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ben_
I'm Ben.
- Oct 31, 2023
- 61
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.
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.
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
Meowing to go out
- Dec 27, 2020
- 4,256
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.
If the specific topic of Kenshō is of interest, I made a detailed post last year.
avalokitesvara
bodhisattva
- Nov 28, 2024
- 227
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.
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.
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