faith won't answer that with "here is my belief in a nutshell"....because it is stressed in Buddhism that it is your personal journey and you have to create your own definition.

There are different forms of Buddhism too. Some involve deities. I second anything written by Pema Chodron. She's wonderful.

Also, "Finding Freedom - Writings from Death Row" by Jarvis is an amazing story about what practicing Buddhism can do.

[stone]

Anything by Jack Kornfield. Maybe start with "A Path with Heart".

[Aysha]

OK!..SO I lost the last post I typed and it was like 2 paragraphs. So this is just going to be short and sweet. Cause now I am farkin frustrated.

I have been looking into the Buddhism alot here lately. and there is so many different levels and sects that it is a little overwhelming.

I have been looking at Zen or Tao. But TAo seems a little confusing. Like it sayd. Tao cant be described and if it could. It wouldnt be Tao. Thats like some old Kung foo movie stuff there. But I like how it says...Everything just is. And I feel the same way.
Zen is alot of meditation. I can dig that. But getting me to stay in one place for more than 5 mins is rough. I am hyper at times.
So I joined a book swappin site and have a book called 'Open Mind : Women's Daily Inspiration for Becoming Mindful'
I figured that would be a good start for now.
I dont know if it is directly related to Buddhism. But it seems to have the right idea anyway.
So whats yalls take on the different types of Buddhism?

[ananda]

well there are many sects..just like in christianity....if you don't like traditional you might avoid the real intricate ones...i think of tibetin budhism as being a bit like the catholic church in terms of ritual and magic.

I practice soto zen and it is great for me.

As far as meditaiton ... just start with 5 min at a time. I like alot of the books that have been recomended..i do read from all sects...and try to keep to some basic buddhist texts as well.

Mindfulness practice is extremely good..it is rather like mediation with wheels

[stone]

Yea, Zen is Buddhism without the BS.

Tao isn't Buddhism but is similar.

Mindfulness is (along with meditation) the core practice of all Buddhism so anything to do with mindfulness is good.

I recommended Jack Kornfield cos he gives a good "feel" for Buddhism without being tied to anyone school

[stone]

Originally Posted by ananda

Mindfulness practice is extremely good..it is rather like mediation with wheels

LOL, yea.

Mindfulness is like meditation on the go.

[Aysha]

Originally Posted by ananda

Mindfulness practice is extremely good..it is rather like mediation with wheels

That made me laugh. Just like your super enlarged creepy critter there..LOL.

I am def not one to sit in one spot long. Not even on the computer. I bounce around and move or dance in my chair. I am like a spastic kid.