buddhism

[Dark Asylum]

Over the last few years i have been involved with different religions Islam, Wicca and Christianity looking for something and now i have found myself getting involved in Buddhism , am starting to meditate and am finding that so helpful to me
I haven't taken any Valium for 4 night in a row ( normally i would have taken one at lest one of those nights )
I am more relaxed during the day as well and i feel more positive about things.
i have just started to look at buddhism more closely
But it will take time to learn and am wanting to go slowly with this

[Elphaba]

Namaste

[ewo]

So interesting that you just posted that...I've been on the computer all morning looking for books on Buddhism! I feel that I am a spiritual person, but I can't bring myself to suspend my beliefs and belive in a god. I've been struggling with this because I want to feel "connected" spiritually, but I just don't believe in a higher power - other than mother nature Do you have any reading recommendations?

[Dark Asylum]

one book that i want to get is Buddhism for dummies the other one the 12 steps Buddhist
Amazon.co.uk: buddhism: Books

here are some books on buddhism here on amazon am looking into getting a few myself

[ewo]

There is a bundle that I think I'm going to buy from amazon (I might check them out at the library first just be sure they're worth it - assuming my library has these books) but they are....

The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation
Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation
all by Thích Nhất Hạnh

It's probably wise just to get one at a time, but I can't pass up a good deal! lol

[Dark Asylum]

Dhamma Wheel | Index page | A Buddhist forum
here is a forum abuse buddhism

[Boleo]

Originally Posted by DarkAsylum

Dhamma Wheel | Index page | A Buddhist forum
here is a forum abuse buddhism

Here is another:

Sarpashana Sourcebook

[soberlicious]

The Berzin Archives – The Buddhist Archives of Dr. Alexander Berzin – Home Page

[Dark Asylum]

Originally Posted by DarkAsylum

Dhamma Wheel | Index page | A Buddhist forum
here is a forum abuse buddhism

i meant about not abuse ( dont know where my head was when i posted that )

[macknacat]

my favorite- Mel Ash: "the Zen of Recovery"

another fav [but not directly related to recovery] Brad Warner: "Hardcore Zen-Punk Rock, Monster Movies & the Truth about Reality"

[BennyHill]

Cool posts, everyone.
I was really into Zen buddhism for a time, but felt a coldness there. Overall, I think buddhism is a very nice philosophy. It can be as complicated as you want it to be, and as simple as you want it to be.
I made it incredibly complicated for myself!

[soberlicious]

BennyHill that is so true. I have studied and read alot, but don't call myself Buddhist and have encountered those that view my very simple approach as not learned enough, not scholarly. Indeed it is neither. On purpose.

[BennyHill]

The simplest way is usually the best!
Obviously not taught to politicians and world leaders...

[newby1961]

Boleo thanks for the link to the Sarpashana I like how they refer to the use of alcoholism as escapism because I know for me that is exactly where it was for me. I am newly into reading & learning about Buddhism.
Hope everyone has a peaceful day!

[PaleMale]

I have found myself at the doorstep to Zen. I've been reading some books, and the more I read the more confusing it seems.

Then I remember, the central idea is simplicity, detaching from desire and fear, and losing my 'self' in the universe or Buddah/Christ mind. All the religion stuff "is like a finger pointing at the moon. Don't focus on the finger, or you will miss all the heavenly glory."

Aldus Huxley and Joe Campbell call it the "Perennial Philosophy." All faiths are the same inner story, tailored to the cultural needs and experiences that clothed the myth and formed the dogma. But the Myth is metaphor; not fact, not lies.

Humans take comfort in tradition and ceremony. But those can also bind and confuse and lead toward intolerance and 'losing the Moon for the finger.'

The "religion" part of religions I think are political instruments of control, no matter the culture. The essence of Zen seems to be to experience it yourself, directly, through meditation and realize you are an illusion. "Heaven" and "Nirvana" have been right behind your eyes this whole time. But it all eminates from the same source. A source that cannot be ascertained with the flesh of the brain, reasoned about, explained by something with a 'self' at all. I find great comfort in that and I am encouraged to keep meditating, and not worry about all the laws, folds, paths, commands, complicated ideas that make no sense and all the foreign words!

Well, that's just how I've been seeing it. Peace.

[NewBeginning010]

I have been a student of Buddhist Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh & practicing his teachings. I was able to attend one of his retreats last year, it was one of the most wonderful experiences I have had in my life.

You can see some of his classes & learn more about him here:
About our Teacher Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (Th

All of the best on your journey.

[Firehazard]

I have been involved with a basic and ancient line of Buddism called Vipassana it is practiced worldwide and is manatory in many of the prisons in India and in one facility in Georgia. I am attracted to it as it does not consider itself religious or degredate any other religions. Website Thi�n Vipassana

Once great relief was gained from going to a ten day meditation retreat in Oregon in 2009. My continuing practice has dropped of and as a consequence my underling serentiy. In fact, in sobriety I have found myself turning to cigaretts around once per year due to social anxiety, or on a more deeper level fear. This is unacceptable to me and my HP. I am inspired by this thread and know that I must really practice step ten in this way to gain reilif from this suffering. Yes it is time to be still again on a regular basis. I have been accepted for a ten day in June my second one I will start today by begining my practice once more. Thanks for being on this site in this thread.

[Vajra]

I would not reccomend The 12-steps for Buddhists, unless you want a perversion of the Buddhist philosophy. Buddhism does not promote helplessness or reliance upoun others, just to name a few issues.

[PaleMale]

Originally Posted by Vajra

I would not reccomend The 12-steps for Buddhists, unless you want a perversion of the Buddhist philosophy.

It works for me. "A Power Greater Than My 'Self'" is an obvious feature about Dharma. There is no self. What most people think of as "I" is an illusion. The thinker in a box inside your head. The brain. Helplessness as such concerns the brain-self which is chemically addicted to something.

In my experience, 12 steps serve to normalize the mind-body. Instinct and thinker. The thinker is what most people feel is the 'self', but is moved here and there by attachments, desires and seeking satiety, or simply an animal that thinks which is not Buddha mind. We find oneness by seeing self-brain-animal-and thinker as a container obsessed with being unique and apart. Meditation is a process by which the "I" is lost.

[mattmathews]

Originally Posted by Vajra

I would not reccomend The 12-steps for Buddhists, unless you want a perversion of the Buddhist philosophy. Buddhism does not promote helplessness or reliance upoun others, just to name a few issues.

As a long time student of Buddhism, but a fledgling practitioner (since starting my own 12-step recovery program), I keep finding wonderful parallels between what I'm learning in Al-Anon and what I'm learning with my Sangha.

Just to cite one tiny example: I've always tried to do things on my own and have rejected help from others. Kind of the inverse of the rejection I felt growing up as an abused child. When I finally got to the point where I was desperate enough to reach out for help, I found Al-Anon and learned that I don't have to do it alone. The group is there to support me. They can't take the steps for me, but they will support me. And when I read that "The Buddha is our refuge, the dharma is our refuge, the sangha is our refuge," I'm like "Hey, I don't have to do this alone either."

I especially like the philosophy of "powerlessness." In my 12-step program, as in Buddhism, that doesn't mean that I can't take action. Nor does it mean that actions don't have consequences. To me, it simply means that I don't control the outcome. I can take actions, they may be very skillful actions, but whatever the outcome I simply need to accept that reality of what "is." It's very liberating.