Interested in Buddhism

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-15-2004
Interested in Buddhism
7
Fri, 12-17-2004 - 11:35pm

I go to a very conservative Christian college, but I'm not a Christian. I just don't believe in the teachings of Christianity or what Scripture says. I have a great respect for Christianity, but it's just not for me.

I've recently become interested in Buddhism. I've been reading about the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and about the life of Buddha and the beliefs behind Buddhism. It fits what I believe and how I want to live my life.

I guess that I'm just looking for friends that might be able to teach me more about Buddhism or just want to talk about it.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-31-2003
Sat, 12-18-2004 - 8:48am

Hi Pinkstar84,

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-15-2004
Sat, 12-18-2004 - 11:48am

The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism are...

The Buddha's Four Noble Truths explore human suffering. They may be described (somewhat simplistically) as:

Dukkha: The reality and universality of suffering. Suffering has many causes: loss, sickness, pain, failure, the impermanence of pleasure.
Samudaya: The cause of suffering is a desire to have and control things. It can take many forms: craving of sensual pleasures; the desire for fame; the desire to avoid unpleasant sensations, like fear, anger or jealousy.
Nirodha: Suffering ceases with the final liberation of Nirvana (a.k.a. Nibbana). The mind experiences complete freedom, liberation and non-attachment. It lets go of any desire or craving.
Magga: The eightfold path leads to the cessation of suffering.

There's a lot of good information on Buddhism and lots of other religions on a website called www.religioustolerance.org. That's where I got this information about the Four Noble Truths.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001
Tue, 12-21-2004 - 1:47pm

Welcome! I studied Zen for several years and attended a local Zen temple for meditation and study. While I do not consider myself a Zen Buddhist, the practices and wisdom have been invaluable to me along my spiritual path. If you've read any of the Dalai Lama's books, or other great Zen teachers, you'll already know that a Buddhist practice can be blended with other religious practices and beliefs, if you so choose.

Here's a link to some more great info on Buddhism on the BBC web site:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/index.shtml

I found Shunryu Suzuki's book, "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" a complete classic, in simple terms, and I often re-read sections of it. It's one of my favs. Also, the books by Charlotte Joko Beck, "NOTHING SPECIAL: Living Zen" and "EVERYDAY ZEN: Love & Work." Both of these great teachers make it simple and easy to understand and how it applies to everyday living. :P

Gypsy



Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



iVillage Member
Registered: 11-15-2004
Tue, 12-21-2004 - 2:01pm
Thanks so much for sharing that link with me and making some book recommendations! I definitely appreciate it! I'm seriously thinking about becoming a Zen Buddhist because Christianity has just never really struck a chord with me. I've grown up with it and I do go to a very heavily Christian school, so I feel as though I've given Christianity a fair chance.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001
Tue, 12-21-2004 - 5:48pm

Glad you found the info useful. :) Here are more links that are good resources, too:

General Buddhism resource:

http://www.buddhanet.net/

Shunryu Suzuki:

http://www.cuke.com/stories/stories.html

Thich Nhah Hanh, Vietnamese Buddhist monk and teacher:

http://www.plumvillage.org/

About the Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhism:

http://www.tibet.com/index.html

The tools, meditation practice, lessons learned about being judgmental and seeing everything as "either/or" and how that contributes greatly to our suffering, are useful with many different spiritual paths. I still use many of these tools today on my Wiccan path. :) I was just thinking, also, that you wrote you go to a very Christian school. Is it a particular denomination? Just one denomination won't show you the many different Christian paths out there. Have you investigated different denominations besides that one? Just wondering... :)

Blessings on your path and journey,
Gypsy



Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(



iVillage Member
Registered: 11-15-2004
Tue, 12-21-2004 - 9:24pm
My college is Methodist, but I've grown up in several different churches.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-09-2001
Tue, 12-21-2004 - 11:25pm
You remind me of me when I was in college. :)) I tried various denominations, too, and it just didn't "fit" me, either. I hope you find your spiritual connection in Buddhism. It contains a lot of wisdom. :) Gypsy


Blessings,

Gypsy

)O(