Tell me more about buddhism..

[brightongirldownunder]

I'm trying to find my spiritual home and think this may be the right path to take. One of my best friends converted and considering what she has had to go through in her life is the most positive, proactive person I know.
Can anyone give me more information?
Thanks!

HI

I'm also on the same search for a spiritual home so I'm looking forward to seeing what replies you get. I know v v little about buddhism except that buddhist always seem v chilled out and that seems like a nice state to be in. (BTW have you ever met a grumpy buddhist? _ No. I rest my case!)

Have a look at the thread / messages about meditation a book about buddhism is recommended in that.

I've done lots of Googling on this subject and there are heaps of buddhist groups out there. From what I've read a lot buddhist centres / groups run meditation courses.

Friends of the Western Buddhist Order may be a place to start.

Also see BBC website section on religion. Useful intro on all religions with links to other sites.

Good luck.

Have just looked at your profile....

Going on what I just said have a look at this link:

www.sydneybuddhistcentre.org.au/meditation_overview.htm

It's run by Friends of Western BUddhist oRder

Heck - is that the time -- 9.30 am.
No one in the house is washed or dressed !!
AGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH

HOpe this helps.

In haste........

Hey thanks - will look into this.

Haha - no-one washed or dressed by 9:30 sounds like my house every day!

I can't recommend a good book to read about Buddhism - sorry.

I found the most helpful thing I did was to attend a series of classes at my yoga centre (!), where we read through the Upanishads and the Rig Veda in little chunks and discussed them and some of the issues raised. I liked it because it wasn't wedded to any particular style of Buddhism and we were also able to discuss some of the possible limitations of Buddhism.

I would really recommend looking out for a class, perhaps one run by a local Buddhist centre.

Will do zen, thanks.
Must sleep its 1:20am!

Hi again,

Below is the name of the book that the meditation thread recommend about buddhism. I haven't read it yet but it gets rave reviews on Amazon and other websites. (I'm waiting for my copy to arrive from Amazon)

Sarah Napthali "Buddhism for Mothers: A Calm Approach to Caring for
Yourself and Your Children"

I have a few introductory books you are more than welcome to borrow (was my independent study speciality in my degree)

I'm not a Buudhist, I already have a fiath,, but I found Buddhism, the message and its followers extremely inspiring and immensely attractive in their lifestyle and beliefs, theya re certainly similar to mine nd there is much value in such things as mindfulness.

(PS I know you're in Auds but the book i am thinking of is titchy and an intro and i would be happy to post)

AM going to look at that Buddhism book mentioned below: I find Buddhist calming techniques fab for me

Hi
I've been googling and have found buddhism books online.

Extracts of the Buddhism for Mothers book are available on this link....(I hope?!)

books.google.com/books?id=tl3vxxH-mH8C&dq=Sarah+Napthali+%22Buddhism+for+Mothe rs:+A+Calm+Approach+to+Caring+for+++++Yourself+and+Your+Children%22&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl =en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPA5,M1

Or if you want to read the Very Short Introduction to Buddhism published by Damien Keown - it's also available online.... see this link

www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=48034302

Thats great AWBW. i'll follow the links. Am still not sure what to do about my faith. I seem to have been in a constant quest to find it over the last 10 years as I feel something is missing from my life.
Clarissimo - thats so kind of you - I'm worried it will cost you loads to post. How about a swapsie? Is there anything from over here you'd like? Some of that Pawpaw cream thats hideously expensive in uk and cheap as chips over here?

Hi again....
I was searching again for reviews of that book and I found a review of it on what I think is an Australian version of Mumsnet. THe thread also gives a summary of buddhism plus weblinks to Australian buddhist organisations.

Hope it helps

www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/archive/index.php/t-5374.html

PS Would you believe that my New Years Resolution is to spend less time on the web!

Haha - me too! You're a brick, thanks again.
Nice to meet you by the way!

I read Open Heart, Clear Mind about 15 years ago and it has stuck in my mind ever since.
It was a great introduction and I wish I still had it - it's one that I lent to lots of people, but it never made it's way back to me unfortunately.

The author has also written Buddhism for Beginners which gets good reviews too.

Another book I found very interesting and I one I do still have is The Tao of Pooh & the Te of Piglet. It's about Taoism rather than Buddhism but there are many similarities and I'd thoroughly recommend it.

can highly recommend the friends of the western buddhist order - very helpful and very normal and lovely people.

the best advice I could give about Buddhism is the principle of "The Middle Way" - its all about taking a middle path that is not of either extreme - so ie not starving yourself or refusing to kill anything living including mozzies (aka JAINISM) - but also not living a lifestyle full of excess and frivolity (drinking smoking and eating too much on a daily basis)

Books I have found very useful are:

"Whose God Is it anyway" - by Rabbi Marc Gellman, Monsignor Thomas Hartman and a foreward by the Dalai Lama

"Introduction to Buddhism" Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

HTH - and good luck with your search