Would you recommend NKT Buddhism to me?

[Toogoodtobeforgotten]

I've always had a passing interest in Buddhism, and where I live there's a thriving centre. I've been into the cafe to have food and snacks and picked up a few leaflets about all the different courses offered there. All the people I've met seem really approachable and friendly (and chilled out).

However i'm about put off by a) evidence of religious paraphanalia - there are a lot of really large and ornate buddha statues. And also that the organisation is called NKT Buddhism. Having looked on the web, there has been past controversy attached to NKT and references to it being a cult.

Please tell me if you have had any experience of the NKT, and if this is Buddhism you would recommend? Could you lay to rest any concerns I may have.

I guess it depends on what aspect of Buddhism you're interested in - Tibetan Buddhism generally is fairly strong on the religious imagery so if you're just interested in meditation it may not be the thing for you. The NKT come in for a lot of criticism due to a complicated bit of Tibetan religious politics, which is probably what you're picking up, but I wouldn't describe them as any more cult-like than any other Tibetan Buddhist group in the UK. They'll encourage you to get more involved but I certainly encountered no pressure when I disengaged from the group I'd been involved with. I met some truly lovely people, but at the end of the day I found that I didn't share their beliefs.

Hi Una thanks for your reply. I am curious about about your last sentence - but at the end of the day I found that I didn't share their beliefs.

In what way were their beliefs a deal-breaker for you? And were these the driver that made you disengage from the group. Hope you don't mind me asking, but I am curious.

It was really fundamental stuff - I couldn't believe in reincarnation/karma and so virtually no form of Buddhism would have been right for me. I stopped practicing because meditating on suffering was a bit overwhelming if you didn't believe in the things that promised an end to suffering. Even after I stopped practicing it was quite a while before I left the group because I really liked the community.

Hmm from the above it sounds as if with Buddhism it all comes attached with a religious agenda? Not sure how I feel about reincarnation and karma and having to meditate on suffering; I want to feel better about life, not worse!

Most of the Buddhists I have come across have been cheerful and chilled - I think if you believe the whole package then it does work and takes your focus away from your own daily concerns. Thay said it sounds as if you, like me, are interested in the meditation aspects rather than the wider belief system. You may find the book Buddhism without beliefs interesting.

Thanks Una for taking the time to share your thoughts and for the book recommendation (which i am following up). As this is on the philosophy/religion thread, I'm wondering if anyone else has had experiences of Buddhism in the UK to share? (not just NKT).

Also how anyone else has got on with beliefs - or not - about reincarnation, karma etc. I was hoping for more traffic, and may have to start a new thread elsewhere!

There is a fairly lively debate in the world of religious studies about whether Buddhism is a philosophy or a religion. Depending how you define your terms it can come out as either. When we did a session on Buddhism at theological college I found it was much more complicated that I had appreciated and that the underlying philosophy is very different from our Western ones so I was translating into terms I could understand and did hack off the teacher who could t understand why I didn't get it.

My experiences of Buddhists has not been that positive but it has been a small sample so it would not be fair to say all Buddhists are.......

If you are interested in meditation but not the religious stuff then it might be worth looking at mindfulness as that takes practices from the Eastern religious\philosophical tradition and puts it into a secular context.

OP, do you feel you need to join a community or is it more wanting to learn about it? Or both I suppose.
I don't follow any particular religion but Buddhism among others does resonate with me. I do believe in reincarnation. Spiritual beings having a human experience.
I think if I needed the community experience/factor I'd try the Quakers, well, I have thought about it for myself in the past. Their services/philosophy sound so peaceful, not that I've tried it yet mind. Meditating with others can be such a powerful thing though, that's how their services seem to be.
Another religion that interest me is Taoism, have you heard of it?
I think most of the religions have the essence of truth in them, sign posts to the truth anyway. So much dogma too which confuses.

Have a look at the Advaita Vedanta teachings.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. There's clearly loads of options out there.

Are there any currently practising MN Buddhists though? And if you do, are you a religious or a lifestyle devotee?

Those looking for peace, calm and happiness will find that eastern philosophy's can only point them to the source.
The saying, "what you are looking for, is where you are looking from" is the truest statement. An enlightened teacher will show you the way. No need for religion or the any paraphernalia that goes with it. Even Buddhist paraphernalia.

@noego-I would agree with you... it's not the rituals or 'paraphernalia' that will help you.

Saying that I think there's a reason that the Guru system survived so long and that is because it works.

It is far easier to understand a dharmic philosophy when one is guided... of course that means choosing your guru well.

The saying, "what you are looking for, is where you are looking from" is the truest statement. Overlooked because of it's simplicity.

Biglady - are you following a buddhist practice, as you mention choosing your guru well ... ?

There are many guru's around.

Mooji, Adyashanti, Sadghuru, Thich Nhat Hanh, Eckarte Tolle, Alan Watts, Wayne Dyer (deceased) Rupert Spira, Deepak Chopra. All point towards non dualism.

All worth listening to and worth reading their material.

No @Toogoodtobeforgotten, I follow the Sikh Gurus because they help me develop my understanding of the oneness of creation. They also give a lot of importance to social justice - possibly as much as the philosophy - and the way of living they talk about resonates with me (ie living in 'normal' society rather than as a recluse / monk, not supporting superstition, idolatry etc.)

Whatever you decide, stick to one path and follow through.. rather than a pick and mix approach.

I hope you find what you are looking for.

I used to go to a NKT centre, I wanted to learn more about Buddhism and it was a few minutes walk from my house.

The centre’s teacher was absolutely lovely, one of the gentlest and kindest people I’ve ever met, just to chat to her was to feel her sense of calm! I also went to the centre on the evening that I knew my grandmother was dying (went for a normal meditation session) and the nuns realised I was upset and were so very kind.

But I couldn’t handle the idea that I should only read the works of Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and his interpretation of Buddha’s teachings. On occasions when I asked questions (“If reincarnation is the movement of one mind from one being to another, where did the first one come from?”) I got a rather blunt and frosty responses. I can’t be doing with a belief system that doesn’t allow for questioning.

That, combined with seeing NKT nuns/monks screaming abuse at the Dalai Lama, who always seems a rather decent sort to me, meant NKT wasn’t for me.

Oh dear, Bright - that's what I was afraid of, as I have come across some adverse publicity on the internet about NKT.

Yet it's a shame as there is a local centre and everyone I have met there seems so kind & approachable. Like you, I would feel uncomfortable if questioning any belief system was not welcomed.

There are some good Buddhist meditation groups in the UK where you won't be pressured into "buying" the whole Buddhist mindset. Buddhism is a way of life. I teach meditation for a Buddhist charity, many who come do not identify as Buddhist and have got a lot out of it. Many Buddhists and people who practice meditation (and mindfulness) struggle with rebirth - classical Buddhism has the concept of "rebirth" - it is a moment to moment rebirth. Buddha didn't teach reincarnation as in Hinduism/Brahmanism (an eternal soul going from life to life), but was against the opposite idea that nothing persists after death. Tibetan Buddhists put a lot of emphasis on reincarnation, others less so. You don't have to believe in anything to put the Buddha's main teaching (meditation, mindfulness trying to be compassionate) into practice. As for suffering, it is the first noble truth. That as humans we suffer. The good news, is that there is a cause, and a cure and way to get cured (the 2, 3 and 4 noble truths). Any questions, please ask!