Seeking knowledge about Buddhism

[LittleAndOften]

Is anyone here a Buddhist? I am fascinated by it from a spiritual, intellectual and mental health standpoint, but I know little about how it all works. I feel very adrift in my life at the moment and am seeking some kind of anchor or focus.

Can anyone point me in the direction of some resources where I could start to learn more? I have googled but as always with Google, the results are overwhelming with no quality control, so any recommendations for books, films, videos, forums etc would be gratefully received.

Check out the writings of a Buddhist nun called Pema Chodron, and go from there. I highly recommend her book, When Things Fall Apart.

@mimibunz will do, thank you. It seems my husband has a copy he's going to dig out for me. That was a surprise!

It's a bit of a huge subject. A lifetime's journey to find out about it!

Wikipedia is surprisingly good, if you're looking for information.

Steve Hagen (Zen); Thich Nhat Hanh (Zen), Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (Tibetan); Ajahn Chah (Thai Forest/Theravada); Tara Brach (Insight Meditation); Steven Batchelor (Secular Buddhism) are all respected and well known teachers from different schools/traditions.

I'd recommend looking into meditation, as much of Buddhism is a practical, experiential path. Mindfulness courses can be good, check the teacher is reputable.

Finding a local group or teacher can be good, but again, please exercise caution and common sense when looking.

Take your time, don't feel you need to choose a path too quickly. Try out some different centres or schools and see how you find them.

There are also lots of videos on youtube, groups on facebook and sites like Worldwide Insight (group online meditation) and Access to Insight (Buddhist scriptures with commentary). Also worth having a look in your local library - usually a book by HH the Dalai Lama at least!

All the best, may you be well. :)

@ScrimshawTheSecond thank you, lots to keep me going here. I'm going to enjoy my journey of discovery!

This Tai Forest tradition Buddhism, organisation has several monasteries across Britain and they offer free meditation classes and retreats.

forestsangha.org/

Meditation is such a useful skill, I think. But so are the mental hacks that Buddhism teaches.

Nichiren Buddhism is also very popular in the west, there are lots of local groups. It involves chanting rather than meditation and is a bit more dynamic and pro active.

Keep away from the Triratna Buddhist Order.

This might help you

Before you get involved in a group/school/teacher, have a good google and see if there are any controversies.

For example - the link 8FencingWire has shared is to the Kadampa group. There is a Kadampa survival group and the group itself is often described as a cult.

The best advice is probably to take your time. You should never feel rushed or pressured. A good teacher will be happy to answer questions and will be open about any concerns, aware of safeguarding etc. Don't abandon your common sense!

scrimshaw, you know, I had NO IDEA!!!!
They have meditation classes that I enjoy, but I really really had no idea about the scandal behind it.
So thank you for pointing that out. They do promote the retreats/day courses quite a bit, it’s not something I’ve ever been interestsd it, I enjoy the intellectual challenge, the philosophy, the meditations, but had no idea of what’s behind the closed doors.

There are also scandals about the Triratna group...

8FencingWire, they are a large school with very good publicity.

And yes, Elinor, Triratna has issues in its history. The founder, Sangharakshita, had inappropriate sexual relationships with young men.

Most buddhists will probably tell you to go and see for yourself. Try a group out a few times, see how you find it, ask questions, talk to other students/members.

'don't go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, 'This contemplative is our teacher.'

(This is from a very frequently quoted Buddhist text, the Kalamma Sutta.)

www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.065.than.html

Elinor what are the scandals about the Triratna?

They would say that they've cleaned up their act. But they have a very tarnished history in relation to misogyny and sexual abuse. Also the exploitation of young but fragile followers from moneyed backgrounds - in order to get money off them.

www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/19/buddhist-sexual-abuse-triratna-dennis-lingwood

i had no idea about this, it is truly shocking.

I was around when some of this was happening... So no surprise to me, alas!

You will find there are scandals about any faith to be honest. I have stopped going to my local Buddhist meetings as there are no members living nearby bar one woman and we are totally different people. I cannot relate to the female members on a streetwise down to earth level enough and I do not have enough in common with them.

This has come to a head since I had to go to the emergency GP last Friday as I needed to go back on my low dose antidepressants and as usual there was no female who was understanding and supportive in the matter.

I am tired of making do when I am in a personal emergency - which is only about once a year in any case as I am not heavygoing at all.

I am now going to try out a local church. I went to the local free lunch there yesterday and already met 3 people who I felt I had much more in common with and exchanged numbers.

Sadly the Buddhists are quite stuck up and don't really get to know you. It is more for the uberprivileged and for those with high incomes and very fancy backgrounds. It is exclusive and not inclusive. Certainly where I live. Although I hear it is very dynamic in London up here in the middle of the country where I live the numbers of practising members are actually dwindling. I cannot stay on a sinking ship.

I would still recommend people try it out for themselves as I found the chanting highly effective over the years. Indeed I will still continue with this alongside attendance at church.

Buddhism has a long and fascinating history and has travelled many countries, picking up bits of theology and local practice along the way. There are 2 main forms hinayana (little wheel, aescetic and no gods and spirits as such) and mahayana (big wheel) which has a bunch of thins like boddhisatvas (angelic spirits who intervene to help, they are enlightened but remain to help others)

People are right to encourage a healthy skepticism.All spiritual paths attract their cranks and kinks and hypocrites. Part of the territory of Life eh?

I have found it hard to discover a western Buddhist path that doesn't get very quickly off track. Is this to do with how these strands of philosophy 'translates' culturally? I don't know. Even in the same order I have met people I feel are fake/weird as well as people who resonate on a high level - you recognise at a fundamental level that they are ...'full of light and life force'
Maybe seek a Buddhist chaplain or some one who is involved but non partisan if you see what i mean? The various traditions are quite contrasting, sometimes contradictory - from Tibetan Bon influenced shamanic practices to Zen Japanese.

tricycle.org/ might be a useful resource.

I would say, go to a library and check out a few books as a start. See which paths feel authentic to you. Personally I'm a Zen/Haiku kinda girl but that's not to say that is the only path up the mountain. Happy Buddhist adventures.

Ps check out the Japanese poet Ryokan. He doesn't take things too seriously, which I think is essential (also see Dalai Lama, prone to giggling fits)

Fresh morning snow in front of the shrine,
The trees! Are they white with peach blossoms
Or white with snow?
The children and I joyfully throw snowballs.

The film Kundun is a treat if you haven't watched it.

I always think the Quakers have a thoughtful and considered approach to the wisdom of other paths and googling Quakers Buddhism brings useful links to explore ideas.

That's my go to these days - if in doubt ask the Quakers : )

They are very open to things and considered. They share quite a lot of ground with Buddhists such as a form of silent meditation and grounding in personal experience. Again, your local meeting ma know of a good Buddhist teacher in your area who is not too dogmatic.

Skepticism and common sense are two very useful qualities, and it's sensible to use them when investigating any groups, teachers and/or schools.

I think some things are difficult to translate. Often, I think we want to be given all the answers, or are looking for some mystical solution to philosophical questions.

In my experience, Buddhism is a lifetime's exploration. It's experiential, and although teachers and spiritual friends are very important, basically one discovers it for oneself.

Or not. It's not for everyone. :)

Yep, very true Scrimshaw

Hi Littleandoften
I suggest the book, “ An Introduction to the Buddha and His Teachings.” compiled and edited by Samuel Bercholz and Sherob Kohn. I read it often. Also have you read the poetry of Rumi ? It’s about life and love.

In kindness

Hi OP

How are you getting on with your journey into finding out more about Buddhism?

I am also in a similar place to you. I’m at a place in my life where I’m seeking guidance, comfort and peace.

ImI have watched Ajahn Brahmavamso (is Ajahn Brahm) on youtube for years. I find his talks really relatable and they help me when I need clarity. The YouTube channel is the Buddhist society of Western Australia. I have one of his books too.

I’m doing yoga and the meditative aspects of that have been really good for me and I’d like to meditate more.

I’ll be looking into some of the recommendations of other posters on this thread too.

Buddha wasn't a Buddhist. He did say (allegedly) do not believe anything I teach you, but go and discover enlightenment for yourself.

How about reading some Krishnamurti or listening to some of his talks on youtube? He wasn't particularly aligned with any one religion.

I’m tritatnan. It’s easily to taint names of orders but when it comes down to it, it’s individual beings which abuse their positions but the actual group itself.

I’d advise looking in to your local Buddhist centres for classes on the fundamentals of Buddhism, then decide which path suits you best from there 🙂